Did casting out demons stop at some point around the 1st century AD?
Did casting out demons stop at some point around the 1st century AD?
There is evidence to infer that casting out demons did not stop at some point around the 1st century AD.
Casting out demons still happened after the death of Christ in the 1st century AD
After the death of Christ in the 1st century AD, casting out demons still happened. For example:
Casting out demons are reported to have happened after the 1st century AD
Early Christians authors after the 1st century AD reported that demons were cast out of people in their times.
In the 2nd century, a Christian author named Justin Martyr wrote in "Dialogue":
(76.6): "He [Christ] said, “I give unto you power to tread on serpents, and on scorpions… and on all the might of the enemy”. And now we, who believe on our Lord Jesus, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, when we exorcise all demons and evil spirits, have them subjected to us"
In the 2nd century, a Christian author named Theophilus of Antioch wrote in "Ad Autolycum":
(II.8): "The Greek poets were inspired by demons. “This is clearly evidenced by the fact that even today demons are exorcised from possessed in the name of the true God, and then the deceiving spirits confess themselves that they are the demons who once worked in the poets…"
In the 2nd century, a Christian author named Irenaeus wrote:
"Those who are in truth Jesus’ disciples, receiving grace from Him, do in His name perform miracles, so as to promote the welfare of other men, according to the gift which each one has received from Him. For some do certainly and truly drive out devils, so that those who have thus been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe in Christ, and join themselves to the Church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come: they see visions, and utter prophetic expressions. Others still heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and they are made whole. Yea, moreover, as I have said, the dead even have been raised up, and remained among us for many years"
Around the 2nd century, a Christian author named Tertullian wrote in "Apologeticum":
(23.4-18): "But thus far we have been dealing only in words; we now proceed to a proof of facts, in which we shall show that under different names (god and demon) you have real identity. Let a person be brought before your tribunals, who is plainly under demoniacal possession. The wicked spirit, bidden to speak by a follower of Christ, will as readily make the truthful confession that he is a demon [...] they leave at our command the bodies they have entered [...] It has not been an unusual thing, accordingly, for those testimonies of your deities to convert men to Christianity"
Around the 3rd century, a Christian author named Origen wrote in "Contra Celsum":
(VII.4): "If then the Pythian priestess is beside herself when she prophesies, what spirit must that be which fills her mind and clouds her judgment with darkness, unless it be of the same order with those demons which many Christians cast out of persons possessed with them? And this, we may observe, they do without the use of any curious magic, or incantations, but merely by prayer and simple adjurations which the plainest person can use. Because for the most part it is unlettered persons who perform this work: thus making manifest the grace which is in the word of Christ, and the despicable weakness of demons, which, in order to be overcome and driven out of the bodies and souls of men, do not require the power and wisdom of those who are mighty in argument, and most learned in matters of faith"
Around the 4th century, a Christian author named Athanasius wrote in "De incarnatione verbi":
(32): "It is clear that if Christ were dead, then he would not expel the demons [...], for the demons would not obey one who is dead. But when they obviously are chased away at the use of his name, then it should be clear that he is not dead, especially because the demons who see the things that are not visible for humans – should know it if Christ is dead. Then they would simply deny him obedience. But now the demons see exactly what the ungodly do not believe; that he is God, and therefore they flee and fall down for him and say that which they also said when he was in the body, “We know who you are, you the Holy One of God”"
What about today?
There can be evidence to infer that demons are still being cast out even up to today.
For more information:
Do demons exist today?
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