ACC ~ Mark 5 v13a
THE TEMPORARY POWER TO TEST FAITH
TERTULLIAN: The devilâs legion would not have had power over the herd of swine [1] unless they had gotten it from God. Thus they are far from having power over the sheep of God. Even the bristles of the swine were counted by God, just as were the hairs of the heads of the just. [2] The devil, it must be admitted, seems indeed to have powerâin this case really his ownâover those who do not belong to God. In relation to God the idolatrous nations are all counted as a drop in the bucket, as dust on the threshing floor, as spittle in the mouth, [3] and so thrown open to the devil as if they were a free possession. But the devil has no power over those who belong to the household of God, and cannot treat them as if they were his own. The cases marked out in Scripture show when and for what reasons he may touch the faithful. Indeed to vindicate faith, the power of trial of a believer is sometimes temporarily granted to the devil to test and challenge faith. [4] Or to elicit repentance the sinner may be temporarily handed over to the devil as though he were an executioner to whom belonged the inflicting of punishment, as we see in the case of Saul. [5] ON FLIGHT DURING PERSECUTION. [6]
[1] Cf. Mk 5:11-13.
[2] Cf. Mt 10:30; Lk 12:7.
[3] Cf. Is 40:15 LXX; 4 Ezra 6:56.
[4] Cf. Job 1:12.
[5] Cf. Acts 9:1-2.
[6] Cetedoc 0025, 2.52; ANF 4:117*. Limited powers are temporarily given to the demonic to test faith or elicit repentance.
WHY SWINE WERE DESTROYED
JEROME: It need not disturb anyone that by the Lordâs command two thousand swine were slain by the agency of demons, since those who witnessed the miracle would not have believed that so great a multitude of demons had gone out of the man unless an equally vast number of swine had rushed to ruin, showing that it was a legion that impelled them. THE LIFE OF ST. HILARION 32. [1]
[1] Cetedoc 0618, 106.14.20; NPNF 2 6:309. It was for the good of attesting Godâs power that the swine were slain by the agency of demons.
Mk