Christ's Divine Strategy in Defeating the Devil (St. Gregory Palamas)

By St. Gregory Palamas

The pre-eternal, uncircumscribed and almighty Logos and omnipotent Son of God could clearly have saved man from mortality and servitude to the devil without Himself becoming man.

He upholds all things by the word of His power and everything is subject to His divine authority (cf. Heb. 1:3). According to Job, He can do everything and nothing is impossible for Him (cf. Job 42:2 LXX).

The strength of a created being cannot withstand the power of the Creator, and nothing is more powerful than the Almighty.

But the incarnation of the Logos of God was the method of deliverance most in keeping with our nature and weakness, and most appropriate for Him who carried it out, for this method had justice on its side, and God does not act without justice.

Some Physical Signs of Demonic Possession

Saint Gregory Palamas, displaying here a remarkable knowledge of the medical science of his day regarding demonic possession, which he probably personally studied and observed, explains with some detail in his commentary of Mark 9:17-18, certain physical signs of demonic possession of the more violent variety. This is taken from his Homily on the Fourth Sunday of Lent.

"Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him, and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away" (Mark 9:17-18).