Do scholars still remember Satan?
Bartłomiej Mateusz Sokal
The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin , PolandAbstract
The following paper aims to respond to some questions raised by L. Misiarczyk in his paper.2 Firstly, the author refers an opinion concerning shortage of studies about demonology and exorcisms in New Testament within Polish theological literature. The second part contains an analysis of the behavior of possessed people as described in New Testament accounts. Third part of the study endeavors to answer a question why the Gospel of John and Paul’s Letters do not mention demoniac possessions and exorcisms. Fourth chapter attempts to describe biblical anthropology that could help to understand whether biblical authors distinguished possessions from mental or physical maladies. Fifth and concluding part discusses suggestion of three possible ways of structuring the texts describing demons. While refuting some of the theses expressed by L. Misiarczyk, the paper underlines a number of valuable assets and topics presented by the author, that yet need to be discussed and reviewed.Keywords:
possession, exorcisms, daemons, New TestamentReferences
Bates, M. W., „Why Do the Seven Sons of Sceva Fail? Exorcism, Magic, and Oath Enforcement in Acts 19,13-17”, RB 118/3 (2011) 408-421;
Dendys, R., „Szatan jako przeciwnik Boga i ludzi”, Jawicie się jako źródła światła w świecie (Flp 2,15) (red. T. M. Dąbek) (Kraków 2010) 131-147;
Kasiłowski, P., „O demonach i egzorcyzmach w Biblii”, PP 127/3 (2010) 19-30; Muszyński, H., „Uzdrowienia opętanych”, w: Studio lectionem facere (red. S. Łach – J. Szlaga) (Materiały pomocnicze dla seminariów i ćwiczeń z biblistyki; Lublin 1980) 159-164;
Napora, K., „Wyjdź z niego! Egzorcyzmy w starożytnej Mezopotamii, w Biblii Hebrajskiej oraz w posłudze Jezusa Chrystusa”, Sympozjum 18/2/25 (2013) 9-28;
Witmer, A., Jesus, the Galilean Exorcist. His Exorcisms in Social and Political Context (Library of New Testament Studies. Library of the Historical Jesus Studies 10; London 2012);
Wojciechowski, M., „Healings or Exorcisms? Evil Spirits as Impersonal Powers in the Gospels”, Biblica et Patristica Thoruniensia 7/4 (2014) 65-76; (Crossref)
Woźniak, J., „Szatan w Starym Testamencie. Uwagi historyczno-filologiczne”, Słowo jego płonęło jak pochodnia (Syr 48,1). Fs. T. Brzegowy (red. P. Łabuda) (Tarnów 2011) 329-340. (Crossref)
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