Demon

Demons in Scripture are personal, malevolent spiritual beings — fallen angels aligned with Satan — who oppose God and human flourishing. The Old Testament rarely uses the term directly but refers to evil spirits (Judges 9:23; 1 Samuel 16:14) and to the idols of the nations as demons to whom sacrifices were offered (Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalm 106:37). In the New Testament, demons (Greek daimonia) are portrayed as intelligent beings who recognized Jesus's divine identity and authority (Mark 1:24; 5:7), capable of possessing and tormenting human beings (Matthew 8:28–34), and subject to exorcism by Jesus's word and, through his name, by his disciples (Matthew 10:1). Paul warns that behind pagan idol worship stand demons rather than true deities (1 Corinthians 10:20–21). Their final destiny is the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).