Gifts of healings
Summary:
The Bible talks about ILLNESSES and HEALINGS.
It is written in the Bible that someone can have "GIFTS (OF) HEALINGS" (1 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 12:30). Both Greek terms are plural, pointing to a plurality of gifts and a plurality of healings.
Illnesses can have three main causes:
- Natural causes.
- God bringing an illness upon someone.
- Demons bringing an illness upon someone.
The SAME ILLNESS can even have DIFFERENT POSSIBLE CAUSES, so its cause should not necessarily be assumed by default.
BELIEVERS OF GOD are able to become PHYSICALLY ILL, even to the point of PHYSICALLY PASSING AWAY.
The SAME ILLNESS can be HEALED in DIFFERENT WAYS.
The Bible indicates that GOD IS THE ONE WHO ULTIMATELY HEALS, but because God can work healing by the hands of people, IT CAN ALSO BE SAID THE PEOPLE ARE HEALING OTHERS.
In the Bible, God did NOT NECESSARILY heal EVERYONE ALL THE TIME.
Healings can have CONDITIONS:
- On the part of the person attempting to heal others.
- On the part of the person in need of healing.
For this reason, healings CAN FAIL TO HAPPEN if the conditions for them are not met.
Healings are NOT NECESSARILY happening INSTANTANEOUSLY. For example, a healing can happen IN STAGES, or as people ARE GOING.
Healing can happen FROM A DISTANCE.
Healing can happen for someone with an AMPUTATED MEMBER.
There can be a DISTINCTION between someone having "GIFTS (OF) HEALINGS" (1 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 12:30) and the ELDERS of the church PRAYING and ANOINTING WITH OIL someone to heal them.
Early Christians authors AFTER THE 1ST CENTURY may have reported that the gifts of healings may still have been ACTIVE.
You can find more details below:
Gifts of healings:
It is written in the Bible that someone can have "GIFTS (OF) HEALINGS" (1 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Corinthians 12:28).
This can be found among the list of other spiritual gifts available.
An INDIVIDUAL can have "GIFTS (OF) HEALINGS", as it is written that "(TO) ONE [singular] (a) word (of) wisdom is-given through the Spirit [...] and (TO) ANOTHER [singular], GIFTS (OF) HEALINGS" (1 Corinthians 12:8-9). Here "ANOTHER [singular]" (1 Corinthians 12:9) is given "GIFTS (OF) HEALINGS" (1 Corinthians 12:9).
The Greek words for "GIFTS" and "HEALINGS" are both in the plural, meaning that this is referring to a plurality of gifts and a plurality of healings.
Someone having "GIFTS (OF) HEALINGS" (in the plural) may imply specializations for a plurality of illnesses: having a gift of healing for leprosy, a gift of healing for paralysis, etc. All of these being "GIFTS (OF) HEALINGS" that someone may have.
The Greek word for "HEALINGS" [iama 2386 in Greek] (1 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Corinthians 12:28) comes from the Greek word for "TO-HEAL" [iaomai 2390 in Greek].
For example, Christ was described HEALING:
- LEPROSY: it is written about a "leprous" (Luke 17:12) man that "HE-WAS-HEALED [iaomai 2390 in Greek]" (Luke 17:15).
- PARALYSIS: it is written about "(a) man who had-been paralyzed" (Luke 5:18) that Christ came "TO-HEAL [iaomai 2390 in Greek]" (Luke 5:17) the man.
- ISSUES OF BLOOD: it is written about "(a) woman being in (a) flow (of) blood for twelve years" (Luke 8:43) how "SHE-WAS-HEALED [iaomai 2390 in Greek] at-once" (Luke 8:47).
- DROPSY: it is written that "(a) certain man in-front-of Him was suffering-from-dropsy" (Luke 14:2) and Christ "HEALED [iaomai 2390 in Greek] (him)" (Luke 14:4).
- DISEASES: it is written that people came "TO-BE-HEALED [iaomai 2390 in Greek] from their diseases" (Luke 6:18).
- TROUBLES BY UNCLEAN SPIRITS: it it written that "the (ones) being-troubled by unclean spirits WERE-BEING-HEALED [iaomai 2390 in Greek]" (Luke 6:18).
Illnesses can have different causes:
Illnesses can have three main causes:
- Natural causes.
- God bringing an illness upon someone.
- Demons bringing an illness upon someone.
Natural cause:
A possible cause of illness can be a natural cause. For example, if someone is drinking polluted water, they may get a stomach pain. Paul wrote to Timothy in the 1st century (when the waters may have been polluted): "No-longer be-a-water-drinker, but be-using (a) little wine for-the-sake-of (your) stomach and your frequent sicknesses" (1 Timothy 5:23).
God:
A possible cause of illness can be God bringing an illness upon someone. For example, it is written: "the LORD struck him in the intestines with sickness" (2 Chronicles 21:18).
