Demonic Power and Magic in the Bible
The biblical witness consistently distinguishes between divine power and demonic imitation, while forbidding Israel from engaging in magical practices that characterized surrounding nations. Magic is defined as "the science or practice of evoking spirits, or educing the occult powers of nature to produce effects apparently supernatural," and formed an essential element in Persian, Chaldean, and Egyptian religions [2]. The Hebrews had no magic of their own, as the law strictly forbade it, permitting its existence only during periods of general apostasy [2].
Biblical Prohibitions and Practices
The Old Testament catalogs numerous forbidden practices: divination, enchantments, sorcery, consulting familiar spirits, wizardry, necromancy, and soothsaying [5]. These were deemed "abominable" before God [5]. King Manasseh's reign exemplifies such apostasy—he "practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and practiced sorcery, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of Yahweh" [6]. The law's severity reflects not skepticism about supernatural phenomena but recognition of their reality under demonic agency.
Demonic Power in the New Testament
The Gospels present demons as spiritual beings at enmity with God, possessing power to afflict humans with both disease and spiritual pollution [1]. Demon possession manifested in violence, muteness, blindness, seizures, and self-destructive behavior [13]. These spirits recognized Jesus as the Son of God and trembled before divine authority [1]. Christ's exorcisms required no elaborate ritual—he "merely spoke a word on his own authority and cast out the demon," contrasting sharply with the incantations of magicians and exorcists [10].
Counterfeit Miracles
Scripture acknowledges that demonic power can produce genuine supernatural effects. The Egyptian magicians replicated some of Moses' signs through occult means [3, 5]. Paul warns that the Antichrist's coming will be "according to the working of Satan" with "lying wonders" [8], and Revelation describes demons "working miracles" to deceive the kings of the earth [9]. These are not mere tricks but "miracles of a demoniacal kind, and by demon aid, like those of the Egyptian magicians" [12], wrought through Satan's energy to support false religion [3].
The apostolic church encountered professional exorcists who attempted to invoke Jesus' name as a magical formula without relationship to him or the Holy Spirit's indwelling power—attempts that failed spectacularly [4, 11]. Christ alone granted his disciples authority to expel demons [7], a power rooted in divine commission rather than occult technique.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Demon — In the Gospels generally, in (James 2:19) and in Reve 16:14 The demons are spoken of as spiritual beings, at enmity with God, and having power to afflict man not only with disease, but, as is marked by the frequent epithet "un-clean," with spiritual pollution also. They "believe" the power of God "and tremble," (James 2:19) they recognized the Lord as the Son of God, (Matthew 8:29; Luke 4:41) and acknowledged the power of his name, used in exorcism. In the place of the name of Jehovah, by his appointed messengers, (Acts 19:15) and looked forward in terror to t”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Magic, Magicians — Magic is "the science or practice of evoking spirits, or educing the occult powers of nature to produce effects apparently supernatural." It formed an essential element in many ancient religions, especially among the Persians, Chaldeans and Egyptians. The Hebrews had no magic of their own. It was so strictly forbidden by the law that it could never afterward have had any: recognized existence, save in times of general heresy or apostasy and the same was doubtless the case in the patriarchal ages. The magical practices which obtained among the Hebrew”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Miracles Through Evil Agents — Performed through the power of the devil -- 2Th 2:9; Re 16:14. Wrought In support of false religions. -- De 13:1-2. By false christs. -- Mt 24:24. By false prophets. -- Mt 24:24; Re 19:20. A mark of the Apostasy -- 2Th 2:3,9; Re 13:13. Not to be regarded -- De 13:3. Deceive the ungodly -- 2Th 2:10-12; Re 13:14; 19:20. Exemplified Magicians of Egypt. -- Ex 7:11,22; 8:7. Witch of Endor. -- 1Sa 28:7-14. Simon Magus. -- Ac 8:9-11.