A Review of Graham Twelftree, In the Name of Jesus: Exorcism among Early Christians

AbstractGraham Twelftree is one of few New Testament theologians who has approached the place and practice of exorcism among early Christians in the New Testament documents in a manner that takes the New Testament text as a whole seriously. This review commends Dr. Twelftree for his helpful (yet challenging) study of these exorcism narratives. The reviewer examines this work through the lens of a missiologist and contextual theological perspective. In the light of this vantage point he urges the author, who has a global readership, to reflect more critically as to his own hermeneutical and epistemological presuppositions and suggests the possible benefits that the other disciplines could bring to the quest of uncovering ancient traditions and practices. In view of the exponential growth of ther Pentecostal-Charismatic movement in the Two-thirds World in which exorcism is a current and pressing issue, the author is encouraged to engage with global applied theological concerns.