Demonic Possession in the New Testament: Its Relations Historical, Medical, and Theological

Published in 1902, this scholarly volume by William Menzies Alexander reflects the rigorous intersection of late Victorian theological inquiry and the burgeoning field of medical psychology. Written during a period when the academic community was increasingly attempting to reconcile traditional scriptural interpretations with contemporary scientific understandings of nervous disorders, the work sought to provide a systematic examination of the exorcism narratives found within the Gospels.

Alexander, a doctor of medicine and theology, intended the text to serve as a bridge between the spiritual significance of demonic possession and the nascent clinical labels applied to conditions like epilepsy or mania at the turn of the century. The volume is regarded by historians of religion as a notable representative of the 'demythologizing' trend that characterized early twentieth-century biblical criticism, offering a structured, albeit historically situated, analysis of how the early church interpreted supernatural phenomena.