Healing

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

Ultimately God is the only one who can heal, because he is the only one who can undo the effects of sin. Sickness and suffering are characteristics of a world that has been spoiled by sin ( Genesis 3:16-19), and healing is part of God’s gracious work in caring for his wayward creatures ( Exodus 15:26;  2 Kings 1:3-4;  Psalms 103:3).

Jesus’ miracles of healing showed his power over all the evil consequences of sin, and indicated that the kingdom of God had come ( Matthew 4:23;  Matthew 8:17;  Matthew 9:35; see Miracles ). When that kingdom reaches its fulfilment in the new heavens and the new earth, all healing will be complete ( Revelation 22:1-4; cf.  Romans 8:19-23).

Usually it is not possible to give a specific theological explanation of a particular suffering that a person experiences. However, in those cases where the suffering is a direct result of personal sin, God’s healing is a sign also of his forgiveness ( Psalms 32:1-5;  Psalms 41:3-5;  Psalms 41:11-12;  John 5:13-14;  James 5:15-16; see Suffering ).

God may choose to heal people miraculously ( Numbers 12:1-15;  2 Kings 5:8-14;  Matthew 8:2-3;  John 4:46-54;  John 5:8-9), or by normal processes ( 2 Kings 20:1-7;  Philippians 2:27-30;  2 Timothy 4:20), or not at all, depending on his sovereign will ( 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). He may protect people from diseases or he may not ( Exodus 15:26;  Exodus 32:35;  Job 1:12;  Job 2:5-6;  Jeremiah 24:10). On some occasions God may heal out of his love and compassion, without a request from the afflicted ( Matthew 14:14;  Luke 4:40); on other occasions he may heal in response to the faith of the afflicted ( Matthew 9:27-30;  Mark 5:34;  Mark 10:52;  James 5:14-15). He heals those who have ordinary diseases and those who are demon possessed ( Matthew 8:16;  Luke 4:41; see Disease; Unclean Spirits )

Jesus gave his disciples a share in his healing powers, so that they could help him spread the message of the kingdom of God throughout Israel ( Matthew 10:5-8). These disciples continued this healing ministry in the early days of the church ( Acts 3:1-11;  Acts 9:33-34). As the church spread, God gave similar gifts to other people ( Acts 8:5-7;  Acts 14:9-10;  Acts 28:8-9). God’s desire was that, as such people used their healing gifts in cooperation with other gifts he had given to other people, the church would enjoy well balanced growth ( 1 Corinthians 12:9;  1 Corinthians 12:11;  1 Corinthians 12:28-31).

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( a.) Tending to cure; soothing; mollifying; as, the healing art; a healing salve; healing words.

(2): ( p. pr. & vb. n.) of Heal

King James Dictionary

HE'ALING, ppr. Curing restoring to a sound state.

1. Tending to cure mild mollifying.

HE'ALING, n. The act of curing.

1. The act of covering.

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Healing —See Cures.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hēl´ing ( מרפא , marpē ), תּעלה , te‛ālāh , כּהה , kehah ): In the Old Testament this word is always used in its figurative sense; marpē' , which literally means "a cure," is used in   Jeremiah 14:19 twice, and in   Malachi 4:2; te‛ālāh , which literally means "an irrigation canal," here means something applied externally, as a plaster, in which sense it is used metaphorically in  Jeremiah 30:13; kēhāh occurs only in  Nahum 3:19 the King James Version and is translated "assuagings" in the Revised Version (British and American).

therapeúō   Acts 10:38 iáomai ı́ama ı́asis  Acts 4:22

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Touching, i.e., stroking the patient's face with both hands, to remove the scrofula, significantly called the king's evil, was practiced by the kings of France as early as Clovis or Philip I, kings of Hungary, and English sovereigns, from Edward the Confessor to queen Anne, who touched Dr. Johnson. Bradwardine says that crowds resorted to the kings of England, France, and Germany. Solemn prayer and the sign of the cross, first laid aside by James I, were used. Henry II and Edward I practiced the touch. The ceremonial took place on a progress, on Good Friday, monthly, quarterly, or at Michaelmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide, and in 1683 from All-Saints till a week before Christmas, and from Christmas till March 1. The first form of service was drawn up in the reign of Henry VII. The gospel ( Mark 16:14) was read while the king laid on his hands, and during another ( John 1:1), at the words "the light," an angel, noble, or medal with St. Michael stamped on it was attached by a white ribbon round the neck of the patient, who had to produce a certificate of his malady, Signed by the parish priest and churchwardens, and was examined by the king's surgeon-in-waiting. The faculty of healing was popularly attributed also to the ninth son of a ninth son, or the seventh son of the seventh son.