University of Nigeria Research Publications

NWOSU, Ikechi Nwachukwu

Aut

hor

PG/MA/87/6002

Title

Jesus Healing Miracles in the Synoptic Gospel: Relevance in African Christianity

Facu

lty

Social Sciences

Dep

artm

ent

Religion

Dat

e

June, 1989

Sign

atur

e

> J E S U S HEALING MIRACLES I N THE S Y N O P T I C GOSPEL:

RELEVANCE I N AFRICAN C H R I S T I A N I T Y

NWOSU, IKECWI NWACHUKWU

( R E G . NO. ~ ~ / ~ ~ / 8 7 / 6 0 0 2 )

A T H E S I S SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT O F RELIGION . --.-- . 4

I N FULFILMENT O F THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD O F THE DEGREE O F

MASTER O F ARTS I N R E L I G I O N

. I N THE FACULTY O F THE SOCIAL S C I E N C E S , U N I V E R S I T Y OF N I G E R I A , NSUKKA

J U N E , 1989

YWOSU, IKECHI NWACHUKWU, a P o s t g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t

i n t h e D e > a r t m e n t of R e l i g i o n a n d w i t h t h e Reg, NO.

PG/MA;87/6002 h a s s a t i s f a c t o r i l y c o m p l e t e d t h e

r e q u i r ?merits for c o u r s e a n d r e s e a r c h work f o r t h e

d e g r e e of MASTER OF ARTS i n ~ e l i g i o n ,

T I 2 work e m b o d i e d i n t h i s t h e s i s r e p o r t is

o r i g f n a ? . a n d h a s n o t b e e n s u b m i t t e d i n p a r t or f u l l

f o r a n y o t h e r d i p l o m a or d e g r e e of t h i s o r a n y o t h e r

U n i v e r s i t y ,

I/ F& . '<

Rev. Canon ( D r . 1 G,E, Okeke 1

Rev, Canon G.E, Okeke Head, Dept, of R e l i g i o n . S u p e r v i s o r

Q: QIG . Rev. Canon Dr', G. K. ' F a l u s i

E x t e r n a l E x a m i n e r

Dean of F a c u l t y

iii.

D E D I C A T I O N

T h i s p i c c e of w o r k i s d e d i c ? . t c d t o

our c h i l d r e n ,

N w 3 c h i k w c r e m I k e n n a A n c h o r Nwosu

O z , i c h i U c h e c h i Nwcsu

Udo K e l t - c h i Nwcjsu

i v .

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

T h i s p i e c e of work w o u l d n e v e r h a v e b e e n u n d e r -

t a k e n w i t h a u t t h e e n c o u r a g e m e n t a n d p r a c t i c a l h e l p of

many p e o p l e . The o n e s m e n t i o n e d a re s i m p l y a r e p r e s e n -

t a t i v e of t h e lot .

My p r o f o u n d g r a t i t u d e g o e s to t h e R t . Revd.

P r o f e s s o r A u g u s t i n e 0, Iwuagwu , ( B i s h o p of t h e D i o c e s e

of A b a ) , a n d h i s w i f e , Grace N g o z i Iwuagwu, a n d t h e

e n t i r e p e o p l e of t h e D i o c e s e of Aba, who i n i t i a t e d a n d

s p o n s o r e d m e i n t h i s c o u r s e ; My S u p e r v i s o r , Revd, C a n o n

( D r . ) G, E. O k e k e , f o r h i s g u i d a n c e ; Revd. D r . N l e n a n y a

Onwu, my l e c t u r e r , f o r h i s a s s i s t a n c e ; t h e Revd. Canon

( D r . ) D . J . I . Ebo a n d t h e Revd. D r . M. C. A d i e l e f o r

t h e i r p r a c t i c a l h e l p ,

I a l s o t h a n k M r . B.A.C. Onwurah , t h e Revd. S.

Enwelumadu , Revd. E. N. Eze, M i s s Nonye Unekwe,

Emmanuel E j i a n y a ; Revd. N. Nwaigwe, Revd. Canon U. U.

. E z u o k e , my c o l l e a g u e s , a n d L a d y S y l v i a U h i a r a , M r s .

L o i s Okeke , Mrs. E z i n n e A. Ebo, f o r m a k i n g my s t a y i n

t h e C h a p l a i n c y h o u s e , N s u k k a , q u i t e c o n d u c i v e f o r w r i t i n g

t h i s p r o j e c t ; t h e Revd, & Mrs. E. A. Ugwu of A b a k p a . il'il~e,

, E n u g u f o r t h e u s e of t h e i r home a n d b o o k s ; t h e S t a f f a n d

s t u d e n t s of T r i n i t y , C o l l e g e , Umuah ia , a n d t h e C a l v a r y

C o l l e g e of T h e o l o g y , P o r t H a r c o u r t , f o r t h e u s e of

iv.

t h e i r libraries,

I d o thank S i r & Lady Lo O e Utaegbulam, D r . & Mrs.

G, Woko, f o r t a k i n g c a r e of o u r l i t t l e boy, Nkwachi, D e

A l i son /Mrs Angy Ogbonna f o r d u p l i c a t i n g many of t h e

materials used ; M r & Mrs. G, C, Moneme, M r & Mrs D0.C.

Chigbo, Mr & Mrs R, Okpala , S i r & Lady Em U. Onuoha, S i r

& Lady P. I, Chukwuma, S i r & Lady I, B, Ngumoha, Mr. E,

0, Igwe, D r , & Mrs So U m Or i aku M r & M r s A. C, I g b o a s o i y i ,

S i r & Lady T, C, Umenweni, S i r & lad^ *. E. 0, Metu, Mr & ' A +

M r s J, Erhurnwunsee, S i r & Lady Tony Emeruem, S i r & Lady

M i c Nkwoji, Mr & Mrs Penda and M r & Mrs Chukwudifu O b i

a n d o t h e r s too many to men t ion , f o r f i n a n c i a l and p r a c t i c a l

h e l p ,

I thank D r , Grahrn A y l e t t fo r g i f t s of t e x t books for

t h e c o u r s e work; M r . I, 0, Urnah ( t y p i s t ) Miss C h r i s t y

Uduezue, Chisom C h i l a k a , Oby Ozurumba, Nath ~ l i c h e and

Ernrnanuel C h i l a k a , for r e a d i n g t h r o u g h and a r r a n g i n g t h e

t y p e d material.

I am g r a t e f u l to t h e Ven, I. C, Nwachukwu, t h e

Revd, G, C, Okafor , t h e Revd, C, I, Eze, Cake. So 0.

Kanu, t h e S t a f f and e n t i r e membership of S t , M i c h a e l ' s

C a t h e d r a l , for f i n a n c i a l , a n d moral s u p p o r t and

s u s t a i n e d encouragement ,

,I t h a n k D r . G. Woko, D r . L. Utaegbu lam, D r - D- C-

~ m e r u e m , D r . R , E, Asobie, D r . L. U z o d i k e , p a t e r n a l

M e d i c a l L a b o r a t o r i e s a n d D r . J. C. Ezenwa, f o r m e d i c a l

a t t e n t i o n a n d care.

