The Gerasene Demoniac
The Gerasene Demoniac
William Bennett
Danika Cross
Damilola Edu
REL 325
December, 3 2012
Professor Sowards
Abstract
In the story of the Gerasene Demoniac there are many similarities and differences. Upon reading the story we learn that Jesus has complete control over demons not just when they are in people but also what will happen to them once they leave the individuals. (Boxall, I. I. 2007) This story also has many different interpretations, one of the most common being that it is an analogy for mental illnesses of the time and Jesus 's attempt to have better treatment of and for them.
Synopsis The story of The Gerasene Demoniac is about when Jesus came to Gersasene and exercised a demon out of a man or men. After the demon was exercised it requested of Jesus to allow them to enter a heard of pigs instead of leaving the region or being sent to the abyss. With Jesus 's permission the demons entered the heard and drove them into a lake in which they drowned. Upon hearing of the cured man and of the loss of pigs the people of the area pleaded with Jesus to leave the region.
Differences
The Gerasene Demoniac refers to a story that is is in the triple tradition of the new testament. (Boxall, I. I., 2007) Even though this pericope is in all three of the synoptic gospels they have a few key differences. One of the largest is that in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus is restoring two possessed men while in the Gospels of Luke and Mark there is only one man that is being restored. This may be to simplify because in the Gospel of Luke and Mark the demon is called Legion because they are many, and in order to keep with the spirit of multiple demons for people to understand Matthew simply put two men instead of one. Another distinct difference between The Gospel of Matthew and that of the Gospels of Luke and Mark is that in The Gospel of Matthew the location is referred to as Gadarenes.("Gadarenes, Girgesenes, Gerasenes," n.d.) It is believed that this is the city or town
William Bennett
Danika Cross
Damilola Edu
REL 325
December, 3 2012
Professor Sowards
Abstract
In the story of the Gerasene Demoniac there are many similarities and differences. Upon reading the story we learn that Jesus has complete control over demons not just when they are in people but also what will happen to them once they leave the individuals. (Boxall, I. I. 2007) This story also has many different interpretations, one of the most common being that it is an analogy for mental illnesses of the time and Jesus 's attempt to have better treatment of and for them.
Synopsis The story of The Gerasene Demoniac is about when Jesus came to Gersasene and exercised a demon out of a man or men. After the demon was exercised it requested of Jesus to allow them to enter a heard of pigs instead of leaving the region or being sent to the abyss. With Jesus 's permission the demons entered the heard and drove them into a lake in which they drowned. Upon hearing of the cured man and of the loss of pigs the people of the area pleaded with Jesus to leave the region.
Differences
The Gerasene Demoniac refers to a story that is is in the triple tradition of the new testament. (Boxall, I. I., 2007) Even though this pericope is in all three of the synoptic gospels they have a few key differences. One of the largest is that in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus is restoring two possessed men while in the Gospels of Luke and Mark there is only one man that is being restored. This may be to simplify because in the Gospel of Luke and Mark the demon is called Legion because they are many, and in order to keep with the spirit of multiple demons for people to understand Matthew simply put two men instead of one. Another distinct difference between The Gospel of Matthew and that of the Gospels of Luke and Mark is that in The Gospel of Matthew the location is referred to as Gadarenes.("Gadarenes, Girgesenes, Gerasenes," n.d.) It is believed that this is the city or town
Bibliography: Autism. (2012, May 16). A.D.A.M Medical Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002494/ Boxall, I. I. (2007). Reading the Synoptic Gospels : The Case of the Gerasene Demoniac. Scripture Bulletin, 37(2), 51-65. Gadarenes, Girgesenes, Gerasenes. (n.d.). BibleGateway.com Dictionaries:. Retrieved from http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionaries/dict_meaning.php?source=3 Luke. (n.d.). In New International Version. Retrieved from http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%208&version=NIV Mark. (n.d.). In New International Version. Retrieved from http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%205%20&version=NIV Matthew. (n.d.). In New International Version. Retrieved from http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%208&version=NIV SMITH, T. (2010). THE GERASENE DEMONIAC Disability Support Worker 's Commentary. Compass (10369686), 44(2), 38-40.