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Exorcist — (Acts 19:13). "In that sceptical and therefore superstitious age professional exorcist abounded. Many of these professional exorcists were disreputable Jews, like Simon in Samaria and Elymas in Cyprus (8:9; 13:6)." Other references to exorcism as practised by the Jews are found in Matt. 12:27; Mark 9:38; Luke 9:49, 50. It would seem that it was an opinion among the Jews that miracles might be wrought by invoking the divine name. Thus also these "vagabond Jews" pretended that they could expel daemons. The power of casting out devils was conferred by Christ ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Divination — An abominable practice -- 1Sa 15:23. All who practised it, abominable -- De 18:12. Practised by Diviners. -- De 18:14. Enchanters. -- De 18:10; Jer 27:9. Witches. -- Ex 22:18; De 18:10. Charmers. -- De 18:11. Wizards. -- De 18:11; 1Sa 28:3. Consulters of familiar spirits. -- De 18:11. Magicians. -- Ge 41:8; Da 4:7. Astrologers. -- Isa 47:13; Da 4:7. Sorcerers. -- Jer 27:9; Ac 13:6,8. Necromancers. -- De 18:11. Soothsayers. -- Isa 2:6; Da 2:27. False prophets. -- Jer 14:14; Eze 13:3,6. Effected through Enchantments. -- Ex 7:11; Nu 24:1. Sorcery. -- Isa 47”
- 2 Chronicles “He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and practiced sorcery, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger. -- 2 Chronicles 33:6”
- Mark “Mark 3:15 (LEB) — and to have authority to expel demons.”
- 2 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Thessalonians 2:9: whose coming--The same Greek as was used for the Lord's coming (Th2 2:8) or personal "presence." is--in its essential character. after--according to the working ("energy") of Satan, as opposed to the energy or working of the Holy Spirit in the Church (see on Eph 1:19). As Christ is related to God, so is Antichrist to Satan, his visible embodiment and manifestation: Satan works through him. Rev 13:2, "The dragon gave him (the beast) his power . . . seat . . . great authority." lying wonders--literally, "wonders" or "prodigies of falsehood.”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 16:14: devils--Greek, "demons." working miracles--Greek, "signs." go forth unto--or "for," that is, to tempt them to the battle with Christ. the kings of the earth and, &c.--A, B, Syriac, and ANDREAS omit "of the earth and," which clause is not in any manuscript. Translate, "kings of the whole habitable world," who are "of this world," in contrast to "the kings of (from) the East" (the sun-rising), Rev 16:12, namely, the saints to whom Christ has appointed a kingdom, and who are "children of light." God, in permitting Satan's miracles, as in the ca”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 4:36: 4:36 What authority and power this man’s words possess! Magicians and exorcists often used elaborate rituals and incantations. The people were amazed that Jesus merely spoke a word on his own authority and cast out the demon.”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 19:13: 19:13-16 Paul’s effectiveness is contrasted with the impotence of the traveling Jewish exorcists, who used the name of Jesus as though it were magical but did not have a relationship with him or the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit (cp. Matt 12:27; Mark 9:38-39; Luke 9:49-50; 11:19).”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 13:13: wonders--Greek, "signs." so that--so great that. maketh fire--Greek, "maketh even fire." This is the very miracle which the two witnesses perform, and which Elijah long ago had performed; this the beast from the bottomless pit, or the false prophet, mimics. Not merely tricks, but miracles of a demoniacal kind, and by demon aid, like those of the Egyptian magicians, shall be wrought, most calculated to deceive; wrought "after the working (Greek, 'energy') of Satan."”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 8:28: 8:28-34 This episode focuses on Jesus’ authority as well as on the cost of following him; those who walk by faith will, like the Messiah, also experience opposition. 8:28 possessed by demons . . . so violent: Demon-possession was often accompanied by violence, revulsion at the presence of the Son of God (8:29), inability to speak (9:32; 12:22), blindness (12:22), seizures (17:15), and self-destructive behavior (17:15). With Jesus’ exorcisms, the power of the Kingdom broke into human history (12:28).”