Basic HTML Version
(
+
, 1560), lit., “given up” ( , “out of,”
, “to give”), “delivered
up” (to enemies, or to the power or will of someone), is used of Christ in Acts 2:23.¶
DELUDE, DELUSION
A. Verb.
(
$ &
, 3884): see
BEGUILE
.
B. Noun.
(
1
, 4106), lit., “a wandering,” whereby those who are led astray roam
hither and thither, is always used in the NT, of mental straying, wrong opinion, error in
morals or religion. In 2 Thess. 2:11,
KJV
, it is translated delusion,
RV
, error. See
DECEIT
,
ERROR
.
DEMAND
Note:
For DEMAND (Matt. 2:4 and Acts 21:33), see
INQUIRE
; for its use in Luke 3:14
and 17:20, see under
ASK
.
DEMEANOR
(
1
, 2688): see
BEHAVIOR
, B, No. 2.
DEMON, DEMONIAC
A. Nouns.
1.
(
&
, 1142), “a demon,” signified, among pagan Greeks, an inferior
deity, whether good or bad. In the NT it denotes “an evil spirit.” It is used in Matt. 8:31,
mistranslated “devils.”
Some would derive the word from a root
, meaning “to distribute.” More
probably it is from a similar root
, meaning “to know,” and hence means “a knowing
one.Ӧ
2.
(
, 1140), not a diminutive of
, No. 1, but the neuter of
the adjective
, pertaining to a demon, is also mistranslated “devil,” “devils.” In
Acts 17:18, it denotes an inferior pagan deity. “Demons” are the spiritual agents acting in
all idolatry. The idol itself is nothing, but every idol has a “demon” associated with it
who induces idolatry, with its worship and sacrifices, 1 Cor. 10:20-21; Rev. 9:20; cf.
Deut. 32:17; Isa. 13:21; 34:14; 65:3, 11. They disseminate errors among men, and seek to
seduce believers, 1 Tim. 4:1. As seducing spirits they deceive men into the supposition
that through mediums (those who have “familiar spirits,” Lev. 20:6, 27, e.g.) they can
converse with deceased human beings. Hence the destructive deception of spiritism,
forbidden in Scripture, Lev. 19:31; Deut. 18:11; Isa. 8:19. “Demons” tremble before God,
Jas. 2:19; they recognized Christ as Lord and as their future Judge, Matt. 8:29; Luke 4:41.
Christ cast them out of human beings by His own power. His disciples did so in His
name, and by exercising faith, e.g., Matt. 17:20.
Acting under Satan (cf. Rev. 16:13-14), “demons” are permitted to afflict with bodily
disease, Luke 13:16. Being unclean they tempt human beings with unclean thoughts,
Matt. 10:1; Mark 5:2; 7:25; Luke 8:27-29; Rev. 16:13; 18:2, e.g. They differ in degrees of
wickedness, Matt. 12:45. They will instigate the rulers of the nations at the end of this
age to make war against God and His Christ, Rev. 16:14. See
DEVIL
.
B. Verb.