The Enemies of Paul: Demons Satan Betrayers and Apostles

Pauls conflict with viscous enemies human and otherwise led him to employ efficacious powers charismata (charismatic powers) and controversial and sometimes illegal practices that are only coherent when placed in context of the first century Hellenistic-Roman world. These included soul and spirit transportation possession and exorcisms special techniques to repel demonic attack as well as what was considered the darkest of black magic in the ancient world--the casting of death curses which called on Satan to infect harm and even kill his enemies. All of these can be recovered in striking detail using risk analysis of his undisputed writings and comparing them with contemporary sources papyri and documents independent of the New Testament. The results demonstrate that Pauls letters are so much more than simply intellectual and rhetorical correspondences--they are infused with dangerous mystical and charismatic powers feared in an ancient world that was saturated with prevalent active dark forces and multi-layered human and supernatural conflicts; of angels and demons at war; of charismata and anathemata (deadly curses); and Pauls expectation of the hemera kuriou “Day of the Lord” that would defeat Satan and the curse of death via pistis (faith) in the efficacious euangelion (gospel) of agape (love).