See “Spiritism.”
Christian Bible Dictionary
Dr. J. Dominguez
http://bible.com/dictionary/
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
tip, LEYE
see, DIVINATION, ASTRÍLOGOS, WIZARDS
vet, Person supposedly endowed with supernatural powers, due to the practice of the occult and his relationships with evil spirits. The Hebrew term “hartõm”, translated as “Chaldean” or “magician”, came to mean a scribe, an instructed priest (Dan. 1:20; 2:10, etc.). Versed in enchantments, in the practices of the occult (Ex. 7:11), in the interpretation of dreams (Dn. 2:10). These magicians were numerous: in Egypt (Gen. 41:8; 2 Tim. 3:8 gives the names of Jannes and Jambres, who opposed Moses), in Assyria (Nah. 3:4), in Babylon (Is. 47:9; Dan. 2:2), in Canaan and in the other pagan countries (Deut. 18:10). Another Hebrew term, “hashshãph”, translates as “enchanters” or “sorcerers”. Designates sorcerers and exorcists who used magical formulas to make evil spirits help them, or to force them to stop tormenting their victims. The desired supernatural effects had to do with men, animals and the forces of nature. The texts do not always clearly distinguish between enchantment and divination (Num. 23:23; 24:1; 2 Kings 17:17; Jer. 27:9) and other forms of occultism, all of which are formally prohibited by the law of Moses (Dt. 18:9-14), in which the penalty for sorcerers, as for those who evoke the dead, was death (Ex. 22:18; Lev. 20:6, 27). The prophets foretold the punishment that will come upon them (Mic. 5:11; Mal. 3:5; etc.; cf. Josephus, Life 31; Ant. 17:4, 1; and Wis. 12:4-6). The NT evidences the same practices, and in its pages appear: Simon Magus (Acts 8:9, 11); Bar-jesus (Acts 13:6, 8); in Ephesus, the Jewish exorcists and the adepts of the “magical arts” and their books of immense price (Acts 19:13, 19). Sorcery is manifestly a work of the flesh (Gal. 5:20). In Rev. 9:21, the term translated “sorceries” is “pharmakeia”, which suggests the use of drugs and mysterious potions; the punishment for these evil drugs is eternal damnation (Rev. 18:23; 21:8; 22:15). (See DIVINATION, ASTRILOGUES, MAGICIANS.)
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
See MAGIC AND SORCERY A.
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
(Also see MAGICIAN) farmakos (farmakov”, 5333), adjective meaning “devoted to the magical arts”. Used as a noun, sorcerer, especially applied to users of drugs, potions, incantations, spells (Rev 21:8 in most commonly accepted mss; TR has farmakeus here; 22.15).¶
Source: Vine New Testament Dictionary