Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Nature:Being possessed, in a biblical context, refers to the state in which an individual is inhabited or controlled by a demonic spirit. This condition is characterized by the presence of a foreign spiritual entity that exerts influence over the person's actions, speech, and physical well-being. The Bible presents possession as a real and serious spiritual affliction, often requiring divine intervention for liberation.
Biblical Instances:The New Testament provides several accounts of individuals who were possessed by demons. One of the most notable examples is found in the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus encounters a man possessed by an unclean spirit in the synagogue of Capernaum. The spirit recognizes Jesus and cries out, "What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!" (
Mark 1:24). Jesus rebukes the spirit, commanding it to be silent and come out of the man, demonstrating His authority over demonic forces.
Another significant account is the healing of the Gerasene demoniac, described in
Mark 5:1-20. This man was possessed by a legion of demons, causing him to live among the tombs and exhibit superhuman strength. Jesus commands the demons to leave the man and permits them to enter a herd of pigs, which then rush into the sea and drown. This event underscores the destructive nature of demonic possession and the power of Christ to deliver those afflicted.
Characteristics and Symptoms:The symptoms of demonic possession, as depicted in the Bible, can vary widely. They may include physical ailments, such as muteness or seizures, as seen in the boy possessed by a spirit in
Mark 9:17-29. The father of the boy describes how the spirit "seizes him and throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid" (
Mark 9:18). Other symptoms can include self-destructive behavior, social isolation, and a marked change in personality.
Theological Implications:From a theological perspective, demonic possession is understood as a manifestation of the spiritual battle between the forces of good and evil. It highlights the reality of Satan and his minions, who seek to oppress and destroy humanity. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ has ultimate authority over all spiritual beings, as evidenced by His numerous exorcisms and His victory over sin and death through His crucifixion and resurrection.
Deliverance and Exorcism:Deliverance from demonic possession is a recurring theme in the ministry of Jesus and the early church. The Gospels record multiple instances where Jesus casts out demons, often with a simple command. In
Matthew 8:16, it is noted, "When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Him, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick" .
The apostles also exercised this authority, as seen in
Acts 16:16-18, where Paul commands a spirit of divination to leave a slave girl. The early church recognized the need for spiritual discernment and the power of prayer and fasting in dealing with such cases, as Jesus instructed His disciples in
Mark 9:29, "This kind can come out only by prayer" .
Conclusion:While the Bible provides clear examples and teachings on demonic possession, it also offers hope and assurance of deliverance through the power of Jesus Christ. Believers are encouraged to rely on the Holy Spirit and the authority of Scripture in confronting spiritual darkness, trusting in the victory that Christ has already secured.
Topical Bible Verses
1 Peter 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:
Topicalbible.orgMatthew 12:22
Then was brought to him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, so that the blind and dumb both spoke and saw.
Topicalbible.org
Matthew 8:28
And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
Topicalbible.org
Mark 1:32
And at even, when the sun did set, they brought to him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
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James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
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Greek
2192. echo -- to have, hold... 1), acknowledge* (1), am (2), become (1), been (3),
being (1),
being under (1
... 1),
obtain (2), obtained (1), owned (3), possess (2),
possessed (4), possesses (1
...Strong's Hebrew
1961. hayah -- to fall out, come to pass, become, be... belonged (4), belongs (2), brought (1), came (358), came into
being (1), came
... occur
(7), occurred (3), occurs (3), own (3), placed (1),
possessed* (1), present
...4672. matsa -- to attain to, find
... 2), meet (2), met (3), overtake (2), overtook (1), pleases* (1),possessed (1),
present... be able, befall,being, catch, certainly, cause to come on, to, to hand...
Library
Possessing andPossessed
... Nor is the blessedness ofbeing possessed by Him less than the blessedness
of possessing Him. For so long as we own ourselves we...
Christ wasPossessed of a Body after his Resurrection.
... [992] And after his resurrection He did eat and drink with them, asbeing possessed
of flesh, although spiritually He was united to the Father....
On the Saying of the Saviour, "All that came Before Me were...
... Now the devil,being possessed of free-will, was able both to repent and to steal;
and it was he who was the author of the theft, not the Lord, who did not...
Do not Accept Judaism.
... but denies Christ to be the Son of God, he is a liar, even as also is his father
the devil, [928] and is a Jew falsely so called,being possessed of [929] mere...
There is but one Creator of the World, God the Father: this the...
... And thus those who declare themselves "perfect," and asbeing possessed of the
knowledge of all things, are found to be worse than the heathen, and to...
How Love Produces Zeal.
... of this love, ends ordinarily in envy: because these base and vile things are so
little, limited, particular, finite and imperfect, thatbeing possessed by one...
Of the Second Species of Rapture.
... love is ecstatic, not permitting lovers to live to themselves, but to the thing
beloved: for which cause the admirable Apostle S. Paul,being possessed of this...
Absurdities of the Heretics as to their Own Origin: their Opinions...
... [3093] As Massuet here remarks, we may infer from this passage that Iren??us believed
souls to be corporeal, asbeing possessed of a definite form,--an opinion...
Fragment iii. Now, with the view of Explaining, by Means of an...
... has been said concerning the Saviour, (I may say that) the power of thought [1735]
which I have by nature is proper and suitable to me, asbeing possessed of a...
Love and Discernment.
... Many people are clever, but not spiritual, while many people are often truly
spiritual withoutbeing possessed of much intellectual capacity....
Resources
In what ways is being a Christian difficult? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about being a good student? | GotQuestions.orgIs being drunk in the Spirit a biblical experience? | GotQuestions.orgBeing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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