Gregory,BishopofNyssa,ALetterconcerningtheSorceress,

toBishopTheodoxios

INTRODUCTION
Thisshortthoughengagingtreatiseonnecromancyorwitchcraft(1)raisesfartoomanythornyquestionsthanitanswers.
GregoryofNyssahadintendeditasarefutationtothepositionmaintainedbyhisillustriouspredecessor,Origen.Thelatter's
viewwithregardtothesocalled"witchofEndor"(1Sam28.7)maintainedthatshehadseenSamuelinsteadofademon(2).
InthisletterhesetsforththeconvictionthatademonhaddeceivedSaulandpresentedhimwithaforgedprophecy.Dueto
thebrevityofGregory'sepistleanditsstraightforwardpresentation,wefinditeasytodiscoverthiscentraltheme.
Nevertheless,therelationshipbetweenthesoulofajustperson(inthisinstance,theprophetSamuel)andthetendencyof
eviltodeceivepersonsisanimportantthoughdelicateissueinthespirituallife.Witness,forexample,theoffenseperceived
byEustathiosofAntiochwhenconfrontedbyOrigen'scommentaryonthesorceressofEndorwithregardtoChrist'ssoulin
theunderworld.ThelattermaintainedthatChrist'ssoulwasinHadesbutdifferedfromtheothersinthathiswillwasnot
presentthere(3).
Thereexistslittlecommentaryupontheletterinitselfbymodernscholars.Despitethisfact,itshouldbetakenwithinthe
largercontextofChrist'sdescentintohell,lifeafterdeathandeventheresurrection.Perhapsthemostextensive
contemporarytreatmentmaybefoundinanarticlebyK.A.D.Smelik(4)whichsituatesthebishopofNyssa'slettertohis
fellowbishop,Theodoxios,withinthebroadercontextofotherChurchFathersandRabbinicliterature.BothJewsand
Christianswroteonthesamesubject,thatis,FirstSamuel,chaptertwentyeight,approximatelyupuntiltheyear800.In
brief,therabbisconsiderednecromancywickedbutadmittedthattheprophetSamuelwasraidedatEndorbyawitch.On
theotherhand,SmelikdividesChristianopinionsonthematterintothreecategories:
I.Saulwasresuscitatedbyawoman:
JustinMartyer(DialogueswithTrypho:PG6.721)
Origen(InLibrumRegumhomiliaiiCom.onJn.20.42)
ZenoofVerona
Ambrose(Com.onLk1.33,PL15.1547)
Augustine(DediversisquastionibusadSimplic.,Decuragerendapromortuis,DeoctoDulcitiiquastionibus,PL40.162f,
DedoctrinaChristianaII,xxiii,35,Epistle43)
AnastasiusSinaita(PG89.581ff&746).
II.EitherSamuelorademoninhisshapeappearedatGod'scommand:
JohnChrysostom(Com.onMatvi,3(PG57.66),Com.onlettertoTitusIII,2(PG62.678)
TheodoretofCyrrhus(Quast.inIReg.28,PG.80.590Quast.inIParal.,PG80.808
PseudoHippolytus
TheodorebarKoni
Isho'dadofMerv
III.AdemondeceivedSamuelandgavehimaforgedprophecy:
Tertullian,(DeAnima57,8f)
PseudoHippolytus