S p e c i a l g r a t i t u d e g o e s t o my p a r e n t s , M r . J o h n a n d

M r s P a t i e n c e Nwosu, who f i r s t t a u g h t m e t h e f e a r a n d

k n o w l e d g e o f God i n C h r i s t . .. r

. I a m i m m e n s e l y g r a t e f u l t o Nne P a t i e n c e Nwosu, my

w i f e , f o r h e r u n d e r s t m d i n g mind a n d s u p p o r t d u r i n g

t h e h e c t i c times o f t h e p r o j e c t .

I am i n d e e d g r a t e f u l t o God, who s u r r o u n d e d m e w i t h

t h e s e a n d many o t h e r s , whose e n c o u r a g e m e n t c o n t r i b u t e d

t o t h e c o m p l e t i o n of t h i s p r o j e c t ,

I am g r a t e f u l t o y o u a l l a n d p r a y God to bless

y o u r work,

Nwosu, I k e c h i Nwachukwu,

D e p a r t m e n t of R e l i g i o n , U n i v e r s i t y o f N i g e r i a , Nsukka.

J U N E , 1989.

vii.

ABBREVIATIONS

A0T.J.

C.L.S.

Eds.

IoUeP .

I.V.P.

J.B.

J.S.N.T.

NeTo

n

O.T.

O.U.P.

RmSoV.

S*P.oC.Ko

A f r i c a n T h e o l o g i c a l J o u r n a l

C h r i s t i a n L i t e r a t u r e S o c i e t y

E d i t o r s

I b a d n U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s

I n t e r V e r s i t y P r e s s

Jerusalem B i b l e

J o u r n a l f o r t h e S t u d y of N e w T e s t a m e n t

N e w T e s t a m e n t

F o o t Note ( o r e n d n o t e )

O l d T e s t a m e n t

O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s

Revised S t a n d a r d V e r s i o n

S o c i e t y f o r t h e P r o p a g a t i o n of C h r i s t i a n

K n o w l e d g e

W e s t A f r i c a n R e l i g i o n ( A J o u r n a l of t h e

D e p a r t m e n t of R e l i g i o n , U n i v e r s i t y of

Nige r i a , N s u k k a ) ,

T h e o l o g i c a l C o l l e g e of N o r t h e r n N i g e r i a R e s e a r c h B u l l e t i n .

NOTE: B i b l i c a l q u o t a t i o n s t h r o u g h o u t are x r o m t h e - R e v i s e d S t a n d a r d V e r s i o n , u n l e s s o t h e r w i s e

i n d i c a t e d .

v i i i ,

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

T i t l e P a g e ,. .. . .. C e r t i f i c a t i o n P a g e . . . . D e d i c a t i o n . . . . . . . . Acknowledgement . , .. . . A b b r e v i a t i o n s . . . . . . T a b l e o f C o n t e n t . . . . . .

b s t r a c t .. . . . . PART ONE

. . . . i

. . . . ii

. . . . iii

. . . . iv

. . . v i i

. . . . v i i i

. . . . X

THE BACKGROUND OF THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS, FACTORS AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HEALING

I n t r o d u c t i o n . . .. . . .. . . N o t e s .. . . . . a . . . . . CHAPTER ONE:

H e a l i n g i n t h e Old T e s t a m e n t

N o t e s . . - . . . CHAPTER TWO:

H e a l i n g i n t h e H e l l e n i s t i c World . .

CHAPTER THREE:

H e a l i n g M i n i s t r y o f J e s u s . . . . O . , .

N o t e s .. . . . . . . . D

CHAPTER FOUR:

H e a l i n g ' M i n i s t r y of J e s u s : S e l e c t e d C a s e s i n t h e S y n o p t i c G o s p e l s . . . . . . ( i ) The G e r a s e n e Demoniac . . . . . .

(ii) The P a r a l y t i c .. . . . . . a

( i i i ) B l i n d , B a r t i m a e u s . . . . . . N o t e s .. 1. 0

ix.

CHAPTER FIVE:

H e a l i n g a n d F o r g i v e n e s s . . . . ( i ) S i c k n e s s a n d S i n . . ..

( i i ) F o r g i v e n e s s a n d W h o l e n e s s . . Notes . . .. . , . .

CHAPTER SIX:

H e a l i n g a n d F a i t h ,. .. . . F a i t h o f t h e S i c k

( i i ) F a i t h of I n t e r e s t e d R e l a t i v e s ., ( i i i ) F a i t h of t h e Healer ' . . , .

( i v ) F a s t i n g - P r a y e r a n d F a i t h . . N o t e s . . . . . . . .

CHAPTER SEVEN :

H e a l i n g a n d t h e Kingdom o f God . . N o t e s . . . . . . . .

PART TWO

THE RELEVANCE OF HEALING I N AFRICAN CHRISTIANITY TODAY (WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO NIGERIA) 75

CHAPTER EIGHT :

H e a l i n g i n - t h e C h u r c h . - . 76

N o t e s . . . . . . . . 83

CHAPTER NINE :

H f r i c a n C o s m o l o g y , P h i l o s o p h y a n d Re l ig ious B e l i e f s . . . . . .

CHAPTER TEN:

H e a l i n g i n t h e ' I n d i g e n o u s C h u r c h e s

N o t e s a . . . . . .. CHAPTER ELEVEN:

H e a l i n g a n d ~ v a p g e l i s m i n ( ~ i g e r i a ) ~ f r i c a ,102

N o ' t e s a . . . , , o I rn lo 7

CHAPTER TWELVE

H e a l i n g a n d

C o n c l u s i o n

N o t e s

B i b l i o g r

APPENDICIES:

I H e a l i n g

I1 H e a l i n g

I11 H e a l i n g

C h u r c h Growth

Stories

S t o r i e s

S t o r i e s

Mark

at thew

Luke 4 . -

xi.

A B S T R A C T

T h i s p r o j e c t a t t e m p t s t o l o o k a t man's c o n c e r n for

h e a l i n g f rom t h e Old T e s t a m e n t and Greek p e r s p e c t i v e s ,

t r a c i n g some of t h e e f f o r t s made by t h e a n c i e n t w o r l d i n

i n t e r p r e t i n g G o d ' s c o n c e r n f o r t h e w e l l - b e i n g of man.

T h i s g e n e r a l s u r v e y i s b r o u g h t i n t o f o c u s w i t h a

l o o k a t t h e h e a l i n g m i n i s t r y o f J e s u s of N a z a r e t h a s

p r e s e n t e d i n t h e S y n o p t i c G o s p e l s , which is u s e d as a

m e a s u r i n g r o d f o r God ' s c o n c e r n and l o v e f o r b o t h men and

c r e a t i o n . (The p r o j e c t l i m i t s i t s e l f t o t h e S y n o p t i c

G o s p e l s , n o t i n c l u d i n g S t . J o h n l s Gospe l . The o n l y

r e a s o n b e i n g t h a t of t h e o l o g i c a l e m p h a s i s and s i m i l a r i t y

of t h e S y n o p t i c s , which are n o t q u i t e , t h e same as i n

S t , J o h n 1.

