Mental Illness is not demon possession!
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Mental Illness in the Bible |
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Introduction:
1. Click here for a full discussion of what the Bible says about demon possession.
2. Since demon possession ceased at the expiry of the apostolic age, insanity today is not in any way connected with demon possession.
3. Demon possession always accompanied two key elements: supernatural strength and knowledge.
4. If insane people were actually demon possessed they would display supernatural strength and knowledge, but they do not.
5. Insanity is not caused by demon possession. Those where actually were demon possessed in the first century were described as insane because of their bizarre behaviour, like living naked in a grave yard.
6. Multiple Personality Disorder is a myth, and is also not an example of demon possession.
I. Demons causing “Lunatics” and Mental Illness:
- Lunatic as a Mental illness term.
- Today lunatics belong in mental hospitals. The term lunatic is synonymous with insanity.
- In the Bible Lunatics were viewed as insane when they were demon possessed because of the bizarre behaviours they exhibited.
- People in the Bible were insane without being demon possessed.
- Since demon possession ceased at the expiry of the apostolic age, insanity today is not in any way connected with demon possession.
- Definition of Lunatic (greek: Seleniazomai) in the Bible:
- “to be moon struck (from selēnē, the moon), ... the corresponding English word is lunatic. Epilepsy was supposed to be influenced by the moon.” (W. E. Vine, epileptic)
- Seleniazomai: “1 to be moon-struck or lunatic. 2 to be epileptic. 2a epilepsy being supposed to return and increase with the increase of the moon. This meaning is doubtful as the Greeks knew nothing of epilepsy.” (Enhanced Strongs lexicon, 4583)
- “an epileptic: The nature of the ailment, which in Mk is demonic possession, is called “lunacy” in Mt; in the ancient world attacks of mental disease were attributed to the phases of the moon. But there is no doubt that the symptoms of epilepsy are described. (The Jerome Biblical commentary, Mt 17:15)
- “A lunatic is properly one whose distemper lies in the brain, and returns with the change of the moon.” (Matthew Henry's commentary, Mt 17:15, 1706 AD)
- Only two Bible passages use the word, “Lunatic”
- "The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics (Lunatics), paralytics; and He healed them. " Matthew 4:24
- “Lunatic” demon possession of a “boy since childhood”: Mt 17:14-18; Mk 9:17-18; Luke 9:37–42 a lunatic, very ill, often falls into fire & water, a spirit seized, suddenly screams, throws into convulsions, foaming mouth, grinds teeth, slams him to the ground and starts rolling around, mauls him, stiffens out. Jesus said: “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him”
- “Lunatics” were not mentally ill, but were demon possessed:
- Although demons did cause physical illnesses, Lunatics are neither mere epileptics or mentally ill, as is commonly taught. The reason is that neither epilepsy or mental illness have symptoms that follow the cycle of the phases of the moon.
- Lunatics were demons, who as a unique part of this kind of possession would become more active during certain phases of the moon. (ie perhaps the full moon was when lunatics were most active.)
- The best evidence that Lunatics are nothing more than epileptics is that demon possession and lunatics are distinguished in Mt 4:24 and that the symptoms of lunatics resembled epilepsy. This, however, is not enough since we again draw your attention back to the fact that epileptic fits do not follow moon phases, but are totally random.
Cases of alleged demon possession:
The case of "Demon"
The case of "Bewitched"
Conclusion:
1. Although demon possession was a real event in the first century, the Bible teaches it does not happen today.
2. Demon possession always accompanied two key elements: supernatural strength and knowledge.
3. Insanity is not caused by demon possession.
4. Those where actually were demon possessed in the first century were described as insane because of their bizarre behaviour, like living naked in a grave yard.
5. Multiple Personality Disorder is a myth, and is also not an example of demon possession.
6. Click here for a full discussion of what the Bible says about demon possession.
By Steve Rudd: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections.
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