Early Christian Views on Spiritism and Necromancy

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

These were the inventors of astrology, soothsaying, divination, what are called oracles, necromancy, the art of magic, and every other evil practice that men carry on, either openly or in secret. Now all these things are false in themselves, as the Erythraean Sibyl testifies:

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

These were the inventors of astrology, and soothsaying, and divination, and those productions which are called oracles, and necromancy, and the art of magic, and whatever evil practices besides these men exercise, either openly or in secret.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...where, "You shall not be soothsayers, and follow observers of omens, nor diviners, nor dealers with familiar spirits. You shall not preserve alive wizards," Leviticus 19:26; Deuteronomy 18:10. Therefore Jeremiah exhorts, saying, "Walk not according to the ways of the heathen, and be not afraid of the signs of heaven." So it is the duty of a believer to avoid the assemblies of the ungodly, of the heathen, and of the Jews, and of the rest of the heretics, lest by joining ourselves to them we bring snares on our own souls, so that by joining in their feasts, which are celebrated in honor of demons, we may not be partakers with them in their impiety. You are also to avoid their public meetings, and those sports which are celebrated in them. For a believer ought not to go to any of those public meetings, unless to purchase a slave and save a soul, and at the same time to buy such other things as they need. Abstain, therefore, from all idolatrous pomp and state, all their public meetings, banquets, duels, and all shows belonging to demons.

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

...hen, as are strong in the faith of the Lord and are clothed with truth have no connection with such spirits, but keep away from them. But as many as are doubtful in mind and repent often turn to soothsaying, just like the heathen, and bring greater sin on themselves by their idolatry. For he who asks a false prophet about any action is an idolater, devoid of the truth, and foolish. For no spirit given by God needs to be asked. But such a spirit, having the power of Divinity, speaks all things of itself, because it proceeds from above, from the power of the Divine Spirit. But the spirit that is asked and speaks according to the desires of men is earthly, light, and powerless, and it is completely silent if it is not questioned. "How then, sir," I said, "will a man know which of them is the prophet, and which the false prophet?" "I will tell you," he says, "about both the prophets, and then you can test the true and the false prophet by my directions. Test the man who has the Divine Spirit by his life. First, he who has the Divine Spirit proceeding from above is meek, peaceable, and humble, and keeps away from all iniquity and the vain desire of this world, and is content with few

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Direct teaching

and have recourse to familiar spirits, dream-sending demons, and other abominations, declaring that they possess power to rule over, even now, the princes and formers of this world;

Tertullian, De Anima (On the Soul) Direct teaching

So also in that other kind of magic, which is supposed to bring up from Hades the souls now resting there, and to exhibit them to public view, there is no other expedient of imposture ever resorted to which operates more powerfully.

Tertullian, De Anima (On the Soul) Direct teaching

As for all other oracles, at which no one ever dreams, what else must we declare concerning them, than that they are the diabolical contrivance of those spirits who even at that time dwelt in the eminent persons themselves, or aimed at reviving the memory of them as the mere stage of their evil purposes, going so far as to counterfeit a divine power under their shape and form, and, with equal persistence in evil, deceiving men by their very boons of remedies, warnings, and forecasts — the only effect of which was to injure their victims the more they helped them;

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

7. These spirits, therefore, are lurking under the statues and consecrated images: these inspire the breasts of their prophets with their afflatus, animate the fibres of the entrails, direct the flights of birds, rule the lots, give efficiency to oracles, are always mixing up falsehood with truth, for they are both deceived and they deceive;

Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Direct teaching

They themselves invented necromancies, responses, and oracles, to delude the minds of men with lying divination by means of ambiguous issues.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

their necromancies and invocations. For it is written: There is no divination in Jacob, nor soothsaying in Israel.

Origen, Against Celsus Direct teaching

So, to the Greeks, I have this to say. The Magi were familiar with evil spirits, and they called on them for whatever their knowledge and desires extended to. They could bring about only those results that did not seem to go beyond the more-than-human power and strength of the evil spirits, and of the spells used to call on them. But when some greater display of divinity appeared, the powers of the evil spirits were overthrown, because they could not resist the light of divinity. Therefore, it is likely that at the birth of Jesus, a multitude of the heavenly host, as Luke records, and as I believe, praised God, saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men." Because of this, the evil spirits became weak and lost their strength. The falsehood of their sorcery was exposed, and their power was broken. This overthrow happened not only because the angels visited the earthly regions on account of the birth of Jesus, but also because of the power of Jesus Himself and His innate divinity. So, when the Magi wanted to produce the customary results that they had formerly performed by certain spells and sorceries, they tried to learn the reason for their failu

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Direct teaching

... simplicity; whose name, when heard, drives evil spirits away, silences soothsayers, keeps men from consulting augurs, and causes the efforts of proud magicians to fail, not because of fear of His name, as you claim, but by the free exercise of a greater power?

