What Did Ancient Christians Say When They Cast Out Demons? Inferences from Spells and Amulets

Abstract

In the second and third centuries CE, Christian apologists contrast the simplicity and efficacy of their forms of exorcism with the elaborate and incomprehensible incantations employed by polytheists and ‘false’ Christians. Since these writers emphasize discontinuity rather than continuity with ambient customs, it is useful to compare their claims with documentary evidence of Christian exorcistic practices. Some inferences about what Christians said when they exorcised evil spirits can be drawn from Greek spells and amulets with Christian elements from Egypt. The evidence both confirms and contradicts the apologists’ claims. There are many indications that Christians adjured evil spirits by the name or power of Jesus, and that the invocation of his name or power could be accompanied by a creedal acclamation, as the apologists say. But at the same time Christian exorcists as likely as not reiterated customary practices of incantation, including the uttering of esoteric names, threatening injunctions, and multiple adjurations.