Ephrem(Com.onSam.28(inOperaOmnia,ed.P.Benedictus,ser.Syr.I(Rome1737),p.38790n.3NisbianHymn,42,6
(CSCO240,38f)&57,15f(CSCO)363,63)
EvagriusPonticus(CephaleiaGnosticavi,61(Patr.Or.28,242f
PseudoBasil(Com.onIs.8,19(PG30.497)
Jerome(Com.onMat.6,31,PL26.46Com.onIs.iii,7,11(PL24.106)
Philastrius
Ambrosiaster(QuaestionesVeteri&NoviTestamenti
PseudoAugustine,DemirabilibusSacraeScripturaeii,11(PL35.2179)
GregoryofNyssabelongstothethirdcategorywhichgenerallymaintainsthatthewomanhadactuallyseenSamuel(1Sam
28.9)andnotademoninhisformastheothertwogroupscontend.Suchanobservationcompelsthereadertotakeacloser
lookattheactualtextofFirstSamuel28,anappealGregoryofNyssamakesatthebeginningofhislettertohisfellow
bishop.Thisentreatyshouldbeconsideredwiththecontextofhistwoopeningscripturalquotations,onebyChrist(Mt7.7),
"Seekandyouwillfind"followedbySt.Paul(2Tm4.13),"Attendtoreading,Timothy,myson."Hispleatoattentiveness
andacarefulreadingofscriptureiscertainlyintendedtoimpressuponhisreadersthenecessityofnotimposingtheirown
preconceivedideasuponsuchamysteriousandthoughtprovokingincidentasrecordedinFirstSamuel.Tostresshisintent,
GregorymakesitapointtoquotetheunbridgeablechasmwhichexistsbetweenAbrahamandLazarus(Lk16.26)becauseit
preventedthedevilfromcrossingaswellasaperson"establishedinthegood"fromcrossingovertoevil.Despitethis
insurmountablebarrier,Gregoryadmitsthatdemonsattempttodeceivepersons(tocrossfromthegoodtoevil)through
"omens,divinizations,oracles,ritestoconjureupghosts,ecstasies,possessions,inspirationsandmanyothertricks."
Furthermore,hesinglesoutforcondemnationsorcery(eggastrimuthos),"aformofmagicbelievedtoattractdepartedsouls
tolifeonhigh."ThisformwhichthewomanatEndorhasseentookontheappearanceof"gods(theoi)ascendingoutofthe
earth"(vs.10).Inthecontextofscripture"gods"representbeingsfromanotherworldbynomeansdotheypartakein
attributesconsideredbelongingtothesupremeDivinity.NotethattheSeptuagintversionhastheword"gods"intheplural.
Suchdifficultyofinterpretationasrevealedbythiswordhasthereforegivenrisetoawidevarietyofmisunderstandings
regardingtheoriginaltextaswellasanequalvarietyofinterpretations,afactbroughtoutbySmelik'sarticle.
AboutmidwaythroughGregory'sletterweobtainatruepictureofanissueevenmoretroublesometohismindthansorcery.
Thisproblemisarticulatedinthecorrectinterpretationofscripture,somethingwhichhadcontinuedtobotheralltheologians
downthroughthecenturies.Gregoryasks,"Howcanservilitytotheletterofthetextconcurwiththerecordofhistory?If
Samuelistrulyavision,thesorcererindeedseesgods."Inotherwords,Gregorydoesnotshrinkbackfromthedifficult
problempresentedby1Sam28rather,heseeksacorrectinterpretationofthetextinthespiritofMt7.7and2Tm2.7which
setthetoneofhissearchforgreaterunderstandinginhisopeningparagraph.Tofurtherclarifyhisposition,Gregoryquotes
Ps96.5,"Allthegodsofthenationsaredemons."Theshiftofemphasisnowpassesfromthefactthatthewomanhad
summonedupSamuelovertotheliteralmeaningofsorceryasimpliedbytheletter'stitle,PeriEggastrimuthou.Aswehave
alreadyseen,theGreekterm,eggastrimuthos,morespecificallyreferstoventriloquism,theabilitytoprojectone'svoiceso
thatitcanbeassociatedwithanotherobjectorperson.ThisliteralmeaningfitsinwellwithGregory'sinterpretationofthe
demonandthewayhehaddeceivedthewoman(5),thatis,bysimulating(orprojecting)Samuel'svoice.Inthisfashion
GregoryescapesthedifficultyofhavingSamuelassociatedwithevil:"Ifthis[vision]weretrulySamuel,howcouldhebe
associatedwithevil?"LikemanyofhisfellowChristiancommentatorsonthispassage,thebishopofNyssareferstothe
incidentofBalaam.Thismanwasaforeignpriestdiviner,thoughnotamemberofthecovenantcommunity,who
neverthelessremainedobedienttotheLordspeakingwithinhim.Intheincidentwhichremainsparticularlyimportantfor
Gregory,hereferstoBalaam'sfreedomfromassociationwithomensinNum24.1,"Hedidnotgo,asitwashiscustom,to
lookforomens."GregoryemploysthisthwartedtendencyforsoothsayingonBalaam'spartasproofthatthe"demonwho
appearedasSamuelandsimulatedhiswords,hadcleverlyimitatedprophecy(6)."
GregoryofNyssabringstoaresolutionthequestionofSamuel'sevocationfromthedeadbyreferringtotheprophetElias
whomravensfedwithout"defiledbreadnormeatusedforidols"duringhisstayinthewilderness.Thisincidentrevealsthe
uneasyassociationGregoryfeelsbetweensacrificesandtheirperversion,forheisquicktomakespecialreferencetothe
bookofLeviticuswhichgivesdetailsaboutsacrificesandattendantrituals.Atthisjuncturehequicklybringshisletterto
BishopTheodoxiostoaclosecitinghisconclusion,namely,"themannerbywhichthe[Holy]Spiritispresentbefore
baptism."GregoryadmitsthatthisproblemofhowtheHolySpiritaffectspersonscannotbeanswered.Furthermore,no
clearreferencetothismatterexistsinGregory'sletterbutitrevealsaconcernofhis:thattheHolySpiritistheDivine
PersonspeciallyresponsibleforinspiringallholypersonssuchastheprophetSamuel.Oncethisinspirationhasfirmlybeen
rootedwithinaperson,thereisnoroomforanyexternalinfluencesuchasfromdemonsaswehaveseenwithregardtothe

witchofEndor.
*****
ThecriticaleditiontoPeritesEggastrimuthoumaybefoundinGregoriiNysseniOperaDogmaticaMinora,parsII,edited
byHadwigaHorner(Leiden,1987,E.J.Brill,Leiden,1987),pages1018.TheeditionbyJ.P.Mignemaybefoundin
volume45(Paris,1858),pages108113.