Ignatius, The Martyrdom of Ignatius Direct teaching

...ng them to perish miserably?” Ignatius replied, “No one should call Theophorus wicked; for all evil spirits have left the servants of God. But if you call me wicked because I oppose these spirits, I agree with you; because with Christ, the King of heaven, in me, I destroy all their schemes.” Trajan responded, “And who is Theophorus?” Ignatius answered, “He who has Christ within his heart.” Trajan then asked, “Do we not seem to have the gods in our minds, whose help we enjoy when fighting our enemies?” Ignatius replied, “You are mistaken when you call the demons of the nations gods. There is only one God, who made heaven, earth, the sea, and all within them; and one Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, whose kingdom I hope to enjoy.” Trajan asked, “Do you mean the one crucified under Pontius Pilate?” Ignatius responded, “I mean the one who crucified my sin, along with its inventor, and who has condemned all the deceit and malice of the devil under the feet of those who carry Him in their heart.” Trajan asked, “Do you carry the one who was crucified within you?” Ignatius replied, “Truly, for it is written, ‘I will dwell in them, and walk in them.’” Then Trajan declared his

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

...other times as gods. Of these names, one is true and the other is false. For when those most wicked spirits are put under oath, they then confess that they are demons. But when they are worshiped, they falsely say that they are gods, so that they may lead people into error and draw them away from the knowledge of the true God, by which alone eternal death can be escaped. These are the same spirits who, to overthrow man, established various forms of worship for themselves in different regions, though under false and assumed names, so that they might deceive. Because they were not able by themselves to rise to divinity, they took for themselves the names of powerful kings. Under those titles they claimed divine honors for themselves. But this error can be driven away and brought into the light of truth. For if anyone wants to examine the matter further, let him gather those who are skilled in calling up spirits from the dead. Let them call up Jupiter, Neptune, Vulcan, Mercury, Apollo, and Saturnus, the father of all. All will answer from the lower regions, and when they are questioned, they will speak and make confession about themselves and about God. After this, let them call up

Minucius Felix, Octavius Direct teaching

...ill dig more deeply into it and lay it open more clearly. There are certain insincere and wandering spirits, degraded from their heavenly vigor by earthly stains and lusts. After these spirits lost the simplicity of their nature by being weighed down and immersed in vices, they do not stop ruining others as a comfort in their calamity, now that they themselves are ruined. Being depraved themselves, they infuse into others the error of their depravity. And being themselves alienated from God, they separate others from God by bringing in degraded superstitions. The poets know that those spirits are demons. The philosophers speak of them. Socrates knew it too. At the nod and decision of a demon beside him, he either declined actions or undertook them. The Magi also not only know that there are demons, but whatever miracle they claim to perform, they do it by means of demons. By their aspirations and communications, they display their wondrous tricks, making things appear which are not, or making things not appear which are. Of those magicians, Sosthenes, first both in eloquence and in deed, not only describes the true God with fitting majesty, but also the angels who are the minist

Tertullian, Apology Direct teaching

...have answered well enough the charges of the many crimes on which these fierce demands are made for Christian blood. We have fully presented our case. We have shown how we can prove that what we say is true, from the trustworthiness and antiquity of our sacred writings, and also from the confession of the powers of spiritual wickedness themselves. Who will dare to refute us, not with skill in words, but, as we have made our demonstration, on the basis of reality? But while the truth we hold is made clear to all, unbelief meanwhile, even at the very time when it is convinced of the worth of Christianity, now well known both for its benefits and from the intercourse of life, takes up the idea that it is not really something divine, but rather a kind of philosophy. "These are the very things," it says, "that the philosophers advise and profess: innocence, justice, patience, sobriety, and chastity." Why then are we not allowed the same freedom and immunity for our teachings that they have, when we are compared with them in what we teach? Or why are they not also forced to the same acts, by refusing which our lives are put in danger, if they are so much like us? For who forces a phil

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Direct teaching

...urst into verse against you as follows: “Marcus, creator of idols, observer of portents, Skilled in consulting the stars, and deep in the black arts of magic, Always using tricks like these to confirm the doctrines of error, Providing signs to those you have deceived, Wonders of power that is completely severed from God and apostate, Which Satan, your true father, enables you to achieve, By means of Azazel, that fallen yet mighty angel, Thus making you the forerunner of his own wicked actions.”

