Sorcery in the Bible, Pharmakeia, and Modern Medicine: Any Connection?
A question I was asked: “I have heard that the ‘sorcerers’ described in the book of Revelation are actually medical practitioners and that we are sinning when we go to see our doctors. Any truth in this claim?” My answer:
There are three or four places in the New Testament describing ‘sorcerers’ and ‘sorcery’ (in the KJV that is, newer translations often don’t use these words). Some (mainly in the cults, sects and extremist charismatic groups) have associated these references with modern pharmacists and the medical profession; but is there any validity in this approach? We need to look at these words very closely:
Sorcerer (Acts 13:6,8 – KJV)
This is from the Greek ‘magos’, it means ‘sorcerer’, ‘magician’ or, ‘wise man’ (Word 3097 in Strongs). There is no association with pharmacy or medicine.
Sorceries (Acts 8:11 – KJV)
This is from the Greek ‘mageia’ it refers to magic (Word 3095 in Strongs) – no connection with pharmacy.
Sorceries (Revelation 9:21 and 18:23 – KJV)
This is from the Greek ‘pharmakeia’ (Word 5331 in Strongs). There is some connection here to the word ‘pharmacy’ which we must look at in a moment.
Sorcerers (Revelation 21:8 and 22:15 – KJV)
These uses of ‘sorcerers’ [(here in Revelation)] use a different Greek word to the singular use of this word in Acts 13:6,8; so this is not just the plural of the same word. From the Greek ‘pharmakeus’ (Words 5332 and 5333 in Strongs). So there is a connection between all four uses of words 5331, 5332 and 5333 in Revelation. There is indeed a relationship here to the English word ‘pharmacy’ (which of course, is directly derived from these Greek words). Is this calling modern medical practitioners ‘sorcerers’? Is this saying that you and I should never visit a doctor??
Okay. Now lets ensure that we correctly understand this:
Sorcerer— from the Latin sortiarius, one who casts lots, or one who tells the lot of others. (Easton’s Bible Dictionary)
Sorcery is the practice of the occult arts under the power of evil spirits, or demons, and has been common in all ages of the world’s history. (The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary)
The root meaning of this group of Greek words is ‘druggist’, ‘poisoner’ or, ‘giver of potions’. These particular ‘sorcerers’ were persons able to prepare and dispense potions. But why did they dispense these potions? Was it in order to give relief from illness?
Absolutely not! It was in order to stimulate hallucinations or visions! We must understand that it was long part of pagan religious practice to administer potions, or drugs, which would encourage hallucinations! There is, of course, a direct parallel here to modern illicit drug taking. But these original ‘pharmacists’ were involved in the black arts and in demonology; the basic idea was that taking certain potions could bring one into contact with the spirit world, and that this was to be desired. But the fact that the modern English word ‘pharmacy’ happens to be derived from ‘pharmakeia’ frankly proves absolutely nothing! Do people visit doctors in order to be given drugs which will bring them into contact with the spirit world? Of course not!! People visit medical practitioners in order to to have an illness diagnosed, to be treated for sickness, or to gain relief from illness! Yet there are some extremist charismatic ministries around today which teach that we sin when we visit a doctor just because the word ‘pharmacy’ happens to be related to these Greek words!
We must understand that on several occasions the Bible backs up the principle that sick people should look around for remedies for their sickness. This is a very clear biblical principle! Lets look at some examples:
When Job was afflicted by boils he seemed to be aware of the principle that the draining sores needed to dry out so he sat in ashes (Job 2:7-8).
Jeremiah refers to the balm of Gilead which was evidently deemed to have medicinal qualities (Jeremiah 8:22; 46:11).
When Hezekiah was seriously ill, Isaiah told him to put some figs to a boil (2 Kings 20:7).
The medicinal use of wine [(non-alcoholic, grape juice)] is mentioned in Scripture several times (including 1 Timothy 5:23). Indeed, today pharmacologists recognise how good a small amount of wine is for the digestive system, backing up Paul’s advice to Timothy!
The Church at Laodicea is admonished to use their locally-produced eye salve because of their lack of spiritual vision (Revelation 3:18).
Mark 5:26 shows that physicians were certainly available within Israel and we also know that Luke was a physician. According to the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, the rabbis ordained that every town should have at least one physician (Vol 3, page 1430, 1997 printing).