Gregory,BishopofNyssa,ALetterconcerningtheSorceress,
toBishopTheodoxios

[J.101&M.108][Christ]saystohisdisciples,"Seekandyouwillfind"(Mt7.7).Thatis,hewillrevealhimselfbothto
personswhoareengagedinadiligentsearchinaccordwiththiscommandandtothosepersonswhoareseeking[faith's]
hiddenmysteries.Hewhomadethispromisedoesnotlie,forhehasfreelylavisheduponusthemagnificenceofhisgifts
whichtranscendalloursupplications.Therefore,"Attendtoreading,Timothy,myson"(1Tm4.13).Ibelieveitis
appropriatetospeakofyourgoodnessusingthegreatPaul'swordsinorderthattheLordmaybestowuponyou
understandinginallthings(2Tm2.7).Inthisfashionyouwillberichineverywordandinallknowledge(1Cor1.5).Now
allowmetoattendtoyourrequestsinceIhavethoughtofsuggestingafewwordswhichpertaintowhattheLordhad
recommendedtoyou.Inthiswayyoumaylearnthatwearetoserveeachotherthroughloveandbycarryingouteach
other'swill.
Since,aproperunderstandingofSamuelisatthismomentveryimportant,withGod'shelpandtothebestofmyability,I
willnowoffer[J.102]afewwords.SomeofourpredecessorswishedtoconsiderastrueSamuel'sevocation[fromthe
dead].Furthermore,theyofferedtheiropinionsonthistopicbecausehehadexpressedgriefoverSaul'srejection(1Sam
15.35).SamuelcontinuallybesoughttheLordsaying,"DoyoucondonethewitchcraftwhichSaulhadbanishedfromthe
peoplebecauseithaddeceivedthem?"Forthisreasontheprophetwasgreatlyvexedoverthefactthatthepeoplehad
preferredarejectedpersoninsteadoftheLord.They[i.e.,'someofourpredecessors']claimedthatGodhadallowedthe
prophet'ssoultobeconjuredupthroughmagic.ThusSamuelmightbeholdthefalsehoodwhichGodattributedtohim
becauseheexpressedindignation[M.109]whenthesorceryhadconjureduphissoul.
Inextturnmyattentiontothechasm[Lk16.26]mentionedintheGospelwhichthepatriarch[Abraham]saidwas
establishedbetweenevilandgoodpersons.Moreaccurately,theLordofthepatriarchsaidthatthedamnedcouldnot[J.103]
passovertothereposeofthesaints,norcouldthesaintspassovertothem.Idonotacceptopinionswithregardtothis
matterastrueonlytheGospelshouldbetrusted.BecauseSamuelwasgreatamongthesaintsandsorceryisevil,Idonot
believethathewhowasincludedin[thepatriarch's]reposecouldtraversethatchasmwhichtheimpiouscouldnotbridge
whethertheywilleditornot.Thusthedevilcouldnotfreelycrossthechasmanddeprivethesaintsofholinesshewas
unabletodothisandcouldnotattributeeviltoanyonewhodidnotwantit.Forapersonestablishedinthegoodcannot
crossovertoevileventhoughapersonmightwishtodothis,thechasmdoesnotpermitit.
What,then,isouropinionofthesematters?Thecommonenemywhichishostiletohumannaturewatchesmanwiththe
utmostattention.Whatarethoseoccasionswhereamancanstrikesomeoneelse,therebydeprivinghimofthelifegiving
Godandfreelyabandoninghimtodestruction?Personswhoarepreoccupiedwiththebodyandwhowantknowledgeofthe
future,meansbywhichtheyhopetoescapeevilorfollowpleasure,areunmindfulofGod.Intheirtreachery,demonsdevise
manyways[tothwartsuchunmindfulness]:omens,divinizations,oracles,ritestoconjureupghosts,ecstasies,possessions,
inspirationsandmanyother[J.104]tricks.Anypremonitionconsideredastruebutistheresultofdeceptionrevealsthe
cunningdemon,sincethispersonhasmistakenafalseopinionforacorrectone.

