Christ Triumphant: Exorcism Then and Now
Twelftree, Graham H. Christ Triumphant: Exorcism Then and Now (London: Hodder and Stroughton, 1985).
Below is the table of contents and the preface from Christ Triumphant, Twelftree's first book. Since the book is out of print, a pdf file of the book is available for free download.
Table of Contents
Preface
I. The Debate
II. The New Testament World
III. Jesus and Exorcism
IV. The Early Church
V. Twentieth-Century Man/The Post-Modern Mind
VI. Exorcism Now
Notes
Further Reading
Indexes
PREFACE
I am not an exorcist, nor am I – to misquote Amos 7:14 – the son of an exorcist. But I am concerned that the Church take the canon of Scripture seriously; that in its ongoing hermeneutical task the Church should allow Scripture to be, as Macquarie phrases it, one of the important ‘formative factors’ of its theology and practice. This may include exorcism. For thinking Christians this hermeneutical task is not simply a repeating or transliterating of the Bible into the twentieth century situation – it cannot be, we live in a different world. In a mere transliteration of the Bible we may do serious damage to, and misunderstand the message of the biblical writers. Because of this, the fresh results of New Testament scholarship are continually needed in this task of translating effectively the Good News for the Church and its mission to the world.
This book arises out of research begun at Nottingham University on exorcism in the New Testament and in the twentieth century. Restrictions of time and space meant that the product of that research was limited to Jesus as an exorcist. The present study fulfils an obligation to myself to continue in the work through to include an examination of exorcism in the early Churches as represented in the writings of the New Testament; it is a self-contained sequel to my Jesus the Exorcist (Tübingen: Mohr and Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1993). But as a mere historian of the New Testament is of little service to the contemporary Christian community the results of this examination need to be applied to the present debate on the possibility and form of exorcism. Therefore, as this book is intended for a more general readership than just academics – though I hope it will not be without interest to them also – I have tried to limit footnotes to a minimum. I am painfully aware that a great deal of valuable literature has therefore not been mentioned. What has been cited, however, should lead the inquiring reader to other relevant material.
A sense of my own inadequacies, especially in attempting to enter the present debate, causes me considerable hesitation and tentativeness in the conclusions to which I have come. So, despite any dogmatism herein, I must not give the impression that my mind is any more than in transit in relation to exorcism in the twentieth century; these are soundings of my thinking at the time of writing. I would welcome interaction from those kind enough to take the trouble.
At the conclusion of this study I am conscious of a debt of gratitude owed to all those who have contributed to its making and completion. I am happy to acknowledge the help of staff of libraries at Nottingham University, Kings College (London) and Heythrop College (London), the British Library (London), Parkin-Wesley College (Adelaide) and the State Library of South Australia (Adelaide).
I am thankful to Dr Murray Harris (Cambridge), Dr Vic Pfitzner (Adelaide), Dr David Wenham (Cambridge) and Mr David Wright (Edinburgh) for reading and commenting on parts of this study. I am particularly indebted to Dr Stephen Travis (Nottingham) who carefully read the entire manuscript and offered many useful comments that have helped determine the final shape of this book. I continue to value the friendship and encouragement of my Doctor-father Professor James Dunn (Durham) and am also very grateful to him for his detailed comments on the whole manuscript.
Most of the writing here was squeezed into a busy life while I was New Testament lecturer on the Staff of All Souls Church and Theological College, Langham Place, London. It was a privilege to work in such a challenging place and with such stimulating colleagues. I am particularly grateful to my students (1980-83) for their questioning and encouragement. It is a pleasure to recall their contribution to this book. It was Miss Susie Radford who, with speed and accuracy, cheerfully turned endless pages of my scrawl into type. Thank you Susie! I am also grateful to Miss Carolyn Armitage of Hodder and Stoughton for her many suggestions that have improved this book and to Mr David Wavre, the Religious Books Editor, for his patient and diligent care in seeing the manuscript through the press.
Finally, to Barbara and the children I say ‘Thank you’ for their patience while waiting for the completion of another project. It is to them that I dedicate this book. There should be a little more time now for football (Aussie Rules!) and walking.
Graham H. Twelftree
Adelaide
Pentecost 1984