Demons:
A possible cause of illness can be demons bringing an illness upon someone. For example, it is written about Jesus that "He-was casting-out (a) demon, and it was mute. And it-came-about, the demon having-gone-out, (that) the mute (man) spoke" (Luke 11:14).
The same illness can have different possible causes:
The SAME ILLNESS can even have DIFFERENT POSSIBLE CAUSES, so its cause should not necessarily be assumed by default.
Blindness: Demon:
A possible cause of blindness can be a demon. For example, it is written about Jesus that "He-was casting-out (a) DEMON, and IT WAS MUTE. And it-came-about, the demon having-gone-out, (that) THE MUTE (MAN) SPOKE" (Luke 11:14).
Blindness: God:
Yet a possible cause of blindness can also be God. For example, it is written that after disobedience: "May THE LORD STRIKE YOU WITH [...] BLINDNESS" (Deuteronomy 28:28). Another example: "Elisha prayed to THE LORD, and said, “Strike, now, this nation with blindness. And HE [THE LORD] STRUCK THEM WITH BLINDNESS, according to the word of Elisha" (2 Kings 6:18). Another example: "the men [THE ANGELS] stretched out their hands and drew Lot in to themselves into the house, and shut the door of the house. Then THEY STRUCK THE MEN, the ones being at the door of the house, WITH BLINDNESS" (Genesis 19:10-11).
Blindness: Natural cause:
Another possible cause of blindness could also be natural. For example, it is written that Jesus saw "(a) man BLIND FROM BIRTH. And His disciples asked Him, saying “Rabbi, who sinned, this (one) or his parents, that he-should-be-born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this (one) sinned nor his parents, but (it was) in-order-that the works (of) God might-be-made-visible in him" (John 9:1-3). Jesus said that this man had not been born blind because of having sinned or his parents having sinned. The cause of the blindness is not mentioned, but it could be possible that it may have been a natural cause.
Believers of God are able to become physically ill, even to the point of physically passing away:
BELIEVERS OF GOD are able to become PHYSICALLY ILL, even to the point of PHYSICALLY PASSING AWAY.
2 Kings 13:
It is written: "ELISHA HAS BECOME SICK WITH HIS ILLNESS IN WHICH HE DIED; and Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept on his face, and said, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and its horsemen!" (2 Kings 13:14).
Jesus mentioned this "ELISHA the prophet" (Luke 4:27), seemingly assuming that ELISHA was a righteous person.
Philippians 2:
Paul wrote about "Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, and your apostle and minister (of) my need" (Philippians 2:25) that "HE-WAS-SICK NEARLY (TO) DEATH" (Philippians 2:27).
1 Timothy 5:
Paul wrote "(to) Timothy, genuine child in (the) faith" (1 Timothy 1:2) about "your FREQUENT SICKNESSES" (1 Timothy 5:23).
2 Timothy 4:
Paul wrote: "I-left-behind Trophimus SICK in Miletus" (2 Timothy 4:20).
The same illness can be healed in different ways:
The SAME ILLNESS can be healed in DIFFERENT WAYS.
BLINDNESS is for example described in the Bible as being healed:
1) By speaking a command:
It is written about Jesus that there was a "BLIND (one)" (Luke 18:35) and "Jesus SAID (TO) HIM, “SEE-AGAIN! Your faith has-restored you”. And at-once he-saw-again" (Luke 18:42-43).
2) By touching the eyes and speaking something:
It is written about Jesus that "BLIND (men) came to Him" (Matthew 9:28) that "HE-TOUCHED THEIR EYES, SAYING, “Let-it-be-done (to) you according-to your faith”. And their eyes were-opened" (Matthew 9:29-30).
3) By spitting on the eyes and laying hands two times:
It is written about Jesus that "they-bring Him (a) BLIND (man)" (Mark 8:22) that "HAVING-SPIT IN HIS EYES, HAVING-LAID (HIS) HANDS ON HIM" (Mark 8:23) and "again HE-LAID (HIS) HANDS ON HIS EYES, and looked-intently, and restored (them). And he-was-seeing everything clearly" (Mark 8:25).
4) By making mud with saliva, smearing it on the eyes, and commanding to wash:
It is written about Jesus that "He-saw (a) man BLIND" (John 9:1) "HE-SPAT ON-THE-GROUND AND MADE MUD FROM THE SALIVA, and SMEARED ITS MUD ON THE EYES, and SAID (TO) HIM, “GO, WASH in the pool (of) Siloam” (which is-translated “Sent”). So he-went-away and washed, and came (back) seeing" (John 9:6-7).
Who can be said to heal?:
The Bible indicates that GOD IS THE ONE WHO ULTIMATELY HEALS, but because God can work healing by the hands of people, IT CAN ALSO BE SAID THE PEOPLE ARE HEALING OTHERS.