Furthermore,thedevilresemblesaneagleinflight.Hecloselywatchesusinordertofrustrateanyhopeandexpectationwe
mayhavehewishestoexciteus,makeourearsitch,andtodivertourattention.Themalevolentdevilimpartsthesesignsto
personswhomhehasdeceivedthroughcloseobservation.Andso,demonicworshipisawayofturningmenawayfromGod
becausetheybelievethatdemonsareresponsibleforthisaction.
Onesuchdeceptionissorcery[eggastrimuthos],aformofmagicbelievedtoattractdepartedsoulstolifeonhigh.Therefore
whenSauldespairedatbeingsavedfromthealientribesarrayedagainsthim,hesoughtdeliverancefromSamuel(1Sam
28.45).Oncethedevildeceivedthewomanbybecomingfriendlywithherandbyusinghersorcery,[M.112]heassumed
numerousdarkforms.However,hedidnotmanifesthimselftoSaulthephantomswhichthiswoman'ssorceryconjuredup
werevisibleonlytoher.Atfirstthedemonmadehisappearancesbelievablewhileconcealing(28.12)histrueperson
[J.105].ThissurprisedSaulsincethewomanwhohadbeendeceiveddidnotknowthetruepowerofsorcery.Becauseofher
ignorance,sheclaimedtohaveseengodsascending(28.13)andamanstandinguprightclothedwithadoublecloak.
Howcanservilitytotheletterofthetextconcurwiththerecordofhistory?IfSamuelistrulyavision,thesorcererindeed
seesgods.Scripturesaysofdemonswhoaregods,"Allthegodsofthenationsaredemons"(Ps96.5).Arewetoequate
Samuel'ssoulwiththedemons?Ofcoursenot.Butanypowerobedienttodemonicsorceryandotherspiritsassociatedwith
thedeceivedwomanhaveindeedmisleadSaul.However,sheconjuredupthedemonsthroughsorcery,thatis,theform
whichSaulsoughthadsimulated[Samuel's]voice.Alsotheresponsewhichthewomanutteredinthespiritofprophecy
seemedtobeinresponsetoanappearance.Thedemonrebuked[Saul]anddidnotwanthimtoknowthetruth:"Tomorrow
youandJonathanwillbewithme"(28.19).IfthisweretrulySamuel,howcouldhebeassociatedwithevil?Butitisclear
thatinsteadofSamuel,theevildemonhadappearedandsaidthatSaulwouldbewithhim.
Ifscriptureshows[J.106]thatitwasSamuelwhowas
speaking,weshouldnotalterthecorrectunderstandingofthetexthowever,keepinmindthatscriptureintendsthesewords
foranyonewhobelievesthatSamuel[isspeaking].Wehavelearnedthatscripturefrequentlyrelatessomethingapparent
insteadofthatwhichisreal.Forexample,refertoBalaam:"IwillhearwhatGodwillspeakinme"(Num22.19).Lateron
BalaamknewthathedidnotpleaseGodbycursingtheIsraelites:"Hedidnotgo,asitwashiscustom,tolookforomens"
(24.1).ForitwaspresumptuousofBalaamtothinkthathecouldspeakwiththetrueGod.Scripturefurthershownthat
BalaamconfusedthetrueGodwithhisthoughtsabouthim.Becauseofthis,thedemonwhoappearedasSamueland
simulatedhiswords,hadcleverlyimitatedprophecy.
InquiryconcerningEliasisunnecessarysinceyouhavefailedtomentionhim.Godorderedhimtodrinkfromthebrook
(1Kg17.4),andsecretlyinstructedhimtorescindtheprophet'ssentenceagainsttheIsraelites.[Elias]alonedrankfromthe
brookwhichlater[M.113]randry.Hehadnoothermeanstoslackhisthirstbecause[God]refusedhisrequestforrain,yet
thebrookcontinuedtoprovidehimwithwater.Ravensalsoservedtheprophetbyprovidingfood,anexamplewhichthe
trueGodusedtoshowthetrustmanypersons[J.107]haveinhisassistance.Theseravensdidnotbringdefiledbreadnor
meatusedforidols.ImpiouspersonsemploymeansastheseasweseeintheattempttotreacherouslypersuadeElias,forit
isnotfairtoholdasliableforpunishmentpersonslookingtoGod.Ifbreadisbroughttohimearlyinthemorningandmeat
intheevening,thisexamplemysteriouslysymbolizesenthusiasmforthevirtuouslife.Weshouldconsiderearlymorningas
pertainingtothecommencementofalifeaccordingtovirtue.WecanthuseasilyunderstandPaulwhenhespeaksof
somethingmoreperfectwhichisheldinstoreforthosewhoareperfect:"Solidfoodisfortheperfect,orthosewhohave
theirfacultiesexercised"(Heb5.14).
YouarenotignorantofMoses'veil,referencetowhichmaybefoundinPaul'sepistletotheCorinthians(1Cor3.1318).
Asforsacrifices,youmayfindinformationbymorecarefullyexaminingthebookofLeviticusinitsentiretyandby
attendingtothelawcontainedthere.Thusyoumaycomprehendthepart[ofthetext]alongwiththewhole,forapartcannot
beclearlydistinguishedapartfromtheentiretext.
Yourquestionsaboutthepowerofevildonotofferaclearsolutionbecausetheangelsdonotassociatewiththatarchangel
whobecameadeserter.Anarmyinbattlearrayclearly[J.108]requiresleadership.Inthismannerthequestionwithregard
tohowtheonecanparticipateinthemanyissolved,forsoldierswhohavedesertedtheirleaderhaveacertainbearingupon
thematterathand.
Lastofall,wesendtoyourreverence,withGod'sassistance,ourconclusion(ImeanthemannerbywhichtheSpiritis
presentbeforebaptism)whichcontainsfurtherreflectionsandthoughtswithregardtothetext.

endoftext

Introduction,notesforEndor

ErichKlostermann:Origenes,EusthathiusvonAntiochien,undGregorvonNyssauberdieHexevonEndor(Bon:A.
MarcusundE.Weber,1912).Series:"KlieneTextefurVorlesungenundUbungen,83.Availablefrom:HellenicStudies,
3100WhitehavenSt.,Wash.DC20009.Theircat.no.:BR65.o52x1912.(Thisisonlythetranslation).
*****
LynnThorndike:AHistoryofMagic&ExperimentalScienceduringtheFirstThirteenCenturiesofOurEra(NY:
Macmillan1923)."Turningbacknowtothesubj.ofthewitchofE,wefindthatsomeofthechfrsagreewithOratherthan
Tertul.thatthewitchreallyinvokedSam."(p.469).
2opp.viewsofO:"WithoutmentioningObyname,thatsomeprevifuswritershavecontendedthatSwastrulyinvokedby
magicwithdivpermis.inorderthathemiteseehismistakeinhavingcalledSaultheenemyofventrioquists.ButGbelives
thatSwasalreadyinparadise&hencecouldnotbeinvokedfromtheinfermalregionsbutthatitwasademonfromthe
infernalregionswhopredictedtoSaul,"tomorrowyou&Jon.shallbewithme."ThelognertreatiseofEustofAisadirect
answertoO'sorgumentasitstitle,ConcenringtheVent.againstO,indicates.Eholdsthatitwasillegaltoconsultvents.in
viewofSaul'sownpreviousactionagainstthem&otherprohibitionsinscript,&thatO'sremakrsaretobedeploredas
tendingtoencouragesimplementoresorttoartsofdivin.EcontendsthatthewitchdidnotinvokeSambutonlymadeSaul
thinkthatshedid,&thatSaulhimselfdidnotseeS.Pharoah'smagicianssimilarlydeceivedtheimagin.withshadows&
specterswhenthepretendedtoturnrodsintosnkaes&waterintoblood.EdofesnotagreewithOthatSamwasinhell.He
holdsthatthepredictionsmadebythepseudoSamwerenotimpossibleforademontomake,&indeedwerenotstricktly
accurate,sinceSauldidnotdietheverynextdaybutthedayafterit,andsincenotonlyJon.buthis3sonswereslainwith
him.Furthermore,Davidwasalreadysoprominenetinpublicaffairsthatademonmiteeasilyguessthathewouldsucceed
Saul."p.4701.
*****
NotesfromTheWitchofEndor,K.A.D.Smelik(NewYork:NorthHolland,1979),p.160179,anarticlefromVigiliae
Christianae33.
AtSmyrnaduringDecius'persecution,250AD,priestPioniussaysJewsallegedthatJesus'resur.duetonecromancy.Ref.
madeto1Sam28.HereinfernaldaemonsassumedSam'sshape&showedthemselvestothewoman&toSaul.