I n c o u r s e of t r a c i n g m a n l s e f f o r t s i n t a c k l i n g

d i s e a s e s i n t h e p a s t , c e r t a i n views were n o t e d ; s u c h as:

( i ) t h a t i l l n e s s was c o n c e i v e d a s a s i g n of t h e

d i s p l e a s u r e o f t h e g o d s , and when t h e y were a p p e a s e d ,

h e a l i n g t o o k p l a c e .

(ii) t h a t i l l n e s s was of t h e body a l o n e , and c o u l d

n o t a f f e ' ck :he s o u l ; i , e , t h e s o u l c o u l d n o t b e

d e s t r o y e d by r ) h y s i c a l d i s e a s e .

( i i i ) t h a t i l l n e s s w a s a r e s u l t of s i n ; but r e p e n t a n c e

and r i g h t e o x s l i v j ng b r o u g h t h e a l i n g .

x i i .

- an a t t e m p t t o loc-.,k a t God 's care a n d ?.me f o r t h e

w o r l d , I see J e s u s of N a z a r e t h as t h e mode l f o r h e a l i n g

w d w h ~ l e n e s s , T h c C h r i s t i a n s b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s J e s u s i s

t h c M e s s i a h p r o n i s e c : by God i n t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t S c r i p t u r e s ,

T o r t h e M e s s i a h , h e a l i n g was t o b e o n e o f h i s q u a l i t i e s ,

-h S y n o p t i c s a r e f u l l of s u c h h e a l i n g s tories p e r f o r m e d

by J e s u s C h r i s t and h i s d i s c i p l e s ,

The body of d i s c i p l e s t h a t emerged , a f t e r J e s u s , t h e

Chu::ch, c a r r i e d on t h i s work, From t h i s time o n , h e a l i n g

. i ~ S n i s t r y i n t h e name o f J e s u s C h r i s t , became o n e of t h e

tcs':s f o r t r u e C h r i s t i a n i t y , and t h e a b i d i n g p r e s e n c e of

C h r k t , A 1 1 t h r o u g h t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e C h u r c h , e v i d e n c e

s u g c e s t t h a t when ever t h e C h u r c h l o s t g r i p o f t h i s

a s p c c t 05 i t s m i s s i o n , i t a f f e c t e d t h e number of c o n v e r t s ,

t h e l L f e ;:nd t h e s p i r i t u a l i t y of t h e Church . B u t when

h e a l - i n g w a s r e s t o r e d t o i t s p r o p e r p l a c e and u s e , t h e r e

was a n u p s u r g e o f m e m b e r s h i p and a u t h e n t i c i t y of M i s s i o n .

T h i s p a p e r g o e s on t o l o o k a t some o f t h e e v i d e n c e

i n ':he p a s t a n d t h e f a c t s as s e e n i n t h e p r e s e n t C h u r c h ,

p s r t i c l i l a r l y . i n ( ~ i g e r i a ) Rf rica, I v i s i t e d some

r'.hu.rzhes w h i c h r u n h e a l i n g services and i n t e r v i e w e c i soipe

who h a v e h e a l i n g g i f t s , I t was discovered t h a t i f t h e

C h u r c h i s t o b e r e l e v a n t t o t h e ( ~ i g e r i a n ) A f r i c a n , i t

x i i i .

n e e d s t o i n c o r p o r a t e i n t o h e r services, h e a l i n g m i s s i o n

h e a l i n g o f b o t h t h e b o d y and s o u l ,

The c o s m o l o g y of t h e A f r i c a n is d i f f e r e n t i n some

ways t o t h e E u r o w a n , and so i n c o n c l u d i n g t h e work ,

I commend t h e h e a l i n g e f fo r t of b o t h t h e m i s s i o n a n d

t h e i n d i g e n o u s C h u r c h e s , May be we n e e d more co-

o p e r a t i o n i n a r e a s of m e d i c a l , s o c i a l a n d d i v i n e

( s p i r i t u a l ) h e a l i n g m i n i s t r i e s , T h i s w i l l b r i n g men

n e a r e r t h e o b j e c t i v e of God f o r man t o be w h o l e a n d a t

p e a c e , even w i t h h i s e n v i r o n m e n t ,

I t i s my h o p e t h a t t h i s work w i l l i n s p i r e

r e s e a r c h e r s i n t h i s f i e l d t o l o o k a t h e a l i n g as it

relates t o o u r s o c i o - e c o n o m i c s e t u p a n d come o u t w i t h .

a t h e o l o g i c a l c r i t i q u e a n d d i r e c t i o n ,

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

H e a l i n g may be d e s c r i b e d as r e s t o r a t i o n of t h e

s i c k t o h e a l t h . A p e r s o n may be i n g o o d h e a l t h when h e

e x h i b i t s t h a t s t a t e of b o d y , m i n d a n d s p i r i t i n w h i c h

a l l t h e f u n c t i o n s a r e d i s c h a r g e d h a r m o n i o u s l y .

The B i b l e i s f u l l of stories of G o d ' s c o n c e r n f o r

t h e h e a l t h of h i s p e o p l e , Israel. ( ~ s a i a h 5 3 : 4 ) .

I n t h o s y n o p t i c G o s p e l s , t h e . h e a l i n g miracles o n l y

g o t o c o n f i r m t h a t t h e same God who l o v e d h i s p e o p l e

Israel a n d h e a l e d t h e i r diseases ( P s a l m 1 0 3 : 3 ) , a l s o

m a n i f e s t e d h i m s e l f i n J e s u s of N a z a r e t h , t o c o n t i n u e

h i s b e n e v o l e n t ac t s . J e s u s t h e r e f o r e d e m o n s t r a t e d h i s

p o w e r a n d a u t h o r i t y o v e r e v i l f o x e s , s i n , a n d i l l n e s s

b y e n g a g i n g i n h e a l i n g a c t s , Mark 2: 10-12.

The force of s i n a n d e v i l p e r v a s i v e i n human s o c i e t y ,

t e n d e d to d e s t r o y God's p u r p o s e of h e a l i n g a n d w h o l e n e s s

f o r h i s p e o p l e a l l t h r o u g h t h e a g e s .

T h e o n e c o n c e r n of t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t e v a n g e l i ~ t s

w a s to show w h a t g r e a t t h i n g s God h a s d o n e a n d t h e r e b y

e l e ic i t f o r t h e i r readers a f a i t h i n God w h o s e a c t i v i t y

w a s made e v i d e n t i n t h e w o r d s a n d miracles of J e s u s

C h r i s t .

