Full Description
To many in the church in the West, exorcism seems like the stuff of movies. It requires acceptance of the premise that evil spirits exist and can invade, control, and impair the health of an individual and that the individual can, in turn, be cured through someone forcing the evil spirits to leave. "For the vast majority of biblical scholars," asserts Graham H. Twelftree, "this is tantamount to believing in such entities as elves, dragons, or a flat earth." But for Christians throughout the world--especially the developing world--exorcism is an important part of the freedom that can be had through faith. In the Name of Jesus is the only book that explores this common part of ministry in the early church. This reliable and historical discussion provides church leaders, Bible students, pastors, and scholars with an intriguing and unique resource.
Contents
Part 1: Jesus and the Problem of Exorcism
1. The Problem of Exorcism
2. Jesus and Other Exorcists
Part 2: The First Century
3. Paul
4. Q
5. Mark
6. Luke-Acts
7. Matthew
8. 1 Peter, Hebrews, and James
9. Johannine Christianity
Part 3: The Second Century
10. Fathers, Apologists, and the Early Second Century 11. Mark's Longer Ending and the Later Second Century
12. Critics of Christianity
Part 4: Exorcism among Early Christians
13. Conclusions and Contemporary Coda