Smelik'sarticlegivesurveyofmostimportantRabbinic&Xninterps.of1Sam28fromperiodbefore800AD&a
comparisionofea.
InOT:S.aspersecutorofallnecromancershastoresorttonecromancyhimself.Onlywitch,hisformeradversary,willingto
bekind.Thispericopegaveexpoundersofea.agetroublebutesp.fromAntiquitywhenBiblicalexegesismoredetermined
bydogmaticreasons.Pioniusraisedimportantquest:wasS.raisedbywitchormustweunderstandscript.indiff.way?
Rabbis:considerednecromancywickedbutpossiblethatS.raisedatEndor.
Xnopinionsdividedinto3basicviews:
I.S.resusitatedbywoman:
JustinMartyr(DialogueswithTrypho,PG6.721),

Cyril(PG68.432)refutsSamwasresuscitatedadaemonpretendedtobehim.ButhethinksGodannouncedS.impending
deathtoaggravatehissuffering,tho'doesn'tsayexplicitythatdaemonprophesiedatGod'scommand.
Thirdgroupmostauthoritative.Eustathius,ch.11,saysdaemonscan'tsummonsts.AsNyssa&Ambrosiasterclaim,God
didn'twanttoanswerS.thrulivingprophets(cf.vs6)whywouldhethruoneraisedfromthedead?Nyssasaysthata
necromancercanonlyraisedeadfromHell,thewomancan'thaveraisedSamevenifhewouldbewillingtopasstoHell,
becauseofthechasm.CyrilinferssamefromRev6.9:sayssoulsofjustinParadiseunderanaltarwheredemonscan't
come,soitwasimpossible.HeremindsalsoofJesus'promise,Jn10.279.SinceSamwaspiousman,hemusthavebeen
alive,thusmakingliteralsenseof1Sam28absurd.
Devilcantransformtorighteousman,2C11.14f.,soit'sobviousthatadaemonposedasSamtodeceiveS.Thushetriedto
giveimpress.thathecontrolsritouswhendead.It'dbeuselesstoliveforGodsincetreatmentafterdeathnotdiff.forpious
thanfromwicked.Accord.toEust.,thisisdevil'smainincentive,toworshiphim,notGod.
Whydoesvs12sayexplicitlythatwomansawSam&notadaemoninhisshape?Group3saysit'sinstanceofbiblical
practicetousecondensedexpressionsforex,re.Balaamwheredaemonplainlycalled"god,"tho'obvioustothemthat
Israel'sGodnotmeant(Nyssa).Mostwriterscompare1Sam28withstoryre.Balaam&refertoGen18:angels=men.Aug.
saysSam'sappararitioncalled"Sam"bywayofabbreviation(Dediv.qu.adSimpl.ii,3,2)becausewedosameincolloquial
speech.
Eust.(chap.9)re.Ex7.12saysstaffsofEgyptiansorcersturnedintoserpentswhichisunseemlybutEust.saysit'sdaemonic
decit.Thusnotnec.tonotifyreaderof1Sam28thatnecromancywasfraudmoreover,script.sayswomandidn't
resuscitatedSam,onlythatshesawhim(Procopius).
Whatabout"AndS.knewthenthatitwasSam"(vs14)?S.wasvexedbydemonsmanyyrs,socouldn'tmakedistinc.bet.
reality&delusion.ForEust.&Ambrosiaster,SamonlyexistedinsickmindofS.
IndicationsthatthisNecromancyDelusive
Vs13:womansayssheseesgods(plural)comingfromearth.Rab.trad.saysSam&Mosesappeared.Theyare"gods"
becauseEx7.1Msocalled&Sam,samerankasM(Ps98.6&Jer15.1)entitledtothisname.
O.thot"gods"as"soulsofriteous"(lxxmaintainedtheplural)&gotstrongoppositionfromgroup3suchasEust.&Nyssa
whothot"gods"demons(cf.Basil,PG32.692,letter189).Nyssaprovesthisbyref.toPs95.5.Eust.:Devilcallsuparmyof
forgedsoulsofriteous&triestoprovehisdiv.&makeS.worshiphim,v.14.
IntheallegedSam,manymissedfirmreproachofS.bySam:insteadofrebukinghimforturningtoasorcerforbiddenby
Lev19.31&foradoringhim,theapparitiononlyaskswhyS.disturbedhim.Eust.,asrepresentativeofGroup3,showshow