J e s u s h i m s e l f r e g a r d h e a l i n g a s a p r i o r i t y a n d a n

i n t e g r a l p a r t of h i s o v e r a l l m i n i s t r y . T h i s was why from

t h e o n s e t of h i s p r o c l a m a t i o n of t h e Kingdom of God, i t

w a s a c c o m p a n i e d w i t h h e a l i n g miracles. ark 1: 25-26) .

T h e r e i s much e v i d e n c e of h e a l i n g miracles i n t h e

s y n o p t i c G o s p e l s a n d h e a l i n g c o n t i n u e d t o be a n i n t e g r a l

p a r t of t h e M i s s i o n a n d m e s s a g e of t h e e a r l y C h u r c h a f t e r

t h e a s c e n s i o n o f J e s u s C h r i s t .

T h e r e w a s a p e r i o d i n t h e h i s t o r y of t h e C h u r c h ,

when h e a l i n g w a s e i t h e r s u s p e c t e d or b a n n e d , T h i s was a n

u n f o r t u n a t e s i t u a t i o n n o matter t h e r e a s o n s , f o r i t

p r o d u c e d a C h u r c h bereft o f t h e m i r a c u l o u s p o w e r of

J e s u s C h r i s t .

I n m o d e r n t i m e , some c l e r g y m e n a n d C h u r c h d i g n i t a r i e s

are f o u n d t o be less i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e C h r i s t i a n h e a l i n g

p r a c t i c e s m T h i s i s h a r d l y s u r p r i s i n g when o n e c o n s i d e r s

t h e C h u r c h ps c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e W e s t e r n w o r l d a n d h e r

s c h o l a s t i c i s m s i n c e t h e 1 2 t h c e n t u r y AD.

When Bu-l tmann a n d o t h e r N e w T e s t a m e n t s c h o l a r s i n a

t h e 2 0 t h c e n t u r y AD., . ca l led f o r / d e - m y t h o l o g i z i n g - of t h e

G o s p e l s , t h e y were C a s t i n g d o u b t s i n most of t h e h e a l i n g

r n i r a c l e s of J e s u s , B u l t m a n n e x p r e s s e d i t t h u s :

The w h o l e c o n c e p t i o n of t h e w o r l d w h i c h is p r e s u p p o s e d i n t h e p r e a c h i n g of J e s u s a s i n t h e New T e s t a m e n t g e n e r a l l y is

m y t h o l o g i c a l ; ie.: t h e c o n c e p t i o n of t h e wor ld a s b e i n g s t r u c t u r e d i n t h r e e stories, heaven , e a r t h , and h e l l ; t h e c o n c e p t i o n of t h e i n t e r v e n t i o n of s u p e r - n a t u r a l powers i n t h e c o u r s e o f e v e n t s ; and t h e c o n c e p t i o n of m i r a c l e s , e s p e c i a l l y t h e c o n c e p t i o n of t h e i n t e r v e n t i o n o f s u p e r n a t u r a l powers i n t h e i n n e r l i f e o f t h e s o u l , t h e c o n c e p t i o n t h a t men c a n be tempted and c o r r u p t e d by t h e d e v i l and p o s s e s s e d b y e v i l s p i r i t s . T h i s c o n c e p t i o n of t h e world w e ca l l m y t h o l o g i c a l b e c a u s e i t is d i f f e r e n t from t h e c o n c e p t i o n of t h e w o r l d which h a s been formed and d e v e l o p e d b y s c i e n c e s i n c e i t s i n c e p t i o n , i n a n c i e n t Greece and which h a s b e e n a c c e p t e d b y a l l modern men.1

Taking t h i s view, i t follows t h a t a l l a n g e l s and

demons, a l l e x t r a s e n s o r y knowledge, t h e e x p e r i e n c e s o f

p rophecy , t h e v a l u e of dreams and v i s i o n s , as w e l l a s e v e r y

a c c o u n t of p h y s i c a l h e a l i n g and t h e h e a l i n g o f t h e demon

p o s s e s s e d w e r e r e j e c t e d . A more mater iael is t ic u n d e r s t a n d i n g

of t h e world t o o k over. I f t h e Church had t o t a l l y a c c e p t e d

t h a t t e a c h i n g , i t would have ended u p as s o m e . k i n d of

social g a t h e r i n g b a s e d on works of c h a r i t y .

But t h e ca l l to d e m y t h o l o g i z e t h e b ible , m e t w i t h

some h o n e s t r e s i s t a n c e . C h r i s t i a n s c h o l a r s s u c h a s

W o l f h a r t pannenberg2 and Gun the r !30rnkamm3 p&uced some

good d e f e n c e o f t h e N e w Tes t amen t miracles. A t least, i t

was n o t i c e d t h a t s c i e n t i f i c t h o u g h t c o u l d a i d b i b l i c a l

r e s e a r c h t o a r r i v e a t a clearer e x p l a n a t i o n o f some

b i b l i c a l t e x t s , L e t u s l ook b r i e f l y a t some of t h e s e

methods, ...

Modern S c i e n t i f i c C r i t i c i s m : Modern b i b l i c a l

s c h o l a r s h i p h a s d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t p o s i t i v e l y t a k e n , i t c a n

be a n asset t o a f a i t h f u l s t u d y of t h e G o s p e l s and t h e

e n t i r e Bible.

The C h r i s t i a n Church a t t h e e a r l y s t a g e s h e s i t a t e d to

u s e t h e s e methods, b u t now employ t h e too ls o f c r i t i ca l

methods i n h e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e Bib le , f o r example:

S o u r c e C r i t i c i s m .

Some New Tes t amen t s c h o l a r s b e l i e v e t h a t t h e m i r a c l e

s t o r i e s rest upon a s i n g l e p r i m a r y s o u r c e , On t h i s Bruce

Metzgar s a y s :

J e s u s , so f a r as is known l e f t none of h i s t e a c h i n g s i n w r i t t e n form, p r e f e r i n g r a t h e r t o i m p ~ r t h i s i n s t r u c t i o n o r a l l y , The v iew t h a t t h e r e was a n e a r l y w r i t t e n s o u r c e c a l l e d G, which w e r e m a i n l y s a y i n g s , and a n o t h e r g r o u p which were m a i n l y m i r a c l e stories are g u e s s e s e 4

Historical C r i t i c i s m : Many R a b b i n i c and H e l l e n i s t i c

miracle stories show many s imilar i t ies between them and

t h e miracles of J e s u s ; e,g: e x o r c i s m , r a i s i n g s from t h e

d e a d , etc. These are o n l y t o be e x p e c t e d f o r t h e n e e d s

of men and women to be h e a l e d are t h e same f o r e v e r y age. 5

T h i s g o e s t o c o n f i r m t h a t m i r a c l e s of some k i n d d i d happen

e v e n before t h e t i m e of J e s u s and so o u g h t n o t to be

d e n i e d or q u e s t i o n e d .

