The Gerasene Demoniac And Synoptic Gospels

A demon is described by Webster’s Dictionary as a spirit being, who is unclean and immoral in nature and activities, to be under the power or influence of one, or to be vexed with a devil. As a result of studying many examples of demons during the life of Christ, one can surmise that Christians and unbelievers can both become subdued by demons. Many scholars believe there was more recorded demonic activity during Jesus' life than any other time in biblical history, and demonic confrontations are mentioned throughout the Gospels. Examples of the confrontations include: Jesus' temptation, the Canaanite woman's daughter, the man in the synagogue, and the Gerasene demoniac, which is considered a synoptic gospel, ( Matt 8:28-34 ; Mark 5:1-20 ; Luke 8:26-37 ). The synoptic gospels work together to present Jesus. They are not different stories, but; rather, the same information arranged and written as their individual perspective. By arranging

One of the similarities that is distinct in the synoptic gospels is the fact that all of the writers agreed that the man was demon possessed. Additionally, all three authors agreed that the demonic spirits were sent into the herd of swine. Lastly, they all note that the herd of swine drowned or perished. Some of the differences are geographical location. Matthew list the geographical location as Gadarenes; however, Mark and Luke seem to believe it to be Gerasenes, which was approximately thirty miles inland from the Sea of Galilee. Another difference is the fact that Matthew states, “there were two who were possessed that were coming from the tomb;” but Mark and Luke noted that there was one possessed with a demon. In Mark and Luke the demon possessed man sees Jesus, then falls down and begins to worship him. The authors of Mark and Luke also give a name for the demon possessed man,