Excision as Exorcism: Some Possible Demonic Roots for Jesus’s Sayings in Mark 9:43–48
In Mark 9:43–48, Jesus suggests amputating an eye, hand or foot in response to sinfulness. This article contextualises Jesus’s sayings among ancient Jewish traditions of the body and the demonic. Several ancient Jewish texts associate demons with specific body parts. The author here argues that it i...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Novum Testamentum
Year: 2025, Volume: 67, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-20 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Markusevangelium 9,43-48
/ Exorcism
/ Self-mutilation
/ Demon
/ Member of the body
|
| IxTheo Classification: | HC New Testament HD Early Judaism KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity NBH Angelology; demonology |
| Further subjects: | B
demons—exorcism—Second Temple Judaism—Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs—anthropology
B Mark 9:43–48 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | In Mark 9:43–48, Jesus suggests amputating an eye, hand or foot in response to sinfulness. This article contextualises Jesus’s sayings among ancient Jewish traditions of the body and the demonic. Several ancient Jewish texts associate demons with specific body parts. The author here argues that it is not unreasonable to propose that Jesus’s command to auto-amputate was an exorcistic suggestion. In some ancient Jewish and early Christian contexts, sinfulness was understood as a demonic force that has gained control over a specific organ, and excision would have been a viable therapeutic solution. |
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| ISSN: | 1568-5365 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Novum Testamentum
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15685365-bja10089 |