L i t e r a r y / L i n q u i s t i c C r i t i c i s m : I n t h e a r e a of

l i t e r a r y and l i n g u i s t i c criticism, it h a s b e e n d i s c o v e r e d

t h a t t h e r e i s a t e n d e n c y to h e i g h t e n t h e e l e m e n t of . t h e

m i r a c u l o u s , T h i s i s v e r y l i k e l y b e c a u s e a t a p e r i o d when

men and women had t i m e t o l i s t e n and see wonder-workers, t h e

s t o r y c o u l d be i n f l a t e d , But t h e f a c t r e m a i n s of t h e e v e n t

i t s e l f which took p l a c e , and b e c a u s e i t took p l a c e , i n t h e

c o u r s e of r e t e l l i n g , i t g a v e i t se l f away t o a l i t t l e

e x a g g e r a t i o n .

L i n g u i s t i c m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g c o u l d be found, f o r

example i n t h e Gerasene demoniac, The Greek word

6 A tv\ v3 v/ may mean l e g i o n or l e g i o n a r y , The s u f f e r e r U

may have s a i d , 'My name i s S o l d i e r , and t h e r e a r e many

l i k e m e t ( s o l d i e r s resemble e a c h o t h e r 1. T h i s t h rows more

l i g h t o n w l e g i o n t t s p i r i t s e n t e r i n g t h e h e r d of swine. we

w i l l c o n s i d e r t h i s f u r t h e r i n c h a p t e r t h r e e .

Form C r i t i c i s m : The method of d i s t i n g u i s h i n g b'etween

a n e a r l y P a l e s t i n i a n f r o m la ter ell en is tic s t r a t u m of

t r a d i t i o n , is p a r t of t h e w o r k of form criticism, for

example , h e a l i n g of Bar t imaeus i n Mark i s more o r i g i n a l

a n d a u t h e n t i c t h a n Matthew's. (See Mark 10: 46f/Matthew

20: 29f . I O r a g a i n , d i s t i n g u i s h i n g t w o t y p e s of

miracle stories:

( i) Those t h a t p r o v i d e a s e t t i n g f o r a s a y i n g o f J e s u s ,

f o r example, Ktrk 2:l-12 - t h e h e a l i n g of t h e

p a r a l y t i c t h a t ended i n t h e s a y i n g , 'The Son of Man

i s Lord even of t h e Sabba th , 1

Those i n which t h e m i r a c l e i tself p r o v i d e s t h e

c l i m a x - for example, Mark 5:21-43, t h e r a i s i n g of

J a i r u s d a u g h t e r i s s a n d w i t c h e d w i t h t h e s t o r y of t h e

h e a l i n g of t h e woman w i t h t h e i s s u e of b lood ,

R a i s i n g of J a i r u s ' d a u g h t e r b e i n g t h e c l i m a x of t h e

e n t i r e s e c t i o n ,

I n c o n c l u s i o n , whcn c r i t i c a l methods have been

a p p l i e d t o t h e Gospe l m n t c r i a l , i t r e s u l t s i n a s t o n i s h i n g

and a u t h e n t i c e v i d e n c e o f t h e power and a u t h o r i t y t o h e a l ,

p r e s e n t i n J e s u s C h r i s t , More s o , t h i s f a c t i s n o t e a s i l y

comparab le t o any o t h e r p e r s o n i n h i s t o r y , The fact s t i l l

r e m a i n s t h a t some p e o p l e i n o u r own t i m e a r e s t i l l

s c e p t i c a l a b o u t t h e m i r a c u l o u s i n t h e s y n o p t i c s , TO l a r g e

e x t e n t , t h e cosmology of t h e Western and w e s t e r n i z e d world

may be t h e c a u s e , A world-view t h a t h a s no p l a c e for t h e

m y s t e r i o u s - demon-possess!-on, d reams, w i t c h c r a f t ,

l p r i n c i p a l i t i e s and powers1 - o b v i o u s l y would f i n d i t s e l f

i n a s t r a n g e - e n v i r o n m e n t when i t e n c o u n t e r s t h e New

Tes t amen t wor ld , 8

Coming to t h e A f r i c a n World view, which s t i l l b e l i e v e s

i n e v i l fDrces and t h e s u p e r n a t u r a l , o n e n o t i c e s a

d i f f e r e n t u n d e r s t a n d i n g and approach , Many A f r i c a n s feel

v e r y much a t home when c o n s i d e r i n g t h e miracles and

e x o r c i s m s of t h e New Tes tament , The A f r i c a n T r a d i t i o n a l

R e l i g i o n b e l i e v e s t h a t e v i l and good s p i r i t s e x i s t as w e l l

as b e l i e v i n g i n t h e supremacy of t h e Almighty God, There-

fore, when f a c e d w i t h a problem, t h e y would sol ic i t t h e

h e l p of t h e s e s p i r i t s and also t h e Supreme God, Pope

P a u l V I made a s imilar remark when h e a d d r e s s e d t h e p e o p l e

of A f r i c a n i n 1967. H e s t a t e d ,

The c o n s t a n t and g e n e r a l f o u n d a t i o n of A f r i c a n t r a d i t i o n i s t h e s p i r i t u a l v iew of l i fe , Here w e have more t h a n t h e so c a l l e d ' a n i m i s t i c 1 c o n c e p t , i n t h e s e n s e g i v e n to t h i s term i n t h e h i s t o r y of r e l i g i o n s a t t h e end o f t h e l a s t c e n t u r y , We have a d e e p e r , b r o a d e r and more u n i v e r s a l c o n c e p t which c o n s i d e r s a l l l i v i n g b e i n g s and v i s i b l e n a t u r e itself as l i n k e d w i t h t h e wor ld of t h e i n v i s i b l e and t h e s p i r i t , 9

An A f r i c a n C h r i s t i a n would t h e r e f o r e be e x p e c t e d t o

a p p r e c i a t e h e a l i n g m i r a c l e s tories of J e s u s b e c a u s e of

h i s world-view and belief i n t h e s e s u p e r n a t u r a l b e i n g s ,

and t h i s migh t a c c o u n t f o r t h e s e e m i n g l y l a r g e number of

C h r i s t i a n a d h e r e n t s i n A f r i c a o The P a l e s t i n i a n wor ld

v i ew i n t h e t i m e of J e s u s i s v e r y s imilar t o t h e A f r i c a n

and i s t o b e f a i r l y u n d e r s t o o d ,

I n o r d e r t o t r y and u n d e r s t a n d t h i s more, t h i s t h e s i s

s h a l l c o n s i d e r h e a l i n g i n t h e Old Tes t amen t and combine

8.

t h a t w i t h h e a l i n g i n t h e t i m e of J e s u s , t h a t i s w i t h t h e

c o n t e m p o r a r i e s of J e s u s , I t i s hoped t h a t t h i s w i l l h e l p

u s o b j e c t i v e l y when w e come t o . h e a l i n g m i n i s t r y o f

J e s u s as c o n t a i n e d i n t h e s y n o p t i c s ,

W e s h a l l t h e n go on t o t h e p r a c t i c a l a s p e c t s o f

t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p be tween h e a l i n g and f o r g i v e n e s s (i-e.

w h o l e n e s s 1; h e a l i n g and f a i t h ; h e a l i n g and t h e Kingdom

o f God,

I n c o n c l u s i o n , w e s h a l l l o o k a t t h e r e l e v a n c e of

h e a l i n g i n A f r i c a n C h r i s t i a n i t y w i t h s p e c i a l r e f e r e n c e

t o N i g e r i a , a n d see how t h e Church i s c a r r y i n g on w i t h ,

t h i s h e a l i n g m i n i s t r y t o which s h e h a s b e e n c a l l e d .

