Is this teaching biblical?
Alexander Pagani provides the 'theological' foundation for the deliverance movement by abusing the trichotomy view of human nature. He claims the Holy Spirit dwells only in a believer's 'spirit' while demons can inhabit the 'soul' or 'body.' But Paul explicitly says our BODIES are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20), not just our spirits. The church fathers never divided human nature this way to justify demonic cohabitation with the Spirit. Pagani builds doctrine on experience and Greek word games rather than the clear teaching of Scripture.
What did Alexander Pagani say?
"Demons can reside in the soul or body of a Christian while the Holy Spirit dwells in their spirit. This is why believers need deliverance."
Speaker: Alexander Pagani
Source: The Secrets to Deliverance, Alexander Pagani
What does Scripture actually teach?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Or do you not know that your BODY is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your BODY and in your spirit, which are God's."
— NKJV
Paul explicitly says our BODY is the temple of the Holy Spirit — not just our spirit. Pagani claims demons can inhabit a Christian's body while the Spirit dwells only in the spirit. But Paul says the BODY is the temple, and we are to 'glorify God in your BODY and in your spirit, which are GOD'S.' The whole person belongs to God and is His temple.
2 Corinthians 6:14-16
"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?... And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God."
— NKJV
Paul's rhetorical questions expect the answer 'NONE.' What communion has light with darkness? NONE. Paul does not carve out exceptions for different parts of the human being. The believer IS the temple of the living God — spirit, soul, and body. Pagani's division is artificial and unbiblical.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
— NKJV
Paul prays for COMPLETE sanctification of 'spirit, soul, and body' — all three preserved BLAMELESS. He does not suggest that demons can inhabit two-thirds of the believer while God only occupies one-third. The whole person is being sanctified and preserved by God. Pagani's compartmentalization contradicts Paul's holistic view.
Romans 8:9-11
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you... And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal BODIES through His Spirit who dwells in you."
— NKJV
The Spirit gives life to our 'mortal BODIES' — the Spirit's work extends to the body, not just the spirit. Pagani's claim that the Spirit only occupies the 'spirit' while demons can inhabit the body contradicts Paul's teaching that the Spirit dwells in us and will give life to our mortal bodies.
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