theyaredeterminedbydogmaticconsiders.:Eust.judgesthispassagenotpropheticbecausewhat'ssaidisn'tinconformity
withhisopinionastowhataprophetshouldsayinordertobeaprophet.
SamsaysSwillbewithhimnextday,butGroup3saysthatplaceofriteous&wickedaredif.Rab.liter.saySpardoned,
butthisisn'twhatXnssaysomesaydiff.interp.needed."Withme"indicatesdeadasSam.Lxxtranslates,"tomorrow,you
&yoursonswithyouwillfall",butGrkFrs.likeO,Eust,&Nyread,"willbewithme.EasiersolutionforGroup3:Devilis
speaking,soSwillbewithhiminhell.
#3commentonlackoforiginalityinprophecygivenbytheapparition:"&whatwasobvioustoconceivefromwhathad
appeared,hetold(...)inthecastofaprophecy."
O.:inhissermonon1S28(cf.frag.xiv,CGS6,299whichhascompletelydif.view)sayshewastroubledbythisstory&
doesn'tdaretodeviatefromit,eventho'sayswomansawSam.Oawareof2C11.14f.Forhim,prophecyofapparationcan't
bebydemonsincenodemoncaneverpronounceuponkingshipofLord'schosenpeople.Re.SaminHades,Orefrainsfrom
pneumaticremarksbutadherestoletteroftextalotwhichisunusual.Butthiswasn'tacceptabletoJerome(PL23.691)&to
Euth.
Grkusesforsorcereyiseggastrimuthos,"ventriloquist."
#2like#3holdsmiddleposition:objectagainstassumptionthatevilwomanhadpoweroverriteousSambutdon'tthinkthe
necromancywasacompletefraudtheyassumGodwantedtonotifySinthiswayabouthisdeath.
Nyssasome"predecessors"supossedSamgrievedbyS'srepudiation&thatherepraochfullyconfrontedtheLordwithS's
meritforhavingexterminatednecromancy(vs3).InordertoshowSamthathewasrecommendingSunjustifiably,God
permittedtheprophet'ssoultoberaisedthruthistypeofmagic.
Analysis
Needtoresolveimportantquest:howcanitbethataltho'allthesewriterssupposescriptinspired,somehadnoobjectionto
rejectingtheliteralsenseof1S28bysayingthatSamhimselfdidn'tappear?Reason:Bibleisunity,sowhenapericopetaken
literallysuggestsanunseemlyinterp.,thiscan'thavebeentheinspiredwriter'sintention.Thusthisinterp.can'tbecorrect.
ThuswhenSamseemsforcedtoappearbynec.script.tobeunderstoodindif.way.
GeneraltendencyofXnwritersthistimetoconsidernec.,likeallpaganmanticasdemonicdecit.Cf.Lactantius,fornec.
inventedbydemonstodeceivemankind:PL6.1036.Chrys.saysnec.practicedinhistime,PG57.403re.howabishop
resuscitatedamonknearEdessa.
InGospels,demonsprophesy&inActsapostleswarwithdemonicpowersofsorcery:chs.8,13,16,19.Pagansoften
confusedXnmiracleswithmagic&werethusinterested.Moreover,sorceryassoc.withpagangods.
#2&#3opinionsarewhatweexpectfromthisperiod.InEast,powerindemonsbelievedstrongerthaninWest.O.was
originalsoprobablythotitchallengetosticktolit.senseofSam.Aug.revisedhisview&adheredtolit.interp.Hewilling
toopposelit.exegeiswhenbelievedittobeinopp.togeneraltendencyamongorth.thinkers.
BothRabbis&XnstendedtoobjecttoSambeingseenbySduetolatter'sconfusedstateofmind,sonothardforwitchto
givehimillusionthatSamappeared.ThistendencynotinOTspiritrationalisitckindofexegesis.
*****
Quasten:Eust.importantrep.atCouncilofNicaea,325.Ariosrec'dtheol.traininginschoolofAntiochsogotdisciples
fromhere.AccusedinXogyassuccessortoPaulofSamosata&forerunnerofNestoriusbutfrags.ofhiswksrefutethis.E.
1sttoattemptaLogosManXgyagainstpredom.LogosSarxdoct.,sohe'simportantinhist.ofdogma.InLSteach.
perceiveddangerthatArianscoulduseittoshowXassumedahum.bodywithoutasoul&thenattributeallthechangesto