NOTES - INTRODUCTION

1. R, Bultmann, J e s u s C h r i s t and Mytholoqv, (London: SoCoMo P r e s s , 19581, p, 15,

Bultman b e l i e v e d t h a t mytho log ica l e l e m e n t s i n t h e Gospels must be r e - i n t e r p r e t e d , s o t h a t t h e l'KeryqmaH may become meaningful a d d r e s s t o modern man,

2, Wolfhar t Pannenberg was P r o f e s s o r of S y s t e m a t i c Theology i n t h e U n i v e r s i t y of Munich, a u t h o r of many T h e o l o g i c a l and D o c t r i n a l works, i n c l u d i n g , lPJesus - ~ o d and Man (S,C,M,, 19691, and 'The A p o s t l e s 1 Creed i n t h e l i g h t o f Today's Q u e s t i o n s (S,C,M,, 19721,

3, Gunther Bornkamm was P r o f e s s o r o f New Testament E x e g e s i s a t He ide lbe rg U n i v e r s i t y , a u t h o r of t h e p o p u l a r J e s u s o f Nazare th (1960).

4, , Bruce ~ e t z g e r - The New Testament Backqround, Growth and Content . C~ondon : L u t t e r w o r t h 1969 1, pp, 78-

Examination by s c h o l a r s o f t h e m a t e r i a l which a r e s e r i o u s l y c o n s i d e r e d as Q ( Q s t a n d s fo r German word q u e l l e , meaning, s o u r c e ) shows t h a t mos t ly s a y i n g s Q s o u r c e , is d i s p u t e d from v a r i o u s p o i n t s o f view, l e f t a l o n e t a l k ' i n g i t a s a comple te e a r l y Gospel, However, how i t i s brough t i n t h i s t h e s i s i s on t h e assumpt ion t h a t i f t h e r e w e r e such an e a r l y document, comparable t o t h e assumed e a r l i e s t Gospel of Mark, t h a t Mark c o n t a i n e d mainly m i r q c l e s and Q a n o t h e r s o u r c e c o n t a i n i n g say ings . T h i s view s t i l l s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e miracles w e r e obse rved a s to have been c o n t a i n e d i n one source ,

5 . T h i s h i s t o r i c a l s k e t c h o f h e a l i n g i s t r e a t e d i n n l i t t l e d e t a i l s i n Chap te r two,

6 , " 11 i s Greek word meaning l l e g i o n ' . A legYon numbered abou t 6 ,000 s o l d i e r s a t t h e t i m e o f Augustus, abou t 3 BCo . Here i n Mark 5 :9,. i t seems t o b e name of t h e demon,

7, Morris Maddocks, The C h r i s t i a n H e a l i n g M i n i s t r y . ondo don: S,P,C.K., 19811, pp. 34-36,

The h e a l i n g of the Gerasene demoniac w i l l be c o n s i d e r e d f u r t h e r i n C h a p t e r t h r e e .

8, Hans Kung, On Beinq a C h r i s t i a n , ( S u f f o l k : C o l l i n s , 19801, pp- 226-233,

Kung t a k e s t i m e i n t h i s book t o o u t l i n e sgmg of t h e problems t h a t make i t d i f f i c u l t f o r t h e l e a r n e d w o r l d t o a c c e p t t h e m i r a c u l o u s i n t h e New Tes tament , a n d c a r e f u l l y p u t t i n g o u t p r o p o s a l s why t h e y s h o u l d be t a k e n a s a u t h e n t i c and p o s s i b l e ,

9. S, N, Ezeanya, "Heal ing i n T r a d i t i o n a l A f r i c a n S o c i e t y v West A f r i c a n ~ e l i q i o n , 20, (1976) , pp. 1-2.

Here Ezeanya w a s q u o t i n g Pope P a u l IV1s message ' t o t h e H i e r a r c h y and a l l t h e p r o p l e s o f A f r i c a n , for t h e promot ion . of t h e R e l i g i o n s , c i v i l and social good of . t h e i r c o n t i n e n t ,

CHAPTER ONE ---- HEALING I N THE OLD TESTAMENT --d--*

The Old Tes tament u n d e r s t a n d i n g of d i s e a s e and

h e a l i n g i s g e n e r a l l y a t t r i b u t e d to God. Israel's h i s t o r y

knew l i t t l e of s e c o n d a r y c a u s e s t o i l l n e s s , God w a s t h e

o r i g i n a t o r , t h e s o u r c e of e v e r y t h i n g , i n c l u d i n g t h e power

f o r l i f e and d e a t h . Deuteronomy 3 2 : 39 s a y s ,

See no:] :hat I , evc:. ;~ I, am he and t h e r e i s no god beside m e ; I k i l l and I make a l i v e , I wound and I h e a l ; and t h e r e i s none t h a t c a n d e l i v e r o u t o f my hand.

I n a n o t h e r p l a c e , Exodus 4:11, t h e LORD a s k s Moses,

,..who makes him dumb, or d e a f or s e e i n g o r b l i n d ? Is i t n o t I, t h e LORD?

And a g a i n i n A m o s 3 : 6 ,

Is a t r u m p e t blown i n a c i t y and t h e p e o p l e a r e n o t a f r a i d ? Does e v i l b e f a l l a c i t y u n l e s s t h e LORD h a s d o n e i t 3

A l s o i n I s a i a h 4 5 ~ 7 ,

I form l i g h t and c r e a t e d a r k n e s s , I make w e a l and cceate w o e , I am t h e LORD who do a l l t h e s e t h i n g s .

God i s s e e n - a s t h e a u t h o r of b o t h good and bad t h i n g s .

Job 2: 10 p u t s it t h i s way,

s h a l l w e r e c e i v e good a t t h e hand of God and s h a l l w e n o t r e c e i v e e v i l ?

A s t i m e wen t o n , s i c k n c s s came to b e seer, m o s t l y

a s God's r e b u k e f o r the s i n and d i s o b e d i e n c e of man; and

h e a l t h and w e a l t h as a reward! Miriam w a s made a l e p e r for

b e i n g e n v i o u s o f Moses (Numbers 12:lO). The whole under-

s t a n d i n g o f i l l n e s s w a s t i e d up w i t h c o v e n a n t r e l a t i o n s h i p ,

Some books of t h e P e n t a t e u c h went on t o enumera t e t h e

diseases t h e LORD would s e n d on t h o s e who d i d n o t l i v e by

h i s c o v e n a n t , s u c h as madness b l i n d n e s s , f e v e r , f a m i n e and

loss of w a r ( L e v i t i c u s 26: 14-25 a n d Deuteronomy 28:27-29).

