Demonology Details

The preaching passage for this morning, Mark 5:1–20, contains many details to help us in our demonology (“study of demons”). I would encourage you to read through the passage several times first, and then afterwards consult this paper. Also, look at the various verses referenced. I present the following comments as biblically-informed opinions, not as “Thus saith the Lord.” So, chew up the meat and spit out the bones!

The passage emphasizes that these spirits that harm the man are “unclean” (v. 2). Notice that Mark does not use the term “demon” in this section, though he does use the “demon” elsewhere in his gospel (e.g., 1:34, 39; 3:15, 3:22, etc.). Unclean spirits are the same as demons, but “unclean spirit” designates something unique about these demonic entities. My take (though not the opinion of all Christians!) is that these spirits are “unclean” because they come from the unnatural union of the “sons of God” with the “daughters of man” from Gen 6:4. Unclean spirits are the spirits of the Nephilim who dwell upon the earth in a disembodied state. These spirits desire to inhabit bodies (see Matt 12:43–45), and this craving is why the spirits want to possess the swine (Mark 5:12). These spirits fear that Christ will send them to Hades (“I adjure you by God, do not torment me” from Mark 5:7), which is where other demonic entities are currently being punished (see Eze 32:27; Jude 6; Pet 2:4). After the pigs drown, the unclean spirits depart from the pigs, venturing out to look for another host to inhabit—whether human or animal.

With the demonic, we mustn’t be overly curious, nor totally ignorant. My take is that the unseen realm is a lot weirder than Christians understand. Balance is knowing what Scripture says and knowing what Scripture does not say. Let’s end with the simple reminder: Christ wins, so trust in Him (Col 2:15).

Pastor Chance Sumner