Topical Bible: Sorcery: Punishment For

◄ Sorcery: Punishment For ►

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In the biblical context, sorcery is consistently condemned as an abomination before God. The practice of sorcery, which involves the use of magic, divination, and the invocation of spirits, is seen as a direct challenge to the sovereignty and holiness of God. The Bible provides clear instructions regarding the punishment for those who engage in such practices.

Old Testament

The Old Testament explicitly prohibits sorcery and prescribes severe penalties for those who practice it. In the Mosaic Law, sorcery is listed among the detestable practices of the nations that Israel was to drive out from the Promised Land. The Israelites were commanded to avoid these practices to remain holy and set apart for God.

In Exodus 22:18, the law is unequivocal: "You must not allow a sorceress to live." This command underscores the seriousness with which sorcery was viewed, warranting the death penalty for practitioners. The severity of this punishment reflects the threat that sorcery posed to the spiritual purity and covenantal faithfulness of the Israelite community.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 further elaborates on the prohibition of sorcery, listing it alongside other forbidden practices such as divination, witchcraft, and consulting the dead. The passage states: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you."

New Testament

The New Testament continues to denounce sorcery, emphasizing its incompatibility with the Christian life. In Galatians 5:19-21, sorcery is listed among the "acts of the flesh," which are contrary to the fruit of the Spirit. The passage warns that "those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

In the book of Acts, the account of Simon the Sorcerer illustrates the early church's stance against sorcery. Simon, who had practiced sorcery in Samaria, attempted to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from the apostles. Peter rebuked him sharply, saying, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!" (Acts 8:20). This incident highlights the incompatibility of sorcery with the gospel message and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.

Revelation 21:8 provides a sobering reminder of the eternal consequences for those who persist in sorcery: "But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death."

Conclusion

Throughout Scripture, sorcery is consistently condemned and met with severe punishment. The biblical narrative underscores the importance of remaining faithful to God and rejecting practices that seek power apart from Him. The prescribed punishments serve as a warning to maintain spiritual purity and allegiance to the one true God.

Nave's Topical Index

Exodus 22:18
You shall not suffer a witch to live.
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Leviticus 20:27
A man also or woman that has a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be on them.
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Deuteronomy 13:5
And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he has spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust you out of the way which the LORD your God commanded you to walk in. So shall you put the evil away from the middle of you.
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Library

Acts xiii. 4, 5
... act of punishing, but as meant for his conversion: had it been for punishment, he
would ... For, as he was prepossessed by the sorcery, it was well to teach him a ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxviii acts xiii 4.htm

Letter ccxvii. To Amphilochius, the Canons.
... [2841] The Ben. ed. suppose for the purpose of learning sorcery. cf. Can. lxxxiii.,
where a lighter punishment is assigned to consulters of wizards. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter ccxvii to amphilochius the.htm

Celsus in the Next Place Says, with Indescribable Silliness...
... those who have died a wretched death on account of their sorcery, or whatever ... be
able to say regarding even a robber and murderer whom punishment had overtaken ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xliv celsus in the.htm

Further, the Martyrdom of Barsamya, the Bishop of the Blessed City ...
... eschew murder, and sorcery, and adultery, and theft, and bribery and fraud, and
those things for which the laws of our Majesty also exact punishment from those ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/further the martyrdom of barsamya.htm

The Destruction of Babylon.
... thy merchants were the nobles of the earth; for by thy sorcery all nations ... The
punishment of Babylon is proportioned to her wickedness, and is to be inflicted ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the destruction of babylon.htm

Knox and Queen Mary (Continued): 1563-1564
... Moray especially hated Ruthven "for his sorcery"; the superstitious Moray affected ...
captured some priests, and threatened others with "the punishment that God ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter xvi knox and queen.htm

John i. 1
... of mortal bodies which shall hereafter be immortal; on punishment and the ... occupied
Magna Gr??cia, [28] and practiced there ten thousand kinds of sorcery. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily ii john i 1.htm

1 Cor. Ix. 24
... that we may not depart hence without excuse, and have to endure the extreme punishment. ...
For there are, there are those that utterly derided this sorcery [114 ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxiii 1 cor ix.htm

The Unclean Spirits.
... by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to ... By sorcery,
enchantment, &c., they performed wonders, or miracles, either real or ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the unclean spirits.htm

The Heresy of Carpocrates; Wicked Doctrines Concerning Jesus ...
... whereby He rendered null and void the passions incidental to men for their punishment. ...
and (of resorting to) the rest of the tricks (of sorcery), alleging that ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xx the heresy of carpocrates.htm