Regarding God ultimately healing, it is written: "Psalms 103:2-3: "Bless YHWH [...] WHO HEALS all your diseases" (Acts 19:11).
Regarding people being said to heal others, it is written: "the father (of) Publius (was) lying-down, being-gripped (with) fevers and dysentery, to whom having-gone-in and having-prayed, having-laid (his) hands on him, PAUL HEALED HIM" (Acts 28:8).
In the Bible, God did not necessarily heal everyone all the time:
In the Bible, God did NOT NECESSARILY heal EVERYONE ALL THE TIME. For example:
In John 5, Jesus went to a place where "(a) MULTITUDE (of) the (ones) BEING-SICK were-lying-down" (John 5:3), but Jesus ONLY healed ONE person being-sick, so that there ended up only being "(ONE) HAVING-BEEN-HEALED" (John 5:13).
In Luke 4, Jesus addressed an audience, and said: "You-will surely speak this proverb (to) Me: ‘PHYSICIAN, cure yourself’. DO ALSO HERE in your hometown all-that we-heard having-taken-place in Capernaum”." (Luke 4:23), but Jesus said that "there-were MANY LEPERS in Israel in-the-time-of Elisha the prophet. And NONE (OF) THEM WAS-CLEANSED, EXCEPT NAAMAN the Syrian”." (Luke 4:27). His audience did not like what they were hearing, as "they-were all filled (with) fury in the synagogue (while) hearing these (things)" (Luke 4:28).
Healings can have conditions:
Healings can have CONDITIONS:
- On the part of the person attempting to heal others.
- On the part of the person in need of healing.
On the part of the person attempting to heal others:
It is written that a man brought his son to Jesus and said to Jesus: "I-brought him to Your disciples and THEY-WERE NOT ABLE TO-CURE HIM" (Matthew 17:16).
Jesus told the disciples why they were not able to heal the boy (by casting out the demon in the boy), as it is written that "the disciples, having-come to Jesus in private, said, “FOR WHAT REASON were we not able to-cast it out?” And the (One) says (to) them, “BECAUSE-OF YOUR LITTLE FAITH" (Matthew 17:19-20).
On the part of the person in need of healing:
It is written about "(a) woman, being in (a) flow (of) blood (for) twelve years" (Mark 5:25), "having-heard about Jesus, having-come in the crowd from behind, touched His garment. For she-was-saying that “IF I-TOUCH EVEN HIS GARMENTS, I-WILL-BE-RESTORED”. And IMMEDIATELY the fountain (of) her blood was-dried-up, and she-knew (in her) body that SHE-HAS-BEEN-HEALED from the scourge" (Mark 5:27-29). Jesus told her as a result: "Daughter, YOUR FAITH HAS-RESTORED YOU" (Mark 5:34).
Jesus said to that woman that the reason she was healed was because of her faith, saying: "YOUR FAITH HAS-RESTORED YOU" (Mark 5:34). It was only when she, by her faith, touched the garments of Jesus that "IMMEDIATELY [...] SHE-HAS-BEEN-HEALED" (Mark 5:29), suggesting that her faith in that would have been a condition for her to be healed.
Healings can fail to happen if the conditions for them are not met:
Healings CAN FAIL TO HAPPEN if the conditions for them are not met.
It is written about "Naaman" (2 Kings 5:6) that he had "leprosy" (2 Kings 5:6). Elisha the prophet told Naaman to obey something specific in order to get healed, saying: "GO, AND YOU SHALL WASH SEVEN TIMES IN THE JORDAN. And your flesh shall return to you, AND YOU SHALL BE CLEAN [healed]" (2 Kings 5:10).
Naaman did not initially agree with those conditions, but wanted God to simply wave His hand to him to be healed, as it is written in the next verse: "And Naaman was angry, and went on, and said, Behold, I said, He will certainly come out to me and will stand and call on the name of Jehovah his GOD, and WILL WAVE HIS HAND over the place, and take away my being leprous" (2 Kings 5:11).
Because this were not the conditions for this healing to take place, Naaman was not healed until he actually met the conditions set forth by the prophet Elisha, as it is written several verses later: "And he went down and dipped in the Jordan seven times, ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE MAN OF GOD. And his flesh returned like the flesh of a little boy, AND HE WAS CLEAN [healed]" (2 Kings 5:14).
Healings are not necessarily happening instantaneously:
Healings are NOT NECESSARILY happening INSTANTANEOUSLY. For example, a healing can happen IN STAGES, or as people ARE GOING.
A healing can happen in stages:
It is written about Jesus that "they-bring Him (a) BLIND (MAN)" (Mark 8:22) and Jesus "having-spit in his eyes, HAVING-LAID (HIS) HANDS ON HIM, He-was-asking him “Do-you-see anything?” And having-looked-up, he-was-saying “I-am-seeing people, because I-am-looking-at (SOMETHING) LIKE TREES WALKING AROUND”" (Mark 8:23-24).
