The Gardarene Demoniacs

The Gardarene Demoniacs

Matthew then recounts that two were possessed with demons, whereas Luke reports only one (see Luke 8.27). Being himself a physician, Luke is often found giving more detail in his Gospel record, especially when his narrative turns to the cases of the sick. For instance, Matthew speaks of a leper (8.2) but Luke says a man full of leprosy (5.12). Again, Matthew tells here of the two possessed; Luke, on the other hand, reports the man as being possessed with legions of demons (Luke 8.30). Being a professional man, Luke has his own observations of the sick.

The reasons why Luke records only one demon-possessed man are as follows:

(1) Since the two cases are alike, a report on one is sufficient.

(2) Since Luke has not personally followed the Lord on earth, his writing is done through careful investigation of eyewitnesses and ministers of the word: he therefore narrates only that which he has researched.

(3) Because Matthew presents the Lord as King, he frequently reports two instead of one inasmuch as a plurality adds a tinge of majesty to the event being described. Luke on the other hand presents the Lord as man; hence the presentation of one evidence is quite adequate.

(4) Because Matthew writes to the Jews, he has in mind the Jewish custom of requiring the presence of two witnesses to an event. But Luke writes to the Gentiles, among whom there is no such rule; therefore, it is not necessary for him to report more than one demon-possessed man as being present.

(5) Since Matthew writes from a doctrinal and didactic point of view, he does not concern himself so much with what happens “afterwards” in the life of a person who has been touched by the Lord. Luke, however, writes from a moral or ethical stance, and so he is very much interested in singling out one individual and giving the details of his life and the “afterwards” of his walk.

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Originally Posted by Churchwork

The Gardarene Demoniacs

Matthew then recounts that two were possessed with demons, whereas Luke reports only one (see Luke 8.27). Being himself a physician, Luke is often found giving more detail in his Gospel record, especially when his narrative turns to the cases of the sick. For instance, Matthew speaks of a leper (8.2) but Luke says a man full of leprosy (5.12). Again, Matthew tells here of the two possessed; Luke, on the other hand, reports the man as being possessed with legions of demons (Luke 8.30). Being a professional man, Luke has his own observations of the sick.

The reasons why Luke records only one demon-possessed man are as follows:

(1) Since the two cases are alike, a report on one is sufficient.

(2) Since Luke has not personally followed the Lord on earth, his writing is done through careful investigation of eyewitnesses and ministers of the word: he therefore narrates only that which he has researched.

(3) Because Matthew presents the Lord as King, he frequently reports two instead of one inasmuch as a plurality adds a tinge of majesty to the event being described. Luke on the other hand presents the Lord as man; hence the presentation of one evidence is quite adequate.

(4) Because Matthew writes to the Jews, he has in mind the Jewish custom of requiring the presence of two witnesses to an event. But Luke writes to the Gentiles, among whom there is no such rule; therefore, it is not necessary for him to report more than one demon-possessed man as being present.

(5) Since Matthew writes from a doctrinal and didactic point of view, he does not concern himself so much with what happens “afterwards” in the life of a person who has been touched by the Lord. Luke, however, writes from a moral or ethical stance, and so he is very much interested in singling out one individual and giving the details of his life and the “afterwards” of his walk.

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Hi there....

:smile:

I don't feel it is necessary to justify a reconciliation of the two passages, it seems fairly simple that each author wrote what they felt was important. Matthew records two demoniacs, Luke and Mark only record one. That Luke and Mark only record one does not mean that other demoniacs were not present in the area.

There are a number of tombs (caves) in the area and the possibility/probability of more than on demoniac is a feasibile statement.

What is more important in the big pictures is that the demoniac of legion, once delivered was the first gentile convert on "the other side" of the Galilee, and what is more important is that Jesus told the demoniac to "go" and to "tell" what God had done for him. Many scholars feel that the demoniac, as the first Gentile missionary was the reasoning behind the gathering of people on "the other side" at the feeding of the 4,000.

The location identified as the healing of the demoniac in Matthew, Mark, and Luke is identified as Kursi, and that location is, in reality the genesis of Christianity to the Gentiles--the beginning of Western Christianity.


~serapha~

These are not justifications but valid reasons why each wrote as they did. They need not be reconciled for they were already in harmony. The reasons given are simply clarifications for any wanting to know why in one case there was one and another two and especially points to the fact these are two independent reporters with different perspectives and reasons (not copycats).

Since all the Word of God is profitable to edify, trying to categorize what is more important than something else usually is a sign of one's self-exaltation above Jesus and others by trying to say one part of Jesus is more important than another which can lead to not just some point of pride, but false teaching. For example, calvinists idolize a false teaching called total depravity yet it is not found in God's Word.

A non-believer will come across combatively. Recall serapha rejects the (1) Trinity of God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit; (2) something about the atonement and co-crucifixion with Christ, and (3) unity and union of laying on of hands; and that is just for starters (see his profile). Remember the Holy Spirit did not descend on the believers to be experience in Samaria until the apostles laid hands on them to make for them a reality the body of Christ.