Greek ἐξορκισμός (exorkismos) — "expulsion by oath." From ἐξ (ex, "out") + ὅρκος (horkos, "oath, vow"). The verb ἐξορκίζω (exorkizō, G1844) means "to adjure, to charge under oath." The cognate ἐξορκιστής (exorkistēs, G1845) appears in Acts 19:13 for the Jewish exorcists who attempted to invoke the name of Jesus. The concept of expelling unclean spirits by divine authority is woven throughout the Gospels as a central sign of the Kingdom's arrival.
Exorcism in its biblical sense is the authoritative expulsion of demonic spirits through the power and name of Jesus Christ — a tangible demonstration that the Kingdom of God has invaded enemy-occupied territory. It is not a magical formula or ritual technique, but an act of sovereign authority rooted in Christ's defeat of Satan at the cross. When Jesus cast out demons, He did so with a word (Matthew 8:16), without elaborate ceremony, as the Lord of creation reclaiming what is His. He granted this same authority to the Twelve and the Seventy (Luke 9:1, 10:17–20), establishing that the Church participates in His ongoing victory over the powers of darkness. The New Testament distinguishes this Kingdom authority from pagan exorcism attempts (Acts 19:13–16), which lacked the relational standing and divine backing that only genuine discipleship provides. Biblical exorcism is inseparable from the gospel proclamation (Mark 16:17), spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10–18), and the regenerating work of the Spirit, who alone can permanently occupy a cleansed house (Luke 11:24–26).
EXORCISM — The expulsion of evil spirits by conjuration, prayers, and ceremonies. The practice of exorcism is founded on the belief that evil spirits can possess persons and that they may be expelled by appropriate rites. It was practiced among the Jews before and during the time of our Savior, and is still practiced in some Christian churches. [Webster 1828]
Note: Webster's framing reflects the then-current Roman Catholic rite as the dominant cultural reference, yet the scriptural warrant stands entirely in Christ's own acts and the authority He delegated to His disciples — not in developed ecclesiastical ceremony.
Modern culture has simultaneously trivialized and sensationalized exorcism. Hollywood reduces it to horror spectacle (The Exorcist), while liberal theology dismisses all demonic language as pre-scientific mythology — as if Jesus was simply misdiagnosing epilepsy. Both errors miss the mark. On the other side, some charismatic streams have inflated exorcism into a technique divorced from the gospel, holding that Christians can be "demon-possessed" and requiring elaborate deliverance rituals for ordinary sanctification issues. The biblical corrective is clear: exorcism is a real Kingdom act, not theater; Satan is a real enemy, not a metaphor; and Christ's authority, not ritual procedure, is the ground of any legitimate deliverance. The indwelt believer cannot be "possessed" (1 Corinthians 6:19), though spiritual oppression is a genuine battlefield reality.
• Matthew 12:28 — "But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."
• Luke 10:17–20 — "The seventy-two returned with joy…'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!'"
• Acts 19:13–16 — The seven sons of Sceva attempt unauthorized exorcism; the demon answers, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?"
• Mark 1:27 — "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."
• Colossians 2:15 — "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him."
Greek ἐξορκίζω (exorkizō, G1844) — to adjure, to bind by oath, to exorcise → Matthew 26:63: High priest adjures Jesus to answer Greek ἐξορκιστής (exorkistēs, G1845) — exorcist → Acts 19:13: Jewish itinerant exorcists Greek δαιμόνιον (daimonion, G1140) — demon, evil spirit → Most common NT term for unclean spirits (Matt 8:31; Luke 8:30) Greek πνεῦμα ἀκάθαρτον (pneuma akatharton) — unclean spirit → Mark 1:23; 3:11 — the synoptic designation for indwelling evil spirits Hebrew שֵׁד (shed, H7700) — demon, idol-spirit → Deuteronomy 32:17: "They sacrificed to demons, not to God" → Psalm 106:37: "They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons" Hebrew רוּחַ רָעָה (ruach ra'ah) — evil spirit → 1 Samuel 16:14 — an evil spirit from the LORD troubled Saul → Used for spirits of oppression, torment, divination
• "The frequency of exorcism in the Synoptic Gospels is not incidental — it is a headline announcement that the strong man's house is being plundered (Matthew 12:29)."
• "The sons of Sceva remind every generation that exorcism is not a technique to be borrowed but an authority that flows from genuine union with Christ."
• "When Jesus healed the Gerasene demoniac, He showed that no level of demonic bondage is beyond the reach of His sovereign word — and He sent the man back to testify among his own people."