How was the term “demon” viewed by early Christian people?
• Did the inspired writers give any special attention or definition to it? • Not only did the Greeks and Jews make the distinction between “demons” and “evil angels”, but the inspired writers used the term demon (in various forms) at least 75 times. However, on no occasion did any give a hint of a special or private interpretation of the term demon used by inspiration. Without exception, they used a different word to describe demons than those used to describe God, angels, and man. • As mentioned in lesson 3, the Greek language made ample distinction between the words “Demon”, “Devil”, and “Satan’. When Paul prayed that the Thessalonian’s “body, soul and spirit should be preserved”, perhaps he did not realize men would struggle for 2,000 years afterward to define soul and spirit as well as demons and sinful angels. • The Son of God and the apostles had no difficulty identifying “demons” and/or “evil spirits” and conversing with them. • In Acts 19:15 an evil spirit declared to the seven
