Topical Bible: Sorcery: To Cease

◄ Sorcery: To Cease ►

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

Topical Encyclopedia

Sorcery, often associated with the practice of magic and the invocation of supernatural powers, is consistently condemned in the Bible. The Scriptures present sorcery as an abomination to God, aligning it with idolatry and rebellion against His divine authority. The call for sorcery to cease is a recurring theme, emphasizing the need for God's people to remain pure and devoted to Him alone.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, sorcery is explicitly prohibited. The Law of Moses clearly states, "You must not allow a sorceress to live" (Exodus 22:18). This severe command underscores the gravity of sorcery as a sin that leads people away from the worship of the one true God. Sorcery is often linked with other forbidden practices such as divination and witchcraft, which are seen as attempts to gain knowledge or power apart from God.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 further elaborates on this prohibition: "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."

Prophetic Denunciations

The prophets of Israel also denounced sorcery, often associating it with the corruption and downfall of nations. Isaiah prophesied against Babylon, saying, "Stand now with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror!" (Isaiah 47:12). This sarcastic challenge highlights the futility and ultimate failure of relying on sorcery instead of God.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, sorcery continues to be condemned as a work of the flesh. The Apostle Paul lists sorcery among the acts of the sinful nature, warning that "those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21). The early church encountered sorcerers, such as Simon the Magician in Acts 8, who sought to buy the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter rebuked him, saying, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!" (Acts 8:20).

The Book of Revelation also speaks to the ultimate end of sorcery, declaring that sorcerers will face judgment. Revelation 21:8 states, "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."

Call to Repentance

Throughout Scripture, the call for sorcery to cease is accompanied by a call to repentance and a return to God. The Bible consistently urges believers to reject all forms of sorcery and to seek the Lord with a pure heart. The cessation of sorcery is not merely about abandoning a practice but about turning to God in faith and obedience, recognizing His sovereignty and power over all creation.

Nave's Topical Index

Ezekiel 12:23,24
Tell them therefore, Thus said the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say to them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.
Nave's Topical Index

Ezekiel 13:23
Therefore you shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and you shall know that I am the LORD.
Nave's Topical Index

Micah 5:12
And I will cut off witchcrafts out of your hand; and you shall have no more soothsayers:
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Acts xiii. 4, 5
... and from the competition (sunkriseos) the victory appears, the sorcery being worsted. ...
of saving he was ruining the proconsul: "wilt thou not cease," he says ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxviii acts xiii 4.htm

The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, Commonly Called the Didache
... not fornicate; "do not steal"; do not practice magic; do not go in for sorcery;
do not ... in the same God as you, and the result may be that they cease to revere ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/the teaching of the twelve.htm

John i. 1
... with oxen, (which they say he did,) was nothing else but a piece of sorcery. ... stay
its thought; but looking intently onwards, and being unable to cease at any ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily ii john i 1.htm

Attitude of Men of the Present Day to War.
... it will come to pass, according to their notions, that governments will cease to
levy the ... upon me, as though I were listening to some tale of sorcery, of the ...
/.../tolstoy/the kingdom of god is within you/chapter vi attitude of men.htm

The Resurrection
... if He is dead, how is it that He makes the living to cease from their ... the sign of
the cross, on the contrary, all magic is stayed, all sorcery confounded, all ...
/.../athanasius/on the incarnation of the word/chapter 5 the resurrection.htm

He Proceeds Again to Discuss the Impassibility of the Lord's ...
... case of God according to man's measure of power, let him also cease to slander ... 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

Further, the Martyrdom of Barsamya, the Bishop of the Blessed City ...
... the people of the Christians are persons who eschew murder, and sorcery, and adultery ...
account of these things the persecution of the sword shall cease from them ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/further the martyrdom of barsamya.htm

The victory of the God-Beloved Emperors.
... 3. But Maxentius, putting confidence rather in the arts of sorcery than in the devotion ...
foot, then denies that it was going on, and lastly orders it to cease. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter ix the victory of the.htm

On the Clause, and Shall Come in Glory to Judge the Quick and the ...
... Say not, In the night I committed fornication, or wrought sorcery, or did any other ...
when His enemies shall have been put under His feet, He shall cease to reign ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xv on the clause.htm

Treatise on the Priesthood. Book vi.
... and then reckoning up my own faults, I used not to cease bewailing both her ... flying
by some enchantment and infantry borne through the air, and sorcery of every ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/treatise on the priesthood book 6.htm