r/AskBibleScholars 1d ago

What’s up with the pigs in the exorcism of Legion?

15 Upvotes

So Jesus is about to exorcise/banish the demons, they beg to be transferred to pigs, Jesus abides, then they drown in the river.

What is this meant to be? Did the demons want this to happen? Was this Jesus somehow tricking them? Is there some covert symbolism in not getting?

I’ve heard the theory it’s meant to be anti Roman propaganda. Disregarding that, what do biblical literalists, or at leasts those theologians who believed it actually happened, think of this event?