Hello everyone,
I have what I believe to be an interesting question. Where did the phenomenon of exorcism come from in the New Testament? I have read a lot of literature expounding on Jesus’s ministry as an apocalyptic prophet but not much on him as an exorcist. My concern is only knowing the origin of exorcism, so I wonder if this was a phenomenon that came from Judaism. Still, I don’t recall reading anything in the Old Testament about demonic possession. I hope this question sparks some interest and would appreciate any comments you guys may have.
Hi CD – I wish I knew, hope others can help on the origin of the phenomenon itself. One related thing I’d quickly mention in passing: unless I’m mistaken, Dr Ehrman does not think think the historical Jesus was likely known in his time as an exorcist or miracle worker but rather this was later imputed upon him. If you need I can try to go dig up the thread…
ETA: Found it. ** you do not have permission to see this link **
Once again, thank you, Robert. I am going to write down this information and do some personal study. I would like to know, do you think for whatever reason Jesus was known as an exorcist in his day, or do you agree with Bart and consider these traditions about him later invention?
Christian David said
Hello everyone,I have what I believe to be an interesting question. Where did the phenomenon of exorcism come from in the New Testament? I have read a lot of literature expounding on Jesus’s ministry as an apocalyptic prophet but not much on him as an exorcist. My concern is only knowing the origin of exorcism, so I wonder if this was a phenomenon that came from Judaism. Still, I don’t recall reading anything in the Old Testament about demonic possession. I hope this question sparks some interest and would appreciate any comments you guys may have.
Steefen
Demons…are no other than the spirit of the wicked. (Wars of the Jews, 7, 6, 185)
The demons are those who infected others with their “wickedness.” It was wicked to rebel against Rome.
The biblical Jesus, the Galilean, who did not rebel against Rome is a 180 degree turn on the historical Jesus, the Galilean, who did rebel against Rome.
Vespasian and Titus exorcised the demons of rebellion by getting Jews to turn away from rebellion.
SO, you ask, “Where did the phenomenon of exorcism come from in the New Testament?”
One important component of that answer is that it came from the rewrite of history by the victors of the First Jewish-Roman War. That would be in the histories of Josephus and the fables of Jesus by the gospel writers who moved the historical Jesus back in time to the late 20s / early 30s CE.
Robert said
Bart is mostly arguing against the idea of Jesus as a miracle worker. Exorcisms may have seemed to be miraculous to Jesus’ contemporaries, but today it is more easily subsumed into the category of psycho-somatic healings and the power of suggestion. This is not so difficult to accept as part of the reality and reputation of the historical Jesus in his Jewish context. Bottom line: we can’t say for sure, but this is certainly within the realm of plausibility.
It would be interesting to go back in a time machine and find out that Jesus and his disciples were ecstatic charismatics. Actually it would explain a lot.
Irving Finkel’s book on The First Ghosts (2021) gives a lot of information about spirits and demons in Mesopotamia. It is quite possible that the stories and ideas predate the material that Finkel has access to, but since that material is cuneiform tablets, it hardly seems likely that we will find anything older.
JAS said
Irving Finkel’s book on The First Ghosts (2021) gives a lot of information about spirits and demons in Mesopotamia. It is quite possible that the stories and ideas predate the material that Finkel has access to, but since that material is cuneiform tablets, it hardly seems likely that we will find anything older.
I have a standalone three-shelf waist-high bookcase built by my grandfather that I use for books I have purchased but have not yet read*. Finkel’s book sits there patiently knowing its time will come. Finkel is terrific in print and a delightful lecturer. One of his several specialties is ancient near eastern board games which would be a wonderful item to have on your CV.
* The Japanese actually have a word to describe a stack of unread books, Tsundoku. I am reliably assured that this term expresses no sense of opprobrium.
BDEhrman
FreedomBen
evgendob
Robert
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