Demon possession seems to be an every-day occurrence during the time of Christ. The speak of it in such a matter-of-fact way. Can anyone recommend a book that speaks to this?
If you're interested in listening to some lectures, David Powlison's addresses give a really helpful biblical expositon:
His main idea is that modern readers have their ideas of the demonic informed more by the occult (primarily from medieval times and following) and Hollywood than from the biblical text of Scripture. In these addresses Powlison develops a view of the demonic from Scripture and not only is it more accurate; it's encouraging for our lives and God-glorifying.
I will try to think of some more, but in the meantime I might suggest a few resources off the top of my head, though aside from the first I can't be certain they address the topic with any depth:
Outside of those, I know that some of the authors I've read have suggested that the appearance of increased demonic activity during the time of Christ was due to one of two things.
1. The presence of Jesus on earth caused the devil to up the ante so to speak and work through more demons. (I don't buy it).
2. It wasn't really more activity than normal (or even than today) but rather a combination of factors come together.
a. Jesus faced it head on so we read more about it.
b. The culture had a spiritual worldview that helped them to recognize demonic activity as real. This is something which westerner's flat out deny, even western Christian deny by implication that demons exist and are active still today.
c. In other parts of the world - which do not operate on a fundamentally rationalistic anti-spiritual worldview, demonic activity is both recognizable and present. Granted, sometimes it is over-recognized and not quite as prevalent as sometimes claimed, but it is there.
The problem with worldview is that you catch it like you catch your nose. People just plain grow up with one and without taking extensive time to examine it in the mirror - especially in comparison with other world views - you won't be able to discern the extent of your own, nor recognize to what extent it forms the foundation of potentially faulty conclusions.
This was interesting. The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible
by Heiser, Michael S.
Lexham Press 2015
https://www.logos.com/product/49583/the-unseen-realm-recovering-the-supernatural-worldview-of-the-bible
Also Fred Dickason (from Moody) was interesting. (I bought a used copy on an auction site.)
Demon Possession and the Christian: A New Perspective Paperback – February, 1989
by C. Fred Dickason
https://www.amazon.com/Demon-Possession-Christian-New-Perspective/dp/0891075216
Very wise.
Besides the other recommendations, you may want to take a look at Neil Anderson's stuff on this (though I don't agree with all he says, he's often helpful). Another book I found helpful at the time (many years ago now) is The Believer's Guide to Spiritual Warfare by Tom White (there's an identical title in Logos in this collection, by Anderson and Timothy Warner - but I haven't read that one).
Anderson (and others) shy away from the term "demon possession" preferring a transliteration of what we find in the Greek text: demonization. The reason is that nowhere in Scripture do we find demons owning people (the first meaning of the term "possess"). Some would see the influence of demons on human beings on a spectrum from temptation, to harassment, to oppression, to inhabitation (or some variation on these ideas/terms). Jesus' suggestion that "this kind" of demon or demonic influence is in someway unique (Mark 9:29), strongly suggests such a possibility. Most (but not all) agree that Christians can be tempted and harassed, and perhaps oppressed, but not inhabited.
Having lived in the Dominican Republic as a missionary and working primarily with Haitians, I can attest to the fact that this stuff is very real. Talk to missionaries to remote regions, and you may find the same. Demons work in a very overt way in many cultures, using fear as a primary tactic.
But I've seen demonic activity here in the U.S. too, and I've seen the powerfully transformed lives of those set free from it. I witnessed one deliverance where I almost didn't recognize the person the day after the deliverance happened. Their countenance and even the way they carried themselves had changed so much. Several years later now, this person is still progressing in levels of freedom, but has never reverted to the level of oppression they had before. Truly, an awesome ministry result for them.
Our culture basically denies the reality of the demonic, or relegates it to something along the lines of psychological projection (personifying our inner dark tendencies). This works to the advantage of the more covert strategies of demons in our culture (as opposed to some other cultures). The "frog in the pot" metaphor comes to mind, as I think about demonic strategies in our churches.Anyway, I probably did more than answer your question about books. Hopefully you find it somewhat helpful as you read what I, and others have suggested.
God Bless!
Rich,
I'd really recommend Powlison's lectures (above) to you. They correspond to your experience and perspective really well.
But I've seen demonic activity here in the U.S. too,
Hoping not to create a big debate, here in the US, demon harassed individuals are usually classified as insane.
I will try to think of some more, but in the meantime I might suggest a few resources off the top of my head, though aside from the first I can't be certain they address the topic with any depth: The massive "handbook to spiritual warfare" by Dr. Ed. Murphy. Unger's Biblical Demonology, and while I can't endorse it completley, Bubeck's "The Adversary".
Don't know if you know this but Bubeck's Adversary is in Logos! It came back with the Moody addition. www.logos.com/product/7720/
I will try to think of some more, but in the meantime I might suggest a few resources off the top of my head, though aside from the first I can't be certain they address the topic with any depth: The massive "handbook to spiritual warfare" by Dr. Ed. Murphy. Unger's Biblical Demonology, and while I can't endorse it completley, Bubeck's "The Adversary". Don't know if you know this but Bubeck's Adversary is in Logos! It came back with the Moody addition. www.logos.com/product/7720/
Thanks Matillo! I got the Overcoming the Adversary book. It looks practical.
DAL
Graham Twellftree has two great book you might want to look at.
https://www.logos.com/product/39628/in-the-name-of-jesus-exorcism-among-early-christians
His other book
https://www.logos.com/product/36459/jesus-the-miracle-worker-a-historical-and-theological-study
would compliment the first one.
For the subject of Spiritual Warfare I highly recommend the scholarly work by Clinton Arnold
https://www.logos.com/product/43258/3-crucial-questions-about-spiritual-warfare
I've never thought about this in detail, but it might be worthwhile to broaden the search. The amount of demons in the world should not really have diminished in number in the past 2000 years, right? So maybe possession is on the same level as back then, but manifestations might be quite different (various addictions, sexual and relational issues etc.)
(I don't want to start a theologigal or rather demonological discussion with that, just give some idea what other areas of topics could be useful researching.)
I've never thought about this in detail, but it might be worthwhile to broaden the search. The amount of demons in the world should not really have diminished in number in the past 2000 years, right? So maybe possession is on the same level as back then, but manifestations might be quite different (various addictions, sexual and relational issues etc.) (I don't want to start a theologigal or rather demonological discussion with that, just give some idea what other areas of topics could be useful researching.)
Jan, you are right on target. I also am attempting not to get too much outside of Logos resource discussion here. I taught Spiritual Warfare in Haiti for a few years for whatever that may or may not be worth. That said I do believe the enemy is just as active today.
Jesus. Still. Wins.
