Topical Bible: Sorcery: Forbidden

◄ Sorcery: Forbidden ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Sorcery, often associated with the practice of magic, divination, and the invocation of spirits, is explicitly condemned in the Bible. The term encompasses a range of activities that seek to manipulate supernatural forces or gain hidden knowledge through means other than those sanctioned by God. The Bible consistently warns against such practices, emphasizing their incompatibility with the worship of the one true God.

Old Testament Prohibitions

The Old Testament contains clear prohibitions against sorcery and related practices. In the Law given to Moses, God commands the Israelites to avoid any form of witchcraft or divination. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , it is written: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD."

The severity of this prohibition is further underscored in Exodus 22:18 , which states, "You must not allow a sorceress to live." This reflects the seriousness with which God views the practice of sorcery, as it represents a direct challenge to His authority and a deviation from His prescribed ways.

Historical Context

Throughout the history of Israel, the temptation to engage in sorcery and similar practices was a recurring issue. The surrounding nations often practiced various forms of magic and divination, which sometimes influenced the Israelites. For instance, King Saul, in desperation, sought the counsel of a medium at Endor, an act that was condemned and led to his downfall (1 Samuel 28:7-19).

Prophetic Condemnation

The prophets of Israel also spoke out against sorcery. Isaiah 47:12-14 mocks the futility of Babylon's reliance on sorcery: "Persist, then, with your spells and with your many sorceries, at which you have labored from your youth... Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame."

New Testament Warnings

The New Testament continues the condemnation of sorcery. In Galatians 5:19-21 , sorcery is listed among the "acts of the flesh," which are contrary to the Spirit: "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

In Acts 8:9-24, Simon the Sorcerer attempts to buy the power of the Holy Spirit, revealing the incompatibility of sorcery with the Christian faith. Peter rebukes him, saying, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!" (Acts 8:20).

Final Judgment

The Book of Revelation also addresses the fate of those who practice sorcery. Revelation 21:8 warns that "the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

Conclusion

The consistent biblical message is that sorcery is a grave sin, representing a rebellion against God and a reliance on powers opposed to His will. The Bible calls believers to trust in God alone and to reject all forms of sorcery and divination.

Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 19:26-28,31
You shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall you use enchantment, nor observe times.
Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 20:6
And the soul that turns after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
Nave's Topical Index

Deuteronomy 18:9-14
When you are come into the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Sixth Commandment
... So, many kill little children by medicines that cause their death. (7) By
witchcraft and sorcery " which were forbidden under the law. ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 6 the sixth commandment.htm

Whether There was any Reasonable Cause for the Ceremonial ...
... the Egyptians, among whom they had grown up, offered up these forbidden animals
to their idols, or employed them for the purpose of sorcery: whereas they did ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there was any reasonable.htm

The Unclean Spirits.
... wizards and witches,"the practice of which was also expressly forbidden. ... By sorcery,
enchantment, &c., they performed wonders, or miracles, either real or ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the unclean spirits.htm

Divers Machinations of the Arians against Athanasius, and his ...
... in avoiding these and many other perils led to his being accused of sorcery by the ...
not be propitious to you; for it indicates that you will be forbidden by the ...
/.../chapter x divers machinations of the.htm

The Foundations of Good Citizenship.
... the accounts, Moses alone ascends the mountain, while the people are forbidden to
approach ... to what is not true; and (4) in the practice of sorcery or witchcraft ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study x the foundations of.htm

Tales by the Way
... The Christians, especially the monks, after Theodosius had forbidden sacrifices
in 386 ... of foolish persons at Antioch had tried by Pagan sorcery to discover the ...
/.../chapter xvi tales by the.htm

Letter ccxvii. To Amphilochius, the Canons.
... ed. suppose for the purpose of learning sorcery. ... see "binding and loosing" passing
from the Scriptural sense of declaring what acts are forbidden and committed ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter ccxvii to amphilochius the.htm

He Proceeds Again to Discuss the Impassibility of the Lord's ...
... the end, then, that we may not suffer either of these things forbidden, that we ... For
they who drink the deceit of sorcery from the same writing are changed to ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 4 he proceeds again.htm

Index.
... Endowments not accepted by the Saint for her monasteries, xxxv.4, 5; offered for
St. Joseph, xxxvi.19; and forbidden by a Brief, xxxix.20. ... i.6. Sorcery, v.10. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/index 2.htm

The Treatise
... So also in the Second Commandment we are forbidden to use His Name in ... telling what
a devilish allurement attaches to this trifling with sorcery, conjuring and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/a treatise on good works/the treatise.htm