Questions tagged [demons]

The tag has no usage guidance.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
2 votes
2 answers
58 views

Where did the demons go?

After Jesus allowed the demons to enter the herd of swine, Mark 5:13, what happened to the demons? The swine all drown, but the demons? The demons cannot be omnipresent according to this account in ...
3 votes
9 answers
12k views

What is the "swept and tidy" house referred to in Matthew 12:43-45 and Luke 11:24?

‘The lost Gospel of Q’ by Burton L. Mack, on pg 91, quotes Luke 11:24-26 seen below (compare Matthew 12:43-45) "When an unclean spirit leaves a person, it wanders through arid regions seeking rest ...
3 votes
4 answers
3k views

What is the origin of 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6?

2 Peter 2:4 KJV — For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; Jude 1:6 KJV — And the angels ...
2 votes
1 answer
32 views

Was there a time set to torment the demons of the Gentiles?

Matthew 8:29 New International Version “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” Was there a time set to torment the demons ...
3 votes
3 answers
210 views

Haven't Evil Angels already been judged?

2Pe 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; The context of 2 Peter 2:1-3 suggests that ...
0 votes
1 answer
25 views

How does the description in Luke 11:24-26 apply to Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna in Luke 8:3?

Luke 11 When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ 25 But upon returning, ...
3 votes
4 answers
1k views

Where do demons spend most of their time: in humans or in the heavenly places?

Matthew 12:43-45 gives me the impression that demons are constantly in the lookout for humans with "open doors" to inhabit. They find no comfort in living anywhere other than a human. 43 “...
1 vote
1 answer
163 views

Did demons know Jesus in the present time or in a pre-incarnate past?

And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. (Mk. 1:34 KJV) Where did this knowledge come from, since ...
2 votes
4 answers
285 views

Could those heads of the "Sons of Israel" really have encountered some "Sons of the Nephilim', when spying out the "Promised Land". Numbers 13:33

The Nephilim are only mentioned in one other book of the Bible, Gen, 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came into the daughters of men, and ...
2 votes
4 answers
997 views

Can non-disciples of Jesus cast out demons in Jesus' name or not? Mark 9:38-40 vs. Acts 19:11-16

Mark 9:38-40 (ESV): 38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for ...
3 votes
1 answer
127 views

Does Zechariah 13:2 prophesy the end of demon possession?

Zechariah 13:2 states (NKJV, emphasis added): “It shall be in that day,” says the LORD of hosts, “that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered. I ...
5 votes
4 answers
43k views

"Lilith" in Isaiah 34:14

In the New American Bible translation I see these for Isaiah 34:14 (12) Her nobles shall be no more, nor shall kings be proclaimed there; all her princes are gone. (13) Her castles shall be overgrown ...
5 votes
6 answers
18k views

Why did Michael wait 21 days to come to help the angel that was sent to Daniel?

In Daniel 10:2-3 ,12-14 (NIV) we read: ²At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. ³I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks ...
1 vote
3 answers
177 views

How do we reconcile 1 Peter 5:8-9 with 2 Thessalonians 3:3?

“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” ‭‭II Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Compare with: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks ...
2 votes
0 answers
75 views

Why do the Renaissance era English Bible translations prefer the word "devils" rather than "demons"? [closed]

Tyndale Bible, Geneva Bible, King James Bible, and Douay Rheims Bible (all from the same era) prefer to use the word "devils" (or an earlier variation such as "deuils"). The ...
2 votes
1 answer
167 views

What was the Pharisee’s view of “demonology”?

“We read “As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like ...
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Is there a distinction between "demon" and "devil" in the original texts?

I am not competent in Greek nor Hebrew as used in Biblical texts. The two common English words for evil spirits have a lot of overlap in modern/current English usage. I am curious as to whether or ...
1 vote
1 answer
125 views

Was "δεισιδαιμονεστέρους" truly used in a positive sense in Greek writing, and if so, where? [As found in Acts 17:22]

In Acts 17:22, there is the question of whether we should understand the word "δεισιδαιμονεστέρους" as "very superstitious" or as "very religious". Then Paul stood in ...
2 votes
1 answer
161 views

Is Luke 22:53 a reference to Satan?

I was reading a book on “Satan & His Deception” by various authors (small booklet). In it, A.W. Pink referenced Luke 22:53 to Satan/devil, but I am not sure it is a reference to Satan. Then ...
1 vote
4 answers
2k views

Why did the demon-possessed Gadarene bow down before Jesus?

Mark 5:5-13 (NASB): 5 Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and cutting himself with stones. 6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down ...
9 votes
2 answers
958 views

How can we reconcile God's not tempting anyone (James 1:13) with God's sending evil spirits to torment and deceive people?

God tempts no one: Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. [James 1:13 ESV] Yet God has sent evil spirits ...
6 votes
3 answers
7k views

How did the disciples drive out demons, if not by prayer?

In Mark 9, Jesus drives a demon out of a child which his disciples could not drive out. In response to their question of why they could not drive the demon out themselves, he responds, This kind ...
0 votes
1 answer
215 views

Who is the one God that James say demons believe? James 2:19

In Luke 8:28, we find that demons also know who Jesus is. Luke 4:3, 9 also tell us that Satan knew who Jesus is. Since we wrestle against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-...
7 votes
3 answers
505 views

Demons entreat Jesus "if you cast us out send us into the herd of swine. Why ? Matthew 8:28-32

Matthew 8:28-32 NASB 28 "When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely ...
3 votes
5 answers
2k views

Are evil spirits chained or not?

