Christians have long feared the power of Biblical demons — but what does the Bible actually say about these evil entities?
Heritage Image Partnership Ltd/Alamy Stock PhotoThe Demons by David Ryckaert III.
The field of demonology has been heavily obscured over the years, especially in recent decades amidst Satanic Panic in America. In a sense, the study of Biblical demons has often been oversimplified as “Devil worship.” In addition, many traditionally non-demonic spirits have been categorized as “demons,” simply because they do not fall within the bounds of Christian beliefs — take pagan gods or traditional Native American spirits.
But both the Bible and the text Daemonologie, penned by King James VI and I in 1597, are fairly clear about what demons are: fallen angels and evil spirits. Though the Bible (understandably) doesn’t give as many details about demons as it does angels, Daemonologie and other compilations have attempted to name and describe as many demons as possible. Sometimes, they serve as metaphorical representations of the Seven Deadly Sins.
So, here’s what the Bible has to say about demons — and how King James and other writers have tried to categorize these villainous entities.
Biblical Demons According To The Old And New Testaments — And Other Ancient Religious Texts
Public DomainThe fallen angel Lucifer, who rebelled against God and was cast out of Heaven.
If we’re to talk about Biblical demons, there is no better starting point than the Bible — and other ancient religious texts. There are two contexts through which the creation of evil can be observed: the Adamic and the Enochic. The former views the birth of evil from the perspective of Adam’s temptation in the Garden of Eden, described in the Old Testament Book of Genesis, and the fall of man, though this doesn’t paint the most detailed picture.
The Enochic perspective, however, goes into more detail about what led to the creation of Biblical demons. The Enochic timeline states that demons emerged due to fallen angels who stood against God’s will and wanted to corrupt humankind. (Curiously, the Book of Enoch is not included in the Bible, but there are numerous references to Enoch in the New Testament.)
The Enochic version of events often mentions angels specifically by name, particularly Satanael, Azazel, and the archangels Michael and Lucifer, the latter of whom was once one of God’s favorite angels. However, Lucifer, along with some other “fallen angels,” eventually rebelled against God, waging a war in Heaven against God’s loyal angels, led by Michael.
In the end, the rebel angels were defeated and cast out of Heaven. Some made their new home in Hell, while others were imprisoned. Revelation 12:9 speaks of this infamous fall, stating, “The great dragon was hurled down — that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”
Public DomainA depiction of the fall of the rebellious angels by Hieronymus Bosch.
It is perhaps partially due to this passage that there is some confusion today surrounding Satan and Lucifer, with many believing that those are two names for the same being. Some religious scholars disagree with that theory, though, insisting that Satan and the Devil are indeed one being, but that Lucifer was a separate entity entirely. Some authors have also claimed that Satan was never an angel at all and simply the source of all evil.
Other Bible verses reference fallen angels who paid a hefty price for their unsuccessful rebellion against God in Heaven, such as Jude 1:6, which states, “And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling — these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.”
Public DomainThe Torment of Saint Anthony by Michelangelo.
The latter half of this passage also refers to Judgment Day, or the Day of Reckoning, which is mentioned in numerous canonical Christian texts and is said to be closely connected to the Second Coming of Christ, when Jesus will descend from Heaven and judge all people, both living and dead. Some religious leaders have also suggested that Judgment Day will be preceded by a war between Heaven and Hell, though not all Christian sects believe this.
Generally speaking, though, aside from some discussions about Satan and Lucifer, very few Biblical demons are actually mentioned by name in the Bible — and in the instances where they are, they are often interpreted as other names for Satan or the Devil. And since demons in the Bible are evil spirits — not physical beings — it’s often difficult to describe their exact appearance. However, later religious scholars and writers, particularly King James VI and I, assigned more specific classifications to Biblical demons, and this school of thought came to be known as demonology.
The Demons In The Bible Versus The Demons Explored In Demonology
Public DomainThe Nightmare by Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard.
Demonology has long been a controversial topic, especially among Christians. The group Catholic Answers, for example, quotes Albertus Magnus when commenting on the subject of demonology: “It is taught by the demons, it teaches about the demons, and it leads to the demons.”
While the subject of Biblical demons has long intimidated many people, some writers have become so fascinated by the topic that they felt compelled to categorize demons — even before King James VI and I. The ancient Jewish apocalyptic religious text Book of Enoch, for example, claimed that demons were the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and human women. The Book of Enoch states:
“And now, the giants, who are produced from the spirits and flesh, shall be called evil spirits upon the earth, and on the earth shall be their dwelling. Evil spirits have proceeded from their bodies; because they are born from men and from the holy Watchers is their beginning and primal origin; they shall be evil spirits on earth, and evil spirits shall they be called.”
