Magic is "the science or practice of evoking spirits, or educing the occult powers of nature to produce effects apparently supernatural." It formed an essential element in many ancient religions, especially among the Persians, Chaldeans and Egyptians. The Hebrews had no magic of their own. It was so strictly forbidden by the law that it could never afterward have had any: recognized existence, save in times of general heresy or apostasy and the same was doubtless the case in the patriarchal ages. The magical practices which obtained among the Hebrews were therefore borrowed from the nations around. From the first entrance into the land of promise until the destruction of Jerusalem we have constant glimpses of magic practiced in secret, or resorted to not alone by the common but also as the great. It is a distinctive characteristic of the Bible that from first to last it warrants no such trust or dread. Laban attached great value to, and was in the habit of consulting, images. (Genesis 31:30,32) During the plagues in Egypt the magicians appear. (Exodus 7:11; 8:18,19) Balaam also practiced magic. (Numbers 22:7) Saul consulted the witch of Endor. An examination of the various notices of magic in the Bible gives this general result: They do not, act far as can be understood, once state positively that any but illusive results were produced by magical rites. (Even the magicians of Egypt could imitate the plagues sent through Moses only so long as they had previous notice and time to prepare. The time Moses sent the plague unannounced the magicians failed; they "did so with their enchantments," but in vain. So in the case of the witch of Endor. Samuel appearance was apparently unexpected by her; he did not come through the enchantments. --Ed.) The Scriptures therefore afford no evidence that man can gain supernatural powers to use at his will. This consequence goes some way toward showing that we may conclude that there is no such thing se real magic; for although it is dangerous to reason on negative evidence, yet in a case of this kind it is especially strong. [DIVINATION]

Great Miracles Wrought by Magic Arts.
... to a weak judgment, namely, why such miracles are wrought also by magic arts; for ...
a matter of wonder, how it was that the power of those magicians, which was ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 7 great miracles wrought by.htm

These Gods were Really Wicked Magicians.
... so it is more likely that the gods these persons celebrate were some sort of wicked
magicians, who were in reality wicked men, but by magic assumed different ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xx these gods were really.htm

Theory of Magic.
... Homily V. Chapter V."Theory of Magic. ... me in reference to what you have said, I will
tell you how the demons are under necessity to obey the magicians in the ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter v theory of magic.htm

Further Facts. Christian Continence of virgins and Ascetics. ...
... magic, and over the very name of it, it must be plain that the Saviour is not a
magician, seeing that even those demons who are invoked by the other magicians ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 48 further facts christian.htm

God Alone Creates those Things which are Changed by Magic Art.
... those evil angels to be called creators, because by their means the magicians,
withstanding the ... I can no more call the bad angels, evoked by magic arts, the ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 8 god alone creates those.htm

Of the Impiety of the Magic Art, which is Dependent on the ...
... was it before Christian judges that Apuleius himself was accused of magic arts? ... But
all the miracles of the magicians, who he thinks are justly deserving of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 19 of the impiety of.htm

Magicians not Trusted by Christians.
... Chapter XXVI."Magicians not trusted by Christians. ... who in the reign of Claudius C??sar,
and in your royal city of Rome, did mighty acts of magic, by virtue ...
/.../justin/the first apology of justin/chapter xxvi magicians not trusted by.htm

Appendix xvi. On the Jewish views About Demons' and the Demonised ...
... A. Magic and Magicians. We must here bear in mind that the practice of
magic was strictly prohibited to Israelites, and that - as ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xvi on the jewish.htm

Magic and Sorcery Only Apparent in their Effects God Alone Can ...
... So also in that other kind of magic, which is supposed to bring up ... The serpents which
emerged from the magicians' rods, certainly appeared to Pharaoh and to ...
/.../tertullian/a treatise on the soul/chapter lvii magic and sorcery only.htm

System of the Magicians; Incantations of Demons; Secret Magical ...
... and the latter of the phenomena of nature, being thus akin to the art of magic. ... p.
144, ed. Benedict.) the same results not to the frauds of magicians, but to ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter xxviii name of the.htm