G e n e s i s i s f u l l of stories of punishment emitted b y God t o

s i n n e r s , for example, P h a r o a h l s h o u s e h o l d ; (12 :17) ;

A b i m e l e c h l s househo ld (2O:l8 1; Onan1s d e a t h (38: 9-10);

E g y p t ' s h a r d n e s s of h e a r t (Exodus 9: 8-10; 12 :29) ,

T h e r e f o r e , i l l n e s s w a s a s i g n of s i n i n man and God's

d i s p l e a s u r e , The s e r i o u s n e s s o f t h i s i s o b s e r v e d i n t h a t

no man c o u l d be a P r i e s t b e f o r e t h e LORD who w a s deformed

o r ill - L e v i t i c u s 21: 18-23. Anyone who w a s s i c k or

deformed w a s r e g a r d e d as s i n f u l ,

Many of t h e p a s s a g e s d e a l i n g w i t h s i c k n e s s a n d

h e a l i n g , emphas ized t h e communi t y more t h a n t h e i n d i v i -

d u a l , F o r example, t h e c e n s u s o f I s r a e l b y David, was

r e g a r d e d as a ' s i n , Because of t h i s God s e n t p e s t i l e n c e

which d e s t r o y e d 70 ,000 p e o p l e (I C h r o n i c l e s 21: 7-18),

The P h i l i s t i n e s c a p t u r e d t h e Ark of t h e Lord i n t h e

b a t t l e , b u t i t w a s t h e e n t i r e p e o p l e who s u f f e r e d as a

c o n s e q u e n c e (I Samuel 4: 5-22),

I n d i v i d u a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y was an i n t r u s i o n i n t h e

Hebrew r e l i g i o n , It w a s i n t r o d u c e d p r o b a b l y a f t e r t h e

e x i l e , Before t h e n , i f o n e man s i n n e d , a l l s u f f e r e d t h e

g u i l t a s a m a t t e r of c o u r s e , During t h e e x i l e , t h e

belief i n e v i l s p i r i t and demons1 was i n t r o d u c e d from

Persia, Egypt and Babylonia , For t h e Hebrews, i t i s t h e

LORD who i s God, t h e r e i s none o t h e r , and him a l o n e

Israel i s t o worsh ip . T h i s God i s s e e n a s t h e s o l e

s o u r c e of b o t h good and e v i l , of s i c k n e s s as w e l l as

h e a l t h , T h e r e w a s no s e c o n d a r y c a u s e of s i c k n e s s e x c e p t

t h e Lord,

And s i n c e real h e a l i n g c o u l d come o n l y from him, '

H e b r e w u n d e r s t a n d i n g of m e d i c i n e w e r e e i t h e r a s u s p e c t o r

undeve loped , and s o i n t h e Old Tes t amen t documents ,

m e d i c i n e was b a r e l y ment ioned o r d i s c u s s e d ; and if

men t ioned , i t w a s i n a d e r o g a t o r y way, It was wrong to

s e e k m e d i c i n e m a n f o r h e a l i n g , I n 2 C h r o n i c l e s 16:12,

King Rsa i s condemned f o r g o i n g t o a p h y s i c i a n r a t h e r t h a n

t h e Lord,

Those who p r a c t i c e d m e d i c a l h e a l i n g w e r e a l s o v e r s e d

i n d i v i n a t i o n and magic ,* a n d p r o b a b l y had r e l a t i o n s w i t h

o t h e r g o d s , t h a t was why Hebrew r e l i g i o n condemned it,

(Deuteronomy 18: 9-14),

It w a s n o t u n t i l t h e p o s t - e x i l i c p e r i o d , t h a t t h e

book of E c c l e s i a s t i c u s saw some th ing good i n p h y s i c i a n s .

P a r t of i t s a y s ,

Honour t h e p h y s i c i a n , ..,God h a s g i v e n him t h e g i f to , , , ( E c c l e s i a s t i c u s 38: 1-15 ),

I n R a b b i n i c S c h o o l s of Juda ism t h e e m p h a s i s was

t h a t s i n b r o u g h t i l l n e s s , Both i n Mishnah and Talmud,

r e f e r e n c e i s made t~ i l l n e s s and p l a g u e a s a r e s u l t o f

t h e s e v e n d e a d l y s i n s of murder , . p e r j u r y , u n c h a s t i t y ,

p r i d e , embezz lement , p i t i l e s s n e s s and s l a n d e r . T h i s may

be why Exodus 15:26 i s c o m f o r t i n g to a n y s u f f e r i n g J e w s ,

I f you l i s t e n c a r e f u l l y to t h e v o i c e of t h e Lord your God and do what i s r i g h t i n h i s e y e s , if you pay a t t e n t i o n t o h i s command- ments and k e e p h i s s t a t u t e s , I s h a l l i n f l i c t on t h e E g y p t i a n s , f o r i t is I, t h e Lord who g i v e you h e a l i n g ,

The emphas i s h e r e is on k e e p i n g God's commandment,

t h a t is r i g h t e o u s n e s s , God i s r i g h t e o u s and h o l y and

demands t h a t from h i s p e o p l e as a c o n d i t i o n f o r c o v e n a n t

r e l a t i o n s h i p which makes f o r h e a l i n g and peace , his.

t y p e o f h e a l i n g c o u l d be te rmed, ' c o n d i t i o n a l h c a l i n g t ,

A v e r y . c l o s e l ook a t t h e O l d Tes t amen t Tex t r e v e a l

what may be t e rmed, t y n c o n d i t i o n a l t y p e o f h e a l i n g t ,

T h e r e are n o t many of t h o s e , b u t n e v z r t h e l e s s , t h e y are

p r e s e n t e d w i t h a f o r c e t h a t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o o v e r l o o k , -

Look a t t h e f o l l o w i n g examples:-

I n Genes i s 18: 10-14, a c h i l d i s g i v e n a s a p a r t i -

c u l a r g i f t from God t o Serah, The t e x t does n o t c o n t a i n

any p a r t i c u l a r s i n committed by Sarah which made h e r

womb to b e s e a l e d , nor docs t h e t e x t c a r r y any th ing t h a t

made t h e Lord t o open i t a g a i n , a p a r t from t h e f a c t t h a t

S a r a h prayed and fasted and asked for a c h i l d ,

I n I Kings 17: 17-23, where E l i j a h h e a l e d a c h i l d

w i t h no s i n imputed to t h e c h i l d o r mo the r - s imply an

a c t o f compassion through p r a y e r i n t h e power of ,God,

E l i s h a performed a s i m i l a r h e a l i n g th rough p r a y e r

( 2 Kings 4: 18-37),

I n 2 Kings 5 : 1-14, E l i s h a c l e a n s e d Namaan of

l e p r o s y w i t h o u t imput ing s i n t o t h e man, Namaan was n o t

asked to r e p e n t , b u t w a s hea led ,

I n 2 Kings 13:21, a man i s r a i s e d t o l i f e because t h e

dead man touched t h e relics of E l i s h a , There was no

c o n d i t i o n a t t a c h e d b e f o r e b r i n g i n g t h e dead man back to

