Does the Bible provide evidence that physical and mental healing was part of God’s active involvement in the world, both in the Old and New Testaments? If so, are there specific instances, or types of passages, that suggest this healing power was intended only for a particular time period, like the time of Jesus and the apostles, or is there scriptural support for believing that God continues to heal people supernaturally today, even after the apostolic age? What different interpretations exist regarding those passages, and what are the common arguments used to support or refute the idea of divine healing in the present day?
Answer
Yes, the Bible provides numerous accounts of God healing people, and many interpret scripture to support the belief that God continues to heal today.
Biblical Basis for Healing:
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Old Testament: God’s healing power is evident throughout the Old Testament. Examples include:
- God healing Abimelech’s household (Genesis 20:17-18).
- God healing Miriam of leprosy (Numbers 12:13-15).
- God promising healing as part of the covenant with Israel (Exodus 15:26; 23:25).
- Many of the Psalms refer to God as the healer (Psalm 103:3; 107:20; 147:3).
- Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would bear our infirmities and carry our diseases (Isaiah 53:4-5).
- New Testament: Healing is a prominent feature of Jesus’ ministry and the early church:
- Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, and raised the dead (Matthew 4:23-24; 8:16; 9:35; 10:1; Mark 1:34; Luke 4:40; 6:19; John 5:1-15; 9:1-41; 11:1-44).
- Jesus empowered his disciples to heal the sick and cast out demons (Matthew 10:8; Mark 6:13; Luke 9:1-2; 10:9, 17).
- After Jesus’ ascension, the apostles continued to perform miracles of healing (Acts 3:1-10; 5:12-16; 9:32-42; 14:8-10; 28:8-9).
- The New Testament mentions the gift of healing as one of the spiritual gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9, 28, 30).
- James instructs believers to pray for the sick, and the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up (James 5:14-16).
Interpretations and Perspectives:
- Continuationism: This view holds that all the spiritual gifts, including healing, are still active and available to believers today. They believe God continues to heal in response to prayer and faith.
- Cessationism: This view asserts that certain spiritual gifts, such as healing, prophecy, and speaking in tongues, ceased with the death of the apostles and the completion of the New Testament canon. Cessationists may believe God still heals, but not through the same miraculous gifts as in the early church. They often emphasize God’s healing through medical means or natural processes.
- Other Views: Some hold middle ground views, suggesting that while the extraordinary manifestations of healing seen in the early church may be less common today, God still heals in various ways, including through prayer, medical intervention, and divine intervention.
Important Considerations:
- Faith: Many believe that faith plays a role in healing, both the faith of the person being healed and the faith of those praying for them (Mark 5:34; James 5:15).
- God’s Sovereignty: Ultimately, healing is understood to be within God’s sovereign will. Not everyone who is prayed for is healed, and some believe that God may have other purposes in allowing illness to continue (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
- Medical Care: While the Bible supports prayer for healing, it does not discourage seeking medical care. Luke, one of the Gospel writers, was a physician (Colossians 4:14), and Jesus acknowledged the need for doctors (Matthew 9:12).
- False Teaching: It’s important to be discerning and avoid those who claim to have special healing powers or make guarantees of healing. The focus should be on seeking God’s will and trusting in his power.
In summary, the Bible provides a foundation for believing that God can and does heal today. Interpretations vary regarding the specific means and extent of healing, but the consistent theme is God’s compassion and power to bring restoration and wholeness.
Pray This Prayer
Dear Lord,
My heart is heavy with questions, specifically, Does the Bible say God still heals today? I see suffering around me, and I yearn for Your touch to ease pain and restore wholeness. I read accounts of miraculous healings in the Scriptures, stories of You moving powerfully through faith and compassion. I cling to those promises, yet doubt whispers in my ear.
Lord, illuminate my understanding. Guide me through Your Word to see the truth about Your healing power. Show me where You declare Your ongoing love and concern for the sick and broken. Help me to discern Your will for healing in my life and the lives of those I love.
Grant me the faith to believe that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Strengthen my hope that You are still working miracles, even when I cannot see them. Fill me with Your peace, knowing that whether You choose to heal miraculously, guide doctors and treatments, or provide comfort in suffering, Your presence is always with me.
I trust in Your wisdom and Your perfect timing. I surrender my doubts and fears to You, knowing that You are the ultimate healer and source of all life.
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.