theLhimself&thusdepriveofhisdiv.ThusEresortstoLMformula&makessharpdistinc.bet.the2nats.inC.SinceE
stresseswholemaninXagainstLSXgy,hisformulascanbemisunder.suchasanthropostheophoros,makinghimsuspect
ofNest.ism.
Grillmeier,p.296f.:EoftenoffendedbyO'sremarks(Alex.school)re.remarksonX'ssoulinunderworldwhichOpresents
onwitchofEndor,remarkswhichseembeforeAriandispute.Oseesdif.bet.X'ssoul&otherspiritsinthefactthatwhileit
wasinHadeswithothers,byhiswillitwasabove(O,In1Reg.28)(Eust,DeEngastrimytho17:ibid,44.).Esaysthatbythis
OmakesXordinarymanbutsuperiorlikeprophets.Odoesn'ttakeintoconsider.X'sdiv.nat.FeatureofE'sXgy:emphasis
ondiv.elementinfeaturesofX'shuman.:"Andwhat,then,istherestrangeinsayingthatwhenhe(tempter)beheldX's
countenance&sawindeedthatwithinhewasGod,&bynat.thetrueSonofGod,&perceivedthepure,undefiled,
unstainedmanthatsurroundedhimamostbeau.,sanctified,inviolabletemplehenonethelesstotesthimoutattacked
withouthesit.,fightingagainsGodasishiswont"(DeEgast.,10).E'smostvaluablerecogn:insiteintounityofsubj.inX.
Logosissubj.,sothatallthatXdoesorsuffersinthefleshcanbepredicatedoftheL.InterestingtothindthisXgyon
Antiochenesoilwhenconsideringdoctrinalstrads.whichcamefromthere.E'sdisputewithArianLSXgyrevealshis
divisiveXgy.E,incontrasttoAthan,recognizesreal'sp.al'sufferingsinX&theirprinciple&subj,thesoulofX.Hereis
hisnewpositionconcernedwith2things:recog.ofcompletenessofX'shumanity&distinc.ofthenats.Eventho'his
opponentsbelongedtotheLSxgy,valuablefeaturesoftheoldtrad.stressedhere.Estressesdistinc.of2natssomuchthat
itthreatenstobecomeaseparationofpersons.ThuswehavecounterpartofLSframewkwithitsexaggeratedinterp.of
unity,aXgyoftheLMantypewhichendangersunity.Ewantedtodisting.thenats,yettoexplainunitywasdifficult.
EustathiusofAntiochandhisPlaceintheEarlyHistoryofChristianDoctrinebyRobertV.Sellers(CambridgeU
Press:1928)
75:HisEdEngastrimythocontraOrigenemwrittenafter311re.witchofEndortocounterO'swhichwaspopular(7).76:
centralptisthatpowertosendforsoulsfromHadesnottodemonsbuttoGod.Esaythisincidentasdevil'strick,forboth
woman&Sbothdrivenbydemonwithin.Thewitch,excitedbydemonwithinher,describedmarksofSamthruher
craftiness&inconseqthedementedSthotitwastheprophet.77:IfSamappearedinbodilyform,whydidn'tSseehim?E
callswomananEngastrimythusdeclaringthateverythingshedoesistrickery(getLampe'sref.here).Toillustrate,Egives
exoffalseprophetsonMtCarmel&magicians(1K18.29)(Ex7.1012).Thatitwasdevilishtrickery,Eshowsfromfact
thatSfelldowntoworship,somethingdevilliked.IfitweretrulySam,he'drebukeS.
78:TheEngast.declaresnothingnew,forSamearliersaidking.toberemovedfromS.Orebukedfornotpayingclose
attentiontowordsofscript.Also,O'sstupidifbelieveswordsofadementedwoman.OsaysXwasinHadeswhichis
incorrectrather,soulofhum.tabernacledescendedthere&redeemedsoulsoflikenatLogospresenteverywhereduetohis
div.
79:OalsosaysholysoulsofprophetscameupsincewomansawgodsascendingOwantstoaddangels.Oholdsthat
demoncouldn'tknowthattheking.grantedtoDavid.NameEngast.means"amythinthebelly"&mythisfabrication.
80:Justin(Dia.105)saysallsoulsunderdemonspowerwhileSamcalledupbywitch.Tertul(DeAnima,57)takeopp.
view:SamnotbrotbackbytheEngast.butwastrickofdevil.Method.ofOly.alsowrotewkAdversusOrigenemde
Pythonissawhichislost.NyssahassameviewasE:womansawdemonwhichassumedfig.ofSam.
81:Estressedliteral,notalleg.,interp.ofscript&thustrueAntiochene.
*****
OutlineofG.Nyssa'streatise
101:intro.re.X'sadmon.toseekhimsincehedoesn'tlie.Thisincontrasttowoman'sdeception.Quoteof2Tm2.7toattend
toreadingpossibleadmon.toOforlackofit?
102:"someofourpredecessors"thotsam'sevocationfromdeadtruealso,Godallowedhissoultobeconjuredupthru
magicbutwasindignantatthis.
ChasmofLk16.26:can'tbetraversed(103)bysts.nordevil.G.nowoffersopinion:devilasenemywatchestotripupman.
Demonshavemanywaystodeceivesuchaspossessions,etc.
104:onedecept.ofdevilissorcery,eggastrimuthos,toattactdepartedtoonhi.Phantomsconjuredupbywomanvisible
onlytoher.Devilmadehisappearancestruebutconcealedhistrueperson.105:ThissurprisedSsincewomandidn'tknow
truepowerofsorceryinherignorance,shesawgodsascending&manupritewithcloak.

"Howcanservilitytoletterofthetextconcurwiththerecordofhist?"IfSamvision,sorcerdoesseegods.Sincescrip.says
thatthegodsofthenationsofdemons,isSam'ssoultobeequatedwiththem?Anypowerrelatedtosorceryhasdeceived
boththewomanandS.Sam,ajustman,can'tbeassociatedwithdemonsforthisreasonitwasthedemonwhichappeared,
notSam,andSdidnotseehim.
106:Script.intendsthisincidentforanyonewhobelievesthatSamisspeaking.Itfrequentlyspeaksofappearances,not
realityasinthecaseofBalaamwhoconfusedGodwithhisthotsabouthim.
Elias'nourishmentbyravensismentioned(107).
108:Anarmyrequiresleadership,andsoldierscannotdeserttheirleader.Gconcludeswithamentionofbaptism.