According to 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6, they are: 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; [...
6 votes
4 answers
2k views

Is 2 Peter 2:4 talking about demons?

2 Peter 2:4 (ESV): For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; Are the angels that sinned ...
2 votes
1 answer
513 views

Is there an obvious reason why we read of two demoniacs in Matt. 8:28-29 but only one is Mk. 5:2-3?

In the Gospel of Matthew, we are told that two demon-possessed men approached Jesus: Matthew 8:28-29: "When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-...
2 votes
4 answers
1k views

What is the Kingdom of Satan? Matthew 12:26

Matthew 12:22-28 (ESV): 22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can ...
2 votes
4 answers
3k views

In Matthew 15:26 who are the children, the dogs and what is the bread?

“And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭15:26‬ ‭ And in context why would the children need the bread that the dogs are asking ...
7 votes
9 answers
2k views

How are we to test the spirits?

1 John 4:1-6 (NRSV) stresses the importance of testing the spirits, given that not all spirits come from God: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from ...
12 votes
5 answers
28k views

What is the meaning of Jesus' teaching about unclean spirits returning to a person after being driven out?

In responding to allegations that he drives out demons by the power of Beelzebul, Jesus says, among other things: When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless ...
2 votes
5 answers
3k views

Is devil a cherub or seraphim?

The looks of the devil is confusing. In Revelation 20:2, He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; the devil is described as an ...
1 vote
5 answers
3k views

“Restores my soul” means what? Psalm 23:3

“He restores my soul.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:3‬ ‭ How is the soul restored and from what does it need restoring? (Since there is no attempt to answer the question thus far, I wonder if...) “Or he will ...
0 votes
4 answers
246 views

2 Corinthians 12:7 where was the thorn located exactly? [closed]

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.”...
2 votes
3 answers
2k views

Why did Jesus permit the demon's request to send them to the pigs in Mark 5:13?

Mark 5:9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was ...
10 votes
7 answers
25k views

Why are prayer and fasting required to cast out certain kinds of demons?

The casting out of demons is one of the signs that Jesus promised would follow all believers: Mark 16:17 (KJV): 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out ...
1 vote
2 answers
709 views

What can we know about unclean spirits, such as those of Mark 5:5-9? [closed]

In the Gospel of Mark we read: Mark 5:5-9: “5Constantly, night and day, [the man with the unclean spirit] was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones. 6Seeing ...
1 vote
2 answers
248 views

If evil spirits have personhood, does the Holy Spirit also have personhood? 1 Samuel 16:14-16 & Matthew 12:43-45

In 1 Samuel 16:14-16 we see the contrast between the Spirit of the LORD leaving Saul and an evil spirit being sent by God instead to torment him: 14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and ...
9 votes
7 answers
5k views

Are the "rulers of this age" of 1 Corinthians 2:8 human rulers or demonic rulers?

Starting in verse 5. 1Co 2:5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 2:6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age ...
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

How did the Jewish exorcists of Acts 19:13 cast out demons before they undertook to invoke the name of Jesus?

Acts 19:13 informs us about the existence of iterant Jewish exorcists who, inspired by Paul, decided to undertake the practice of invoking Jesus' name to cast out demons, probably because they wanted ...
3 votes
7 answers
9k views

In Mark 5:9 does Jesus ask for a name or a title? And why did he ask?

Mark 5:9 ESV: 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd ...
11 votes
4 answers
7k views

If a "house divided cannot stand" how did non-disciples cast out demons?

Really what I'm getting at is two lines of reasoning I see in gospel accounts that seem to contradict one another. In particular I'm thinking of the pericope in which Jesus is accused of casting out ...
4 votes
4 answers
497 views

Were Satan and his evil forces cast out of heaven or not? Revelation 12:7-9 vs Ephesians 6:12

Revelation 12:7-9 (NASB) says: 7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they did not prevail, and there was no ...
2 votes
1 answer
385 views

Why are demons mentioned only once in Douay Rheims Bible (at Isaiah 34.14)?

There is only one reference to a "demon" in the Douay Rheims Bible, which is of the same time period as the King James Version, and influenced by it. The King James Version mentions demons ...
2 votes
1 answer
901 views

Can demons manipulate the weather?

Job 1:12,16,18,19 (NIV): 12 The Lord told Satan, “Everything he has is in your power, but you must not lay a hand on him!” Then Satan left the Lord’s presence. [...] 16 While he was still speaking, ...
1 vote
1 answer
144 views

(2 Corinthians 10:5) trying to undersand what Paul meant by "destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God"

2 Corinthians 10:1-10 1 Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am [a]meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! 2 I ask that when I am ...
3 votes
2 answers
3k views

What is the “abyss” in Luke 8:31?

What is the “abyss” that Legion was imploring Jesus not to command them to go away into in Luke 8:31?
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

Luke 8:36 δαιμονισθεις demonized or demon-possessed?

What is the correct way and not necessarily the most popular way to translate the Greek δαιμονισθεις (daimonizomai), to be “demonized” or demon-possessed? “And those who had seen it told them how ...
3 votes
3 answers
891 views

Why do the NLT translators say "demons" (Rom 8:38)?

Rom 8:38 (NLT): And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons*, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow ...
1 vote
2 answers
316 views

Did Jesus imply that others cast out demons by the finger of God in Luke 11:17-20?

Luke 11:17 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and a house divided against a house will fall. 18If Satan is divided against himself, ...