Public DomainSt. Francis Borgia Helping a Dying Impenitent by Francisco Goya.
The Bible, too, makes some attempts at describing demons. Corinthians states, “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light,” suggesting that demons could appear to humans as angels and deceive them.
Meanwhile, the Book of Revelation offers this terrifying apocalyptic vision: “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were blasphemous names… Then I saw another beast that rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb, and it spoke like a dragon.” Revelation goes on to say that “foul spirits” or demonic spirits will emerge “like frogs” from the mouths of the beast and the dragon, as well as a false prophet, preparing for battle against God.
While frightening stories like these could certainly discourage people from seeking out more information about Biblical demons — and some people could indeed fear that demonology “leads to the demons” — demonology can also be understood as a theological study of Christian texts and other ancient texts associated with different Abrahamic religions. Furthermore, demonology could also be viewed as an attempt to distill that information into a more concise package so that believers can understand.
With that out of the way, let’s explore how King James VI and I categorized demons more specifically and helped establish the field of demonology.
The Categorization Of Biblical Demons According To Demonology
Public DomainSt. Michael Vanquishing Satan by Raphael.
King James VI and I, who ruled over Scotland and then later England and Scotland, published his dissertation Daemonologie in 1597, years before his famous version of the Bible. James’ interest in demonology came about after the North Berwick witch trials in 1590, and as such, his text pulls from the Bible, the confessions of alleged witches, and past cases from history.
Public DomainIllustration of the famous “witch finder” Matthew Hopkins.
In compiling these various sources, King James aimed to essentially prove the existence of witchcraft and the dark arts through a Christian lens. Split into three books, Daemonologie focuses on not only witchcraft but also topics like magic, curses, necromancy, charms, sorcery, and spirits.
Public DomainThe demon Beelzebub, sometimes referred to as the Lord of the Flies.
And as the title implies, Daemonologie also includes a categorization of demons. Generally, this includes four specific categories: Spectra, spirits that cling to specific locations; Obsession, spirits like succubi or incubi that appear at certain times of the day; Possession, spirits that inhabit another living person’s body; and Faries, illusionary spirits that consort with and transport the people they serve (perhaps a witch).
Public DomainMammon, a demon representing greed.
Though King James VI and I is often credited with establishing the general field of demonology, he certainly wasn’t the only person who tried to categorize Biblical demons around this time period.
German theologian Peter Binsfeld identified seven specific demons that came to be known as the Princes of Hell, which aligned with the Seven Deadly Sins: Lucifer (pride), Mammon (greed), Asmodeus (lust), Leviathan (envy), Beelzebub (gluttony), Satan (wrath), and Belphegor (sloth).
And German polymath Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa drafted one of the most complete compilations of demons — but it wasn’t without problems.
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa’s Classification Of Demons — And The Issues With It
Public DomainBelphegor, the demon often associated with the sin of sloth.
According to Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, Hell has a hierarchy that’s similar to the hierarchy of Heaven, with demons assigned to specific roles. While his classifications don’t name every demon, he does give names to many key demons, some of which are mentioned in the Bible.
These include Beelzebub, often referred to as the Lord of the Flies; Python, who oversees the Spirits of Lying; Belial, the Instrument of Iniquity and Wrath; Asmodeus, who lords over the Revengers of Wickedness; Satan, the Imitator of Miracles; Merihem, who oversees the Aerial Powers; Abaddon, the Sower of Mischief; Astaroth, the Calumniator; and Mammon, the Tempter and Ensnarer. Agrippa also describes Lucifer as the Prince of Rebellion, and refers to other Abrahamic figures such as Behemoth and Leviathan.
Public DomainAsmodeus, said to be the demon of lust.
There are several issues, however, in comparing Agrippa’s categorization to true Biblical demons. For instance, Beelzebub is a name derived from a Philistine god, once worshipped in Ekron, and some other demons in his works are also taken from pagan religions (Pazuzu, the demon famously portrayed in the movie The Exorcist, is another example of this).
Agrippa’s attempt at categorizing demons — and subsequent attempts by like-minded individuals — is likely part of the reason why the subjects of Biblical demons and demonology are so obfuscated in modern times. As more people attempted to blend historical religions with the occult under a Christian framework, the larger definition of “Biblical demon” continued to balloon until much of the original context was lost.
As a result, many things considered “demonic” today, including some beliefs, rituals, and other themes that were feared during the period of Satanic Panic, were never originally associated with the Devil in Christianity.
Still, the history of how this modern understanding came to be is nonetheless complex and fascinating, illustrating, truly, how all-encompassing Christianity eventually became in the Western world.
After reading about Biblical demons, learn about Anton LaVey, the man who founded the Church of Satan, and Aleister Crowley, the occultist who created Thelema. Then, discover nine horrifying tales of demonic possession.
