Theological glossary · FaithLogic

Demon

A fallen angel — an 'unclean spirit' that opposes God and afflicts, deceives, or (in the Gospels) possesses human beings; decisively defeated by Christ and awaiting judgment.

Greek daimonion (a diminutive of daimōn); in pagan use a 'divinity' or intermediate spirit, redefined in the NT as an evil spirit.

Matthew 8:28–34; 12:22–29, 43–45; Mark 1:23–27; 5:1–20; Luke 10:17–20; 1 Corinthians 10:19–21; 1 Timothy 4:1; James 2:19; Revelation 9:20; 16:14.

Identified with the angels who 'did not stay within their own position' (Jude 6; 2 Pet 2:4). Lateran IV: the demons 'were created by God naturally good, but they became evil by their own doing.' The NT identifies the reality behind idolatry as demonic (1 Cor 10:20). Jesus' exorcisms are signs that 'the kingdom of God has come upon you'.

Real, personal, malignant — but creatures, weak and defeated (Athanasius: they 'act a play on a stage'); the response is resistance, faith, and the armour of God, not fear or fascination.

The relation of demonisation to mental illness (over-diagnosis has done harm; a purely materialist frame is also inadequate); the practice of exorcism / deliverance.

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