Luther vs. Scripture: All Ghosts R Satanic Deceivers?

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Thanks to the anti-Catholic Protestant polemicist James Swan for this “find.” Luther’s words will be in blue.

Martin Luther — contrary to John Calvin — apparently believed in the heresy of soul sleep, which in turn was part of his rationale for rejecting purgatory. The following is an excerpt from Luther’s Easter Tuesday sermon in 1533 on Luke 24:36-47 (in which the risen Jesus denies that He is a “spirit”).

It is useful and necessary to know that we are not so alone, as if the devil were a hundred miles or more removed from us; he is everywhere around us and sometimes puts on a mask. I have seen him myself appearing as if he were a pig, a burning wisp of straw, or something like that. You have to know this, and it prevents us from making a superstition out of it and considering such spirits to be souls of men, as has happened up to now, . . . For when the devil lets himself be seen or heard in this way, everybody mistakes it for human souls . . . 

The devil disguised himself and appeared here and there in various ways, and everyone believed it to be not the devil but a human soul. Otherwise, if they had known it to be the devil, they would have been slow to believe him, for everyone knows that he is a murderer and a liar. (from The Complete Sermons of Martin Luther, Volume 6; Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000, pp. 32-40)

This view is, of course, contrary to Holy Scripture. Yes, the devil can disguise himself; even, sometimes, as an “angel of light” (2 Cor 11:14, RSV). But as usual, Luther goes to the extreme and seems to deny all ostensible manifestations of ghosts of dead human beings as mere satanic deceptions. And in so doing, he expressly contradicts the Bible.

Matthew 17:1-3 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. [2] And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. [3] And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Eli’jah, talking with him. (cf. Mk 9:2-4)

How does Luther explain away the ghosts of Moses and Elijah, I wonder? This is before the general resurrection, so they are spirits without bodies, or ghosts, and it’s in inspired Scripture, and they appear with Jesus Himself. There is no way out of this. Luther couldn’t claim they were demonic or satanic manifestations, since Jesus accepted them and engaged in conversation.

1 Samuel 28:12-20 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” [13] The king said to her, “Have no fear; what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” [14] He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up; and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance. [15] Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress; for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” [16] And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? [17] The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me; for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, David. [18] Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD, and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Am’alek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. [19] Moreover the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; the LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.” [20] Then Saul fell at once full length upon the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.

The current consensus among commentators is that this is Samuel the prophet, after his death, not a deceptive satanic or demonic impersonation (see, e.g., New Bible Commentary, p. 301; Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 292). This was also the view of the ancient rabbis, St. Justin Martyr, Origen, and St. Augustine, among others. Samuel was in Sheol or Hades, which explains his being “brought up” and saying that Saul would “be with” him when he dies. Samuel’s true prophecy of the Israeli defeat and Saul’s death (28:19) mitigates against an impersonating demon, as does the medium’s stunned reaction (28:12-13). Samuel speaks prophetically just as he did while on the earth. The biblical account refers to him as “Samuel.” There is no reason to doubt its literal truth.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: [M]any eminent writers (considering that the apparition came before her arts were put in practice; that she herself was surprised and alarmed; that the prediction of Saul’s own death and the defeat of his forces was confidently made), are of opinion that Samuel really appeared.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges: Samuel pronounces Saul’s doom.

Adam Clarke’s Commentary: That Samuel did appear on this occasion, is most evident from the text; nor can this be denied from any legitimate mode of interpretation: and it is as evident that he was neither raised by the power of the devil nor the incantations of the witch, for the appearances which took place at this time were such as she was wholly unacquainted with. Her familiar did not appear; and from the confused description she gives, it is fully evident that she was both surprised and alarmed at what she saw, being so widely different from what she expected to see. . . . As he [the LORD] spake by me [28:17] – Here was no illusion; none but Samuel could say this.

Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Saul sees that it is really Samuel. But what was it that really happened, and how did it come about? That the woman was able, even if she really had the aid of evil spirits, to bring Samuel into Saul’s presence we cannot believe. Nor could she believe it herself. If Samuel really appeared – and the narrative assumes that he did – it must have been by a direct miracle, God supernaturally clothing his spirit in something like its old form, and bringing him back to earth to speak to Saul. In judgment it seemed good to God to let Saul have his desire, and to give him a real interview with Samuel. . . . Saul was made to see from Samuel’s communication that there was nothing but ruin before him; . . . 

Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary: Understood that it was Samuel. It is the more common opinion of the holy fathers, and interpreters, that the soul of Samuel appeared indeed; and not, as some have imagined, an evil spirit in his shape. Not that the power of her magic could bring him thither, but that God was pleased for the punishment of Saul, that Samuel himself should denounce unto him the evils that were falling upon him. . . .. . . nor was he adduced by the power of the devil, but (Du Hamel) by a just judgment of God, to denounce destruction to the wicked king. (St. Augustine, &c.) . . . That Samuel really appeared, is the more common opinion of the fathers. (St. Augustine, Cura. xv.). 

Jesus assumed the existence of spirits, or ghosts:

Luke 24:37-39 But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. [38] And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? [39] See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

On a StackExchange page on this specific topic, one person observed: “if He didn’t believe in spirits I would think He would have said something like “I’m not a disembodied spirit since those aren’t real, o ye of little faith”, instead of “a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you plainly see that I have.”

The author of Hebrews refers to “the spirits of just men made perfect” (12:23).

Related Reading

Bible and Catholicism on Ghosts and Messages from God in Dreams [2-7-06]