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

..., so that we may know that we are called forth to high and heavenly things. In the third place, the spirits that preside over the religious rites themselves, being condemned and cast off by God, wallow over the earth. They are not only unable to give any advantage to their worshipers, since the power of all things is in the hands of one alone, but they even destroy them with deadly attractions and errors. For this is their daily business: to involve men in darkness, so that the true God may not be sought by them. Therefore they are not to be worshiped, because they lie under the sentence of God. For it is a very great crime to devote oneself to the power of those whom, if you follow righteousness, you are able to excel in power, and to drive out and put to flight by adjuration of the divine name. But if it is clear that these religious rites are vain in so many ways, as I have shown, then it is plain that those who either make prayers to the dead, or venerate the earth, or hand over their souls to unclean spirits, do not act as becomes men. And they will suffer punishment for their impiety and guilt, because, rebelling against God, the Father of the human race, they have underta

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

...e things that really exist and think they see things that do not exist. These defiled and abandoned spirits, as I say, wander over the whole earth and find comfort for their own ruin in the destruction of men. Therefore they fill every place with snares, deceits, frauds, and errors. They attach themselves to individuals, and they take over whole houses from door to door. They take for themselves the name of genii, for this is the Latin word they use to translate demons. People dedicate these spirits in their houses, pour out daily wine offerings to them, and worship these clever demons as gods of the earth and as those who turn away the evils that they themselves cause and bring on people. And since these spirits have no bodily substance and cannot be grasped, they slip themselves into the bodies of men. Working secretly in their inner parts, they ruin health, bring on diseases more quickly, terrify souls with dreams, and trouble minds with frenzies, so that by these evils they may force men to seek their help.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Direct teaching

They use exorcisms and incantations. Love-potions, too, and charms, as well as those beings who are called “Paredri” (familiars) and “Oniropompi” (dream-senders), and whatever other curious arts can be had recourse to, are eagerly pressed into their service.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

Moreover, these impure and wandering spirits, that they may throw all things into confusion, and overspread the minds of men with errors, interweave and mingle false things with true.

Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Direct teaching

And (they are in the habit of invoking the aid of) subordinate demons and dream-senders, and (of resorting to) the rest of the tricks (of sorcery), alleging that they possess power for now acquiring sway over the Archons and makers of this world, nay, even over all the works that are in it.

Leviticus 20:27 Direct teaching

A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.

Leviticus 20:6 Direct teaching

And the soul that turneth 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.

Isaiah 8:19 Direct teaching

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

2 Kings 23:24 Supporting witness

Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.

Isaiah 19:3 Supporting witness

And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.

2 Kings 21:6 Supporting witness

And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Deuteronomy 18:10 Direct teaching

There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.

2 Chronicles 33:6 Supporting witness

And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Leviticus 19:31 Supporting witness

Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 18:11 Supporting witness

Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

...ent awaits the wicked, make sure you are convinced and believe that these things are true. Let even necromancy, the divinations you perform with pure children, the summoning of departed human souls, and the magi, Dream-senders and Assistant-spirits (Familiars), and all such practices persuade you that souls have sensation after death. Consider those possessed by the spirits of the dead, known as dæmoniacs or madmen, and the oracles you respect, like those of Amphilochus, Dodona, Pytho, and others. Think of the views of authors like Empedocles, Pythagoras, Plato, and Socrates, the abyss of Homer, Ulysses’ descent to observe these matters, and everything similar that has been expressed. Give the same consideration to us, who believe in God not less, but more firmly, expecting to reclaim our bodies even when they have died and returned to the earth, for we believe that with God, nothing is impossible.

Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness

For let even necromancy, and the divinations you practise by immaculate children, and the evoking of departed human souls, and those who are called among the magi, Dream-senders and Assistant-spirits (Familiars), and all that is done by those who are skilled in such matters —let these persuade you that even after death souls are in a state of sensation;

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

And that the souls survive, I have shown to you from the fact that the soul of Samuel was called up by the witch, as Saul demanded.

1 Samuel 28:9 Direct teaching

And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?

1 Samuel 28:7 Supporting witness

Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

1 Samuel 28:3 Supporting witness

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.