As I read this I see that it is the father who describes it as demon possession. It is also the cause of a dispute between the scribes and Jesus disciples.

I can't help wondering if this is a case of epilepsy and if the scribes perhaps recognising this (even vaguely) had set up the disciples for an exorcism.

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Eoghan
member,Thurso Baptist Church
Scotland

specialist subject: Creationist Genetics (Bottleneck effect of the Ark)
interests: holiness (practical theology)
member of Biblical Creation Society (available as a guest speaker in the far north of Scotland)

If the boy did not have an unclean spirit, Christ is a liar (9:25). Therefore he must have had an unclean spirit.

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Fred Greco
Senior Pastor, Christ Church PCA (Katy, TX)
Christ Church Blog

"The heart is the main thing in true religion...It is the hinge and turning-point in the condition of man's soul. If the heart is alive to God and quickened by the Spirit, the man is a living Christian. If the heart is dead and has not the Spirit, the man is dead before God." (J.C. Ryle)

Yup

On Jesus' word, it must be a genuine case of demonic possession (cf. Mark 9:28-29 ). Epilepsy could be a symptom.

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Austin
EE student at Texas State University
Member of Church of the Cross (PCA) in San Marcos, TX
Ps. 8:3-4 "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"