Here Jesus laid His hands on the blind man but the man was not healed instantly completely, as he was only seeing "(SOMETHING) LIKE TREES WALKING AROUND”" (Mark 8:24).
But Jesus laid His hands on the blind man AGAIN for the healing to be complete, as it is written in the next verse: "Then AGAIN He-laid (His) hands on his eyes, and looked-intently, and restored (them). AND HE-WAS-SEEING EVERYTHING CLEARLY" (Mark 8:25).
A healing can happen as people are going:
It is written about Jesus that "ten leprous men met Him" (Luke 17:12), and Jesus "said (to) them, “Having-gone, show yourselves (to) the priests”. And it-came-about DURING THEIR GOING (THAT) THEY-WERE-CLEANSED" (Luke 17:14).
Here the leprous men were not healed instantly, but only "DURING THEIR GOING" (Luke 17:14).
Healing can happen for someone with an amputated member:
Healing can happen for someone with an AMPUTATED MEMBER.
Jesus healed someone with an amputated member, as it is written that one of His disciples took a "SWORD" (Luke 22:49) and "struck the slave (of) the high-priest and TOOK-OFF his right ear" (Luke 22:50). But Jesus came to the man who got his ear taken off by the sword and "having-touched (his) ear, HE-HEALED HIM" (Luke 22:51).
Healing can happen from a distance:
Healing can happen FROM A DISTANCE.
A centurion came to Jesus and said: "my servant has-been-put in the house paralyzed, being-tormented terribly”. And He [Jesus] says (to) him, “Having-come, I will-cure him”. And having-responded, the centurion said, “Master, I-AM NOT FIT THAT YOU-SHOULD-COME UNDER MY ROOF. But only speak (it in a) word and my servant WILL-BE-HEALED" (Matthew 8:6-8).
Here the centurion asked Jesus to heal a servant in his house, but without Jesus coming in his house. And Jesus ended up doing exactly that, healing the servant from a distance, as it is written: "And Jesus said (to) the centurion, “Go. Let it-be-done (for) you as you believed”. AND HIS SERVANT WAS-HEALED AT THAT HOUR" (Matthew 8:13).
Is there a difference between someone with the gifts of healings and the elders of the church praying for healing?:
There can be a DISTINCTION between someone having "GIFTS (OF) HEALINGS" (1 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 12:30) and the ELDERS of the church PRAYING and ANOINTING WITH OIL someone to heal them.
It is written in the Bible that someone can have "GIFTS (OF) HEALINGS" (1 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 12:30).
James wrote that elders of the church can pray for those who are ill so that their prayer can heal them, as it is written: "Is anyone among you sick? Let-him-summon the elders (of) the church, and let-them-pray over him, having-anointed him (with) oil in the name (of) the Lord. And the prayer (of) faith will-restore the (one) being-ill, and the Lord will-raise him" (James 5:15-16).
The difference between the two could be that having "GIFTS (OF) HEALINGS" (1 Corinthians 12:28) would NOT NECESSITATE for someone to have to PRAY nor to have to ANOINT WITH OIL someone in order to bring forth healing, which in contrast the elders of the church are to do, as it is written: "let-them-PRAY over him, HAVING-ANOINTED him (WITH) OIL in the name (of) the Lord. And THE PRAYER (of) faith WILL-RESTORE THE (ONE) BEING-ILL" (James 5:14-15).
For example, Peter who may have had "GIFTS (OF) HEALINGS" could simply come near people so that if they were merely under his shadow they might get healed, as it is written that people were "bringing-out the SICK (ONES) into the wide-roads and putting (them) on little-beds and cots, in-order-that (WHILE) PETER (WAS) COMING, IF-EVEN (HIS) SHADOW MIGHT-OVERSHADOW ONE (OF) THEM. And the multitude (from) the cities around Jerusalem was also coming-together, bringing sick (ones) and (ones) being-mobbed by unclean spirits, who ALL WERE-BEING-CURED" (Acts 5:15-16).
The gifts of miracles reported after the 1st century?
Early Christians authors AFTER THE 1ST CENTURY may have reported that the gifts of healings may still have been ACTIVE.
Around the 2nd century AD, a Christian author named Irenaeus wrote:
"Those who are in truth Jesus’ disciples, receiving grace from Him, do in His name perform miracles, so as to promote the welfare of other men, according to the gift which each one has received from Him. For some do certainly and truly drive out devils, so that those who have thus been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe in Christ, and join themselves to the Church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come: they see visions, and utter prophetic expressions. Others still heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and they are made whole. Yea, moreover, as I have said, the dead even have been raised up, and remained among us for many years"
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