Did Jesus cast out demons as a miracle-working prophet - or was he seen as a sorcerer by his critics? While early opponents didn’t deny his extraordinary deeds, they debated the source of his power. Today, historians across worldviews widely agree: in his own time, Jesus was famously known as an exorcist. Discover why this reputation matters for understanding his identity, mission, and the historical roots of the gospel story.

From the pagan philosopher Celsus to later rabbinic commentary, some of the earliest critics of Christianity didn’t deny that Jesus performed extraordinary deeds – they challenged the source of his power. Yet today, historians across the belief spectrum agree that Jesus was widely known as an exorcist in his own lifetime. So what led to this reputation, and why does it matter for how we understand Jesus’ mission and identity?

Celsus, moreover, unable to resist the miracles which Jesus is recorded to have performed… (Register to read the rest of the article)