The phrase "Jesus is Victor" (aside from its Latin origin, Christus Victor) originated from his claims to have
exorcised in 1842 the girl Gottliebin Dittus in . Blumhardt wrote a book about her two-year-long
demonic possession, published in 1850, called ''Blumhardt's Battle''. His account, which identifies the girl only as "G." for the sake of discretion, describes her possession not only by several demons but mainly by the spirit of a widow who had killed two children and buried them in a field. Blumhardt claims G. was finally freed one night from all her demonic possessions and their manifestations when the last demon to be cast out shouted, "Jesus is the victor!" Although many praised Blumhardt as a hero for performing the exorcism successfully, he said otherwise: "That I don't know, but this I do know; Jesus is the victor." The event led to a
revival in Blumhardt's parish. It was claimed there were many healings, conversions of some of the church's most determined opponents, and radical transformations of life and character. Marriages were supposedly saved and enemies reconciled amidst an outpouring of evangelistic zeal. Blumhardt took
revivals on the road and began administering
faith healings as well. In 1853 he purchased a thermal spa in
Bad Boll to serve as a Christian retreat mostly for people seeking his renowned healing abilities. He lived and worked there until his death in 1880. ==Legacy==