Yes—Paul's letters contain no instructions for performing exorcism, and Les Feldick says that silence is intentional.
Les Feldick points out that the Apostle Paul never once gives the Grace Age believer any instructions in dealing with demon possession. He is not comfortable with exorcism as a practice because of this silence. The only way Les is content to deal with it is to lead the person to salvation, since genuine new birth will take care of demon possession.
Acts 8:7 — This verse records unclean spirits being cast out during the early Acts period—an activity for which Paul's later letters give no standing instructions.
1 Corinthians 10:20-21 — Paul instructs believers about separation from demons, not how to cast them out.
1 Corinthians 5:5 — Paul's instruction to deliver a sinning believer to Satan concerns discipline, not exorcism.
In the early Acts period, Scripture records that "unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them" (Acts 8:7). This took place through the preaching of Philip in Samaria. Later, in Paul's letters, the direct instructions about demons are instructions of separation, not exorcism. Paul writes, "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils" (1 Corinthians 10:20-21). Paul also instructs the Corinthian assembly to "deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (1 Corinthians 5:5)—a church discipline action, not a procedure for casting demons out of a person.
Les Feldick teaches that the Apostle Paul never gives the Grace Age believer any instructions for dealing with demon possession. Les says he is not comfortable with exorcism and casting out demons precisely because of this silence. He does not set his view in concrete, but he points out that Paul never provides such teaching. The only approach Les is content with is presenting the Gospel to the person; if that person is genuinely born again, he believes salvation will take care of the demon possession. Les also notes that in Paul's early ministry, events like baptism were still part and parcel with conversion, but as Paul received deeper and fuller revelation, the importance of some outward forms dropped. This illustrates Les's broader principle that the later Pauline epistles focus on the inner work of salvation and not on external signs or rituals.
Paul's letters contain warnings against having fellowship with demons. He says the things the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and believers cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons (1 Corinthians 10:20-21). Paul also speaks of delivering a sinning believer to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved (1 Corinthians 5:5). Neither of these is an instruction for casting a demon out of someone.
Les Feldick says the only way he is content about dealing with demon possession is that the person probably needs salvation. If we can present them with the Gospel and see them genuinely born again, then he thinks that will take care of their demon possession. He does not set this in concrete, allowing that others may disagree.
Les Feldick observes that baptism in Paul's early days was part and parcel every time he had a convert. But as Paul went on into his deeper and fuller revelations, the importance of baptism sort of drops. This shows that Paul's practice and emphasis changed as he received fuller revelation, helping explain why the later letters do not prescribe every early sign or practice.
Transition from Early Practices
Les notes that baptism was part of Paul's early ministry, but as Paul received deeper revelation, the importance of such outward forms dropped—illustrating how Pauline practice shifted.
Paul's Silence on Exorcism
Les explicitly says the Apostle Paul never once gives the Grace Age believer any instructions in dealing with demon possession, and that this makes him uncomfortable with the practice of exorcism.
Salvation as the Remedy
Les says the only way he is content dealing with demon possession is to lead the person to salvation; if they are genuinely born again, that will take care of the demon possession.
Delivering a Believer to Satan
Paul's instruction to deliver a sinning believer to Satan is about destruction of the flesh, not about casting demons out of someone.
Why Israel Was Blinded — Acts 13 & Romans 11 Explained
Paul performed it, but it was also a prophetic act of God. Verse 12, Then the deputy, the Roman, when he saw what was done, what did he do? He believed, see? He believed. He didn't go through anything else. He didn't go through any actions, any contortions, or anything like that. He believed, being astonished at the doctrine or the teaching of the Lord.
Destruction of the Flesh, Not the Spirit
Les clarifies that the deliverance to Satan in 1 Corinthians 5 is physical, with the spirit still saved—a different situation from exorcism.
No Fellowship With Demons
Paul's instructions about demons in 1 Corinthians 10 are about separation and fellowship, not about performing exorcisms.
What 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Really Says About Who Goes to Heaven
Now of course Paul can write that way, being a Jew himself. That we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. What's he saying? That we're no longer under those demands of the Ten Commandments of Moses, we are now under the control of the Holy Spirit. Now be logical, will the Holy Spirit ever lead a believer to do something contrary to the law? No. Of course not.
Acts 8:7: For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
This verse shows the casting out of unclean spirits during the early Acts period, before Paul's later letters were written.
1 Corinthians 10:20: But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
Paul warns believers not to have fellowship with demons.
1 Corinthians 10:21: Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
Paul gives a direct instruction about separation from demons, not about casting them out.
1 Corinthians 5:5: To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Paul instructs church discipline that involves Satan's power, but it is not an exorcism of a demon-possessed individual.
No. Les Feldick notes that the Apostle Paul never once gives the Grace Age believer instructions in dealing with demon possession. His letters warn against fellowship with demons but provide no procedure for casting them out.
Les says the only way he is content is to present the Gospel to the person. If that person is genuinely born again, he believes that will take care of their demon possession. He does not set this in concrete.
Paul said that the things the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and believers cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. There must be separation from demon fellowship.
Watch the Teaching: What Must I Do to Be Saved? Acts 16 Explained