Exorcisms Then and Now: Why Jesus and Paul Took Different Approaches to Demons

Exorcisms Then and Now: Why Jesus and Paul Took Different Approaches to Demons

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus frequently cast out demons as a visible sign of the kingdom of God breaking into the old age (Matthew 12:28). His authority over unclean spirits was immediate and direct, often accompanying his mission to Israel as a fulfillment of messianic prophecy. Paul, however, operated in a different context. While he did confront demons occasionally (Acts 16:18), exorcism was not a central feature of his ministry, nor something he instructed the churches to practice. Nowhere in the epistles are believers commanded to seek out or perform exorcisms. Instead, Paul emphasized renewing the mind (Romans 12:2), resisting the devil through faith (Ephesians 6:11–17), and walking in the Spirit. This shift highlights the movement from dramatic outward signs during Jesus' ministry to the inward transformation and discernment expected in the maturing post-resurrection community. Rather than institutionalizing exorcism, the New Testament calls believers to embody the victory already won over darkness through Christ.

Jesus' Approach 

Jesus used direct, authoritative commands to remove demons, often with just a few words. Unlike later exorcistic traditions that relied on rituals or incantations, Jesus simply commanded the demons to leave. Here are some key phrases He used:

1. "Come out of him!"

Example: The Synagogue Demoniac (Mark 1:25, Luke 4:35)

“Be silent, and come out of him!”

The demon convulsed the man and left immediately.

2. "Go!"

Example: The Syrophoenician Woman’s Daughter (Matthew 15:28)

Jesus did not even physically confront the demon but told the woman, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.”

The demon left without a direct verbal exorcism.

3. "Come out of this man, you unclean spirit!"

Example: The Gerasene Demoniac (Mark 5:8, Luke 8:29)

Jesus first commanded the demon to leave, then asked its name ("Legion") before sending it into the pigs.

4. "Never enter him again!"

Example: The Boy with Seizures (Mark 9:25)

“You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again!”

Jesus not only expelled the demon but ensured it could not return.

5. "Be gone, Satan!"

Example: Jesus’ Temptation in the Wilderness (Matthew 4:10)

“Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.’”

Though not an exorcism, Jesus used Scripture to resist Satan’s influence.

Key Observations:

Jesus never used rituals, incantations, or special objects—just His authoritative word.

He sometimes asked the demon’s name (Mark 5:9) but did not always do so.

In some cases, He cast out demons from a distance (Matthew 15:28).

He rebuked the demons and forbade them from speaking (Mark 1:34).

Paul's Approach 

Paul's approach to casting out demons in the New Testament was similar to Jesus’ in its authority and directness, though sometimes the accounts show different methods or contexts. Here’s how Paul cast out demons in the instances recorded in Scripture:

1. Direct Command in the Name of Jesus

Example: The Slave Girl with a Spirit of Divination (Acts 16:16-18)

Context: Paul and his companions were in Philippi, and a slave girl who had a spirit of divination (often translated as a "python spirit") was following them, proclaiming that they were servants of the Most High God.

Action: After several days of being followed by the girl, Paul grew annoyed and turned to her. He said, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her."

Result: The spirit left her immediately, and she was no longer able to predict the future. This caused trouble for her masters, who lost their source of income.

2. In the Name of Jesus (Even When Paul Didn't Personally Command)

Example: The Seven Sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-16)

Context: In Ephesus, some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to cast out demons in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preached.

Action: When they tried to use the phrase "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches" to cast out a demon, the demon-possessed man responded, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” The demon then overpowered the sons of Sceva, causing them to flee naked and wounded.

Result: The failure of the sons of Sceva to cast out the demon demonstrated the importance of having a real relationship with Jesus, not just using His name as a formula.

3. Paul’s Presence and Faith in Jesus’ Power

Example: Paul’s Authority and Miracles in Ephesus (Acts 19:11-12)

Context: In Ephesus, God did extraordinary miracles through Paul.

Action: People brought handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul’s skin, and when these were laid on the sick or demon-possessed, they were healed or delivered from demons. This was not a direct exorcism by Paul, but it was still an instance of demon expulsion through faith and God's power working through Paul.

Result: People were healed, and demons were cast out, demonstrating that God's power was at work in Paul’s ministry.

Key Observations about Paul’s Approach to Exorcism:

1. Authority in the Name of Jesus: Like Jesus, Paul commanded demons to leave in the name of Jesus Christ. This highlights that the authority to cast out demons comes from Jesus Himself, not from the individual performing the exorcism.

2. Faith in Jesus: In Acts 19, even though Paul didn’t physically lay hands on every demon-possessed person, his faith in God’s power worked through the items that had touched him.

3. Distinction from Magical Practices: In the case of the sons of Sceva, Paul’s method of exorcism shows that using Jesus' name as a formula without true faith or relationship with Him is ineffective.

Conclusion 

Paul’s method was straightforward: he used the authority of Jesus' name and direct commands to expel demons, showing that it was not his own power but the power of Jesus Christ at work. The key difference in his exorcisms is that he did not rely on rituals or elaborate ceremonies but simply the authority given to him through Jesus.