"The supreme merit of Biblical Demonology is that it holds closely to the Word of God. . . . It will remain for many years to come the standard treatment of biblical demonology." —Dr. Wilbur M. Smith

This is a new release of the original 1952 edition.

This is a new release of the original 1952 edition.

As Christians, how do we address the contentious and often disturbing subject of demonology? Our cultural paradigms pit us between the extremes of skepticism and sensationalism. Increasingly diverse Christian communities are in desperate need of a biblical understanding of the demonic that transcends cultural frameworks – an understanding that will challenge assumptions, rebuke errors, and unite Christians in scriptural truth. Demonology for the Global Church endeavors to provide the biblical and theological essentials for a unified Christian perspective of the demonic. Avoiding speculation and anecdotal evidence, Scott D. MacDonald roots his analysis in Scripture. He frames a biblical demonology in light of global and contextual concerns, offering an understanding that avoids the pitfalls of anti-supernaturalism and over emphasis. If the church is to effectively overcome its spiritual adversaries, Christians from around the world must stand and resist together. This is an essential resource for the global church, relevant to students of theology, institutional scholars, cross-cultural missionaries, local pastors, and all types of Christian leaders.

Shows from theology, the Bible and counseling experiences that Christians can be affected by demonic activity. Equips believers to fight spiritual battles--and win.

Belief in the devil and other evil spirits of the Christian tradition is a topic that has been widely discussed in recent years. Since the release of movies such as 'Rosemary's Baby' and 'The Exorcist', more people are wondering, Is Satan really dead? Is there such a phenomenon as obsession or possession? In 'The Devil, Demonology, and Witchcraft', Henry Ansgar Kelly postulates his belief that the existence of evil spirits is not probable and suggests that Christians would be better off acting on the assumption that they do not exist. To prove his claim, the author sets forth a history and analysis of the impact of demonological traditions developed within Judaism and Christianity over the centuries. He then considers the incorporation of these notions into early Christian teaching with the resulting demonological dotrines of witchcraft, possession, and temptation. Kelly's conclusion is that Satan is dead, and demonology should be eliminated from Christian dogma since, according to his thesis, these manifestations in the Bible reflect the beliefs of local cultures and not divine revelation. The present edition has been substantially revised and updated by the author to include an evaluation and critique of 'The Exorcist', wherein Kelly challenges William Peter Blatty's facts of the alleged possession in 1949 on which 'The Exorcist' is based.