In this episode we address the topic of exorcism in the early church, particularly from the lens of Hebrew cosmology and Christian mission to a pagan world from the second century onward. Connecting the dots between research on exorcism in Late Antiquity and Divine Council Scholarship, we explain why Christian exorcism became a major force for the conversion of the Roman Empire.

TIMESTAMPS

0:46 Introduction: Why this episode and why here in the narrative?

4:28 Our argument and method: making early exorcism studies and Divine Council scholarship speak to each other

5:52 What is the Divine Council?

12:45 How did the Church “forget” the Divine Council tradition of the Hebrews?

15:55 The Four Falls of Angels (Eden, Watchers, Nephilim, Babel) and Three Falls of Men (Eden, Cain, Babel), according to Genesis.

19:02 The Hebrew vision of “the nations” and their predicament with their gods

20:16 Second Temple Judaism’s view of the gentiles and changing purity laws

26:23 The emergence of Jewish exorcism and 4 major forms of exorcism in the ancient world

31:13 The peculiar form of Jesus’ exorcism and the advance of the Kingdom of God

39:07 the form of the Apostles’ exorcisms and its place in apostolic ministry to the nations

44:28 Romans 1: Paul’s commentary on the state of the Gentiles from Babel to his day

48:16 Ephesians 6: Paul’s description of apostolic ministry among the Gentiles as breaking their pacts with the gods

52:20 Early Second Century silence about exorcism. Why?

56:37 The Didache: a whisper of exorcism prior to baptism?

59:15 Epistle of Barnabas, exorcism, and baptism: two opposing scholarly views

1:02:09 Mark’s 16th chapter

1:03:37 Mid-Late Second Century Fathers’ view of the gods and the place of exorcism (overview)

1:09:45 How the Christians began to revolutionize the pagan mind

1:11:40 Tertullian on Exorcism

1:17:43 The emergence of the minor order of exorcists

1:20:12 Minucius Felix’s “Octavius” on Exorcism

1:23:56 Conclusion

(and stay tuned for our follow up episode where we offer personal “Catholic Takeaways” on this topic!)

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