Mad

This is easy. The Greek word is mania (with the verb mainomai). And this is exactly what it means in every place, as the context plainly shows: “He hath a demon, and is mad” (John 10:20). “Paul, thou art beside thyself (said Festus: Acts 26:24); much learning doth make thee mad.” The Roman governor was, in effect, saying to Paul: ‘That’s just what you told us yourself ten minutes ago!’—for had not the apostle declared: “and being exceeding mad against them (the Christians), I persecuted them even unto strange cities” (26:11)? Here the phrase is often read as meaning “very angry”. But no! Paul meant what he said: In those violent days he had behaved like a lunatic.

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Author: Harry Whittaker

Keywords: Mad, crazy, insane, insanity, have a demon, demon possession, madness, evil spirit, possessed with a demon, possessed with a devil, daimonas, beside oneself, beside thyself, lunatic, craziness

Bible reference(s): 1 Corinthians 14:23, Acts 12:15, Acts 26:24, John 10:20

Source: “Mad,” Word Studies.

Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.