“The Greek word for “physician” is derived from the root verb iaomai, which mean “to cure” or “heal,” indicating that a physician’s job in the first century was to heal people.” Godandscience.org
So we see it well established [in the Bible] that those becoming sick or injured were expected to seek medical help! Indeed Jesus Himself shows acceptance of this principle when He said:
‘…..They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.’ (Luke 5:31)
[Of course, there is a limit to what physicians can do…
Luke 8:43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
Physicians are not ‘the answer’ in that of themselves; they are a reasonable choice in trying to receive help to one’s health problems. Also, physicians overprescribe medications. They, in general, will prescribe a medication for any and every health ailment that comes into their office. The patient usually will feel ‘cheated’ if they don’t walk out of their doc’s office with a prescription. Many today are conditioned into thinking that all their health problems can be taken care of in a ‘pill’. Pills are the answer to all their troubles. This line of thinking is why “Psychiatry” has flourished of late. Any mood or feeling problem has a certain pill that is designed to help. About 80% of “doc visits” are unnecessary.]
Some Christians seem to think that only herbal treatment is acceptable, but where is the justification for that view? This ignores the fact that medical practice is increasingly adopting herbal agents and practices where they are helpful, and also ignores the fact that some herbal treatments – when exhaustively tested – have been shown to be completely useless [(or even quite dangerous…cocaine, opium, strychnine)]. Others think that any far eastern medicine must be useless at best or demonic at worst. Yet acupuncture, for instance, is apparently well established as a helpful treatment and I have never yet heard of anyone undergoing acupuncture treatment subsequently becoming possessed by demons! Western mechanistic medicine does not necessarily have all the answers; it is not wrong to look around for alternatives. Nevertheless, look to God alone as your healer.
I am not saying that the edifice of ‘modern medical science’ is without fault! I just want believers not to be hypocritical nor naive in their biblical interpretation. Much within modern medicine is sometimes scandalous, especially its control by the wealthy pharmaceutical industry. Sometimes highly worthy forms of alternative treatment for cancer, for instance, have been discredited without mercy – even though there has been real evidence of their efficacy. Why? Because the drug industry wants the cancer sufferer to only use their treatments/products – even though the two of these which they most rely upon involve putting poisons into the body in the hope that those poisons might also kill the cancer. Again, I am not even saying that this is wrong in every single case; every Christian must make his/her own decision in this very difficult area. But let that decision be guided by prayer.
(Robin A. Brace, 2005.)
In many places in the Bible there is reference to ‘natural healing’.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
The only examples of substances used for healing in the Bible are ‘natural’ substances, such as herbs and figs. Does this dictate that nothing else can be used? Did they have the technical expertiece back then to, using the art of the apothecary, construct medicinals like we have today? If you are for herbal medicinals, are you against penicillin? Penicillin is basically a naturally occuring substance.
It is important to point out that the ‘chemicals’ that are used to make ‘medications’ are, for the most part, of natural origin. The scientists, of course, alter their structure somewhat in order to obtain the desired effect. Also, all ‘natural’ products are full of ‘chemicals’. And, every chemical in an ‘herb’ or ‘root’ or ‘fruit’ has the potential to be toxic to the body. Vitamins and minerals, if taken in high amounts, can kill a person. If someone wants to only take ‘natural’ products to heal their ‘flesh-eating bacteria’ sickness that they just caught while in Nigeria, then have at it. But, when there are IV antibiotics that have been proven to kill these bacteria, why wouldn’t someone consider using them?
3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
In the Bible, What was the consequence of seeking out anyone else except God for healing? Asa, King of Israel sought out the physicians instead of depending on the Lord – and Asa died! “And Asa, in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, was diseased in his feet (probably diabetes), until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought NOT to the Lord, but to the physicians… And Asa died . . . and rested with his fathers.” 2 Chronicles 16:12,13
Paul perform[ed] miracles early in his ministry. The need for signs and wonders, in order to believe, is a sign of spiritual immaturity. Early in his ministry Paul performed many miracles. People were healed if they just touched his handkerchief.
“And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” Acts 19:11,12
Paul raised Eutychus from the dead. Acts 20:9-12
Later in Paul’s ministry, NO miracles are seen. Healings are by natural remedies.
But later in Paul’s ministry he tells Timothy to drink (unfermented) wine for his stomach troubles, a natural remedy, rather than sending him a handkerchief so he could be instantly healed (1 Tim 5:23). Also Paul does not miraculously heal his co-worker, Epaphroditus, who almost died. He obviously got well the long, slow way.
Those who prescribe drug medications – doctors, pharmacologists, and pharmacists, are termed witches and sorcerers and poisoners (pharmakos) in the Bible.
God states anyone who gives out Drug Medications (defined as witchcraft in the Bible), should NEVER be allowed to be a part of God’s people. In today’s era, that would mean doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and anyone else who prescribes or administers Drugs.
(Lorraine Day, MD)