RelatedPatristicSources

GroupI
JUSTIN(PG6.721DialogueswithTrypho,chap.105TheFathersoftheChurch,ChristianHeritage,Inc.:NewYork,
1948,p.312.trans.byThomasB.Falls)
"Now,Ihaveprovedthatsoulssurvive[afterdeath]fromthefactthatSam'ssoulwasinvokedbythewitch,asS.demanded.
AnditseemsthatthesoulsofotherjustmenandProphetsweresubjectedtosuchpowers,asisevidentfromthefactsinthe
caseofthiswitch.Thus,GodthruHisSonalsoteachesus(forwhomthesethingsseemtohavehappened)alwaysdtodoour
utmosttobecomerighteous&atourdeathtopraythatwemaynotfallintoanysuchpower.For,theMemoirsofthe
Apostelssaidthat,asHewasgivingupHisspiritonthecross,Hesaid:'Father,intoThyhandsIcommendMyspirit.'
ORIGEN(SourcesChretiennes#328HomeliessurSamuelHomeliev,p.17577189trans.byPierreetMarieTherese
Nautin,LesEditifonsduCerf:Paris,1986)
"SincehistoryconcernsSaulandnecromancy(eggastrimuthos),itisnec.thatthereisatruthinthetex.Who,then,after
havingquitthislife,wishestobeunderthepowerofademon?(cf.Justin,105.4),inorderthatthewitchdoesnotsimply
evokethefirstpersonswhohavecometobelievebuttheprophetSamwhichGodsaidbythemouthofJeremiah:'Though
M&Samstoodbeforeme,yetmyheartwouldnotturntowardthispeople'(15.1).Andthentheprophet[David]saysinhis
hymns,'M&Awereamonghispriests,Samalsowasamongthosewhoalledonhisname.Hespoketotheminthepillarof
cloud'(Ps99.67).Andagain,'IfM&Sstoodbeforemeandbeseechedme,'etc,isitnottrueifapersonofthisimportance
wasundertheearthandwhowasevokedbynecromancy,ademonhadpoweroverthesoulofaprophet?What,then,canwe
say?Arenotthesethingswritten?Aretheytrueornot?Ifanyonesaysthattheyarenottrue,oneencourageunbelief&it
willfallbackontheheadofthosewhosayit,butiftheyaretrue,thenweareconfrontedwithaquestionandafurther
difficulty."
Wewellknowthatcertainofourbrothersresistscriptureandsay,"Idonotbelieveinwitchcraft.Whenwitchcraftpretends
thatithasseenSamuel,itliesSamuelwasnotevoked,doesnotspeak.However,therearefalseprophetswhoaffirms,'Here
theLordspeakswhileinfactheisnotspeaking.Thusthissmalldemonlieswhileannouncingthathecanevokewhatever

Saulasks:'WhomshallIsummon?'SummonformeSamuel.'"Thisiswhatthosewhosaywhopretnedthatthishistoryis
nottrue.IsSamuelinhell?Samuelsummonedbywitchcraft,themost
1.TheGreektitletoGregory'streatiseisPeriteseggastrimuthou,"ConcerningNecromancy."AsdefinedbyAGreek
EnglishLexicon(LiddellandScott,Oxford1966,p.477),thewordeggastrimuthosisdefinedasaventriloquist,thatis,it
referstoapersonwhocanprojecthisorhervoicewithoutthemovementoflips.Morespecifically,suchaventriloquist
referredtowomenwhowerebelievedtodeliveroraclesfromtheirbelly.TheLatintitleisDePythonissawhichsuggests
Puthikos,theoldnameforDelphi,thefamousplacefororacles.
2."Someofourpredecessors[thatistosay,Origen]wishedtoconsiderastrueSamuel'sevocation[fromthedead]."
3."Somedistinguishingmarksofa'unitivetheology'arealsoevidentelsewhereinEustathius,particularlyinhisideaofthe
divinizationofChrist'ssoulandbodyandtheirparticipationinthepropertiesandbeingoftheLogos.Herewefeelreminded
ofOrigen,whosawthesoulofChristcompletelysteepedinthefireoftheLogos,thoughitisjustinthiscontextthatthe
oppositionbetweentheAntiocheneandtheAlexandrianbecomesapparent.Eustathiusisoffendedaboveallbytheremarks
aboutthesoulofChristintheunderworldwhichOrigenproducesontheoccasionofthequestionofthe'Witchof
Endor...'TheAlexandrianseesthedifferencebetweenthesoulofChristandotherspiritsinthefactthatwhileitwasbelowin
Hadeswiththeothers,bywillitwasabove.TheAntiochenesaysthatbydoingthisOrigenmakesChristanordinaryman,
justashecannotshowhowtheprophetsweresuperiortoothermen.Forallsouls,eventhoseofthemostwickedmen,have
alongingtobeaboveandnotbelow."AloysGrillmeier,ChristinChristianTradition,vol.one(Atlanta,1975),p.298.
4.TheWitchofEndor,anarticlefromVigiliaeChristianae33(NewYork,NorthHolland,1979),p.16079.
5.ItisinterestingtoparallelthisrelationshipwiththeserpentinthegardenofEdenGen3214.Inthisinstancetheserpent
ordevildeceivedthewomaninamannersimilartothewaythedemonhaddeceivedthewitchofEndor.
6.OnGregory'sposition,refertotheremarksbyLynnThorndike(AHistoryofMagicandExperimentalScienceduringthe
FirstThirteenCenturiesofOurera,NewYork:MacMillan,1923,p.470):"ButGregorybelievesthatSamuelwasalreadyin
paradiseandhencecouldnotbeinvokedfromtheinfernalregionsbutthatitwasademonfromtheinfernalregionswho
predicatedtoSaul,'tomorrowyouandJonathanshallbewithme.'ThelongertreatiseofEustasthiosofAntiochisadirect
answertoOrigen'sargumentasitstitle,ConcerningtheVentriloquistagainstOrigenindicated."
7.P.76,Ft.#1:Sum.ofO'sinterp.ofEndorstory:SaminHadespreparingsoulsforX'scoming.Topersonsnotholdingthat
SamwasinHadesbutaffirmthatthewomanliedwhenshesaidshesawhim,hepts.outthatscriptdoesn'tsay,"Thewoman
sawademonwhichpretendedtobeSam"but"ThewomansawSam".Ademoncouldn'tknowthatS&hissonsweretodie
nextday.Thegodswhomthewomansawascending,weresoulsofholyprophetsplusSam.