Healing

The bringing about of a state of physical or spiritual health. Scripture recognises a close link between physical and spiritual health, with healing often being seen as an image of salvation in Christ.

God as the author of healing

Exodus 15:26; Psalm 103:2–3 See also Luke 5:15

saying, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His eyes, and pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, then I will not bring on you any of the diseases I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds — He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases,

General aspects of healing

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Healing results in praise

Acts 3:8–9 See also Mark 2:12; John 9:30–33, John 9:38

He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God,

Miraculous healing

By Jesus Christ

Matthew 8:2–3; Luke 4:18 See also Matthew 9:27–30, Matthew 14:34–36 parallel Mark 6:53–56; Matthew 15:21–28 parallel Mark 7:24–30; Mark 1:32–34 parallel Luke 4:40; Luke 6:17–19, Luke 8:48, Luke 9:11, Luke 17:19

Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,

Through the prophets

1 Kings 17:17–24; 2 Kings 4:29–37, 2 Kings 5:10–14

Through the apostles

Matthew 10:1 parallel Luke 9:1–2; Acts 3:6–8, Acts 5:15–16, Acts 9:34, Acts 14:8–10, Acts 19:11–12, Acts 28:8–9

In the church

1 Corinthians 12:8–9 See also Mark 16:17–18; 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 12:30

To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

Healing of fever

Matthew 8:15 parallels Mark 1:31, Luke 4:39; John 4:46–54

Healing of demon-possession

Matthew 9:32–33, Matthew 12:22; Mark 5:1–20, Mark 9:17–27 parallel Luke 9:38–43; Acts 16:16–19, Acts 19:11–12

Healing withheld

2 Corinthians 12:8–9; 2 Timothy 4:20

Medical treatments to bring healing

Consulting doctors

2 Chronicles 16:12; Matthew 9:12 See also Jeremiah 8:22; Colossians 4:14

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his disease became increasingly severe. Yet even in his illness he did not seek the LORD, but only the physicians.

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

Taking medicine

1 Timothy 5:23

Disinfecting the house

Leviticus 14:41–42

Using splints

Ezekiel 30:21

Using bandages and oil

Isaiah 1:6 See also Luke 10:34

From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there is no soundness— only wounds and welts and festering sores neither cleansed nor bandaged nor soothed with oil.

The spiritual significance of healing

As an image of salvation

Psalm 41:4, Psalm 103:2–5, Psalm 147:3; Jeremiah 3:22, Jeremiah 14:19, Jeremiah 17:14; Ezekiel 47:12; Hosea 6:1; Malachi 4:2; Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:4–5

Heaven is the place of ultimate healing

Revelation 21:4 See also Romans 8:18; Revelation 22:2

‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”