Demon possession in New Testament times was real, contends the author in the face of rationalistic denials. A study of the Gospels reveals that genuine demon possession had two distinctive elements: (1) "insanity or idiocy of some sort, forming the natural element,” and (2) "the confession of Jesus as Messiah, forming the supernatural element.”

The author's research also led him to conclude that demon possession in the New Testament is "a unique phenomenon in the history of the world, being confined indeed to the earlier portion of the ministry of our Lord.” Why did this phenomenon erupt when it did? "The incarnation initiated the establishment of the kingdom of heaven upon earth. That determined a countermovement among the powers of darkness. Genuine demonic possession was one of its manifestations.”

Entire chapters are devoted to historic demonology, medical aspects of demonic possession, the existence of genuine demonic possession, the New Testament narratives concerning the "Beelzebul controversy” and the "Gerasene affair,” and the alleged continuance of genuine demonic possession.

Author - William M. Alexander

F. F. Bruce describes this book as a "valuable work on the subject” and characterizes its author as "a remarkably versatile scholar, holding doctorates in medicine, science, and divinity.”