l i f e , A s a matter of f a c t , t h e dead man d i d . n o t know

what happened l

There a r e o t h e r h e a l i n g s t o r i e s t h a t s t a n d on their

own f o r example, i n ~u*mbers 21:9, a b ronze s e r p e n t was

f a s h i o n e d t h a t saved anyone b i t t e n by t h e f i e r y s e r p e n t

t h a t t h e LORD s e n t , t h e y o n l y had t o look up t o i t and

b e hea led ,

I n I Samuel 6: 1-18, t h e p e o p l e o f P h i l i s t i a r e c e i v e d

h e a l i n g after f i v e g o l d e n tumors and f i v e g o l d e n mice w e r e

d e l i v e r e d t o them. T h i s happened b e c a u s e t h e Lord

i n f l i c t e d t h e P h i l i s t i n e s w i t h p l a g u e s of tumors and mice,

I n 2 Kings 20: 1-7, I s a i a h 38: 1-6, 21; d e a t h was

d e c r e e d by God, t h r o u g h P r o p h e t I s a i a h , t o King Hezekiah,

Hezekiah p r a y e d and w a s s aved and hea l ed .

I n Psalm 108, t h e Lord is h e who h e a l s d i s e a s e s and

i n 91, H e p r o t e c t s from p l a g u e s ,

I n Hosea 6: 1-11; 13: 12-15, i t is s a i d t h a t t h e

Lord h a s power t o s a v e from e v i l , from p l a g u e and d e a t h

b u t d id n o t e x e r c i s e h i s k i n d n e s s n e c e s s a r i l y b e c a u s e of

t h e p e o p l e ' s goodness o r wickedness ,

I s a i a h 35: 5-6 (26~19; 29:18; 61: 1-11) are v i s i o n s

a b o u t t h e day o f t h e Lord when a l l i l l s of men would b e

h e a l e d , The dead would rise and t h e deaf and t h e b l i n d

would h e a r and see, The same i d e a i s c o n t a i n e d i n

E z e k i e l ' s v i s i o n of t h e v a l l e y of d r y bones - t h e power

o f t h e Lord to s a v e and t o h e a l ,

The p o p u l a r J e w i s h t h e o r y of s i c k n e s s and h e a l i n g

h a s e v e r y t h i n g t o do w i t h e s t a b l i s h i n g a r i g h t r e l a t i o n -

s h i p w i t h God and b e i n g r i g h t e o u s b e f o r e H i m , The s t o r y

of J o b i s a c h a l l e n g e t o t h i s o r t h o d o x t h e o r y , Job w a s a

r i g h t e o u s man and t h e r e w a s no d o u b t a b o u t t h a t , y e t he

was i n f l i c t e d w i t h s i c k n e s s , s u f f e r i n g and p r i v a t i o n ,

D e s p i t e h i s terr ible m i s f o r t u n e , Job p r o t e s t e d t h a t

h e w a s i n n o c e n t w h i l c h i s f r i e n d s i n s i s t e d t h a t he must

r e p e n t , It was i n t h e c o u r t o f heaven t h a t w e were t o

d i s c o v e r why h e s u f f e r e d , It i s a book which s t a n d s l i k e

a v o i c e i n t h c w i l d e r n e s s of s u f f e r i n g , l a b o u r i n g to

c o n v e y t h e m y s t e r y of s u f f e r i n g t h a t may n o t be as a

r e s u l t of s i n , and i n t h a t c a s e beyond man's comprehens ion ,

I n t h i s s e c t i o n t h e n , w e have s e e n t h a t s u f f e r i n g and

s i c k n e s s arc a g e n t s of t h e One God, t h e r e f o r e God i s t h e

Author , W e n o t i c e d a l s o t h a t i l l n e s s and s u f f e r i n g as a

r e s u l t of man's s i n , God b e i n g r i g h t e o u s demands o b e d i e n c e

t o t h e c o v e n a n t r u l e . And z g a i n , i l l n e s s and s u f f e r i n g

abound, and some arc m y s t e r i o u s , b1.1"Lll -may n o t b e as a

r e s u l t of any s i n ,

I n a l l t h e s e c a s e s , i t i s G9d who h e a l s , sometimes

w i t h c o n d i t i o n s , and sometimes w i t h o u t c o n d i t i o n s . W:- 1

Orthodox J e w s a r r i v e d a t t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t s i c k n e s s w a s

a s a r e s u l t o f man's s i n , t h a t was o n l y o n e s t r a n d o f

t h o u g h t e v i d e n t ' i n t h e Old Tes kanlent, The book o f Job

p r e s e n t e d a n o t h e r t h o u g h t s u g g c s t i n g t h a t man c o u l d

s u f f e r i l l n e s s w i t h o u t n c c e s s n i - i l y r e s u l t i n g from any s i n ,

The q u e s t i o n from whcrc ~ 0 ~ 2 s s i c k n e s s and d i s e a s e

i s s t i l l an open one, Thc q u e s t f o r the s o u r c e o b v i o u s l y

t r o u b l e d t h e r e l i g i o u s mind o f t h e H e b r e w ,

The v iew e x p r e s s e d by t h e o r t h o d o x J e w o f t h e

o r i g i n of i l l n e s s w a s b roken down a t a later p o i n t i n

t h e i r h i s t o r y , and most p r o b a b l y d u r i n g t h e e x i l i c 3

p e r i o d which b r o u g h t t h e J e w s i n c o n t a c t w i t h o t h e r

p e o p l e s and f a i t h s ,

W e s h a l l c o n s i d e r some of t h e s e p e o p l e u n d e r t h e

name t ~ e l l e n i s t i c b ~ o r l d ~ . ~ I s h a d 1 c o n s i d e r t h e

h e a l i n g p r a c t i c e s t h a t went on t h e r e .

NOTES - CHAPTER ONE -"

1. J. B. R u s s e l , HDomonology, Demons," A New D i c t i o n a r y of C h r i s t i a n T h e o l o a , ..--.. Edso A Richa rdson and John Bowden, (London: S.CoMo 19831, p. 150.

2. J. B. \.!right, lMagic and S o r c c r y t , The New B i b l e D i c t i o n a r y . ondo don: I.V.P. 19741, pp. 766-771.

I n t h e o l d e n t i m e , t h e r e was a t h i n l i n e between magic and m e d i c i n e , b u t w e have i n s u f f i c i e n t d a t a by wh ich to trace t h e i r o r i g i n . It i s t r u e however t h a t t h e p r i m i t i v e men wore charms and a m u l e t s , amid magic and s u p e r s t i k i r i l , i n a t t e m p t t o p r e v e n t or h e a l d i s e a s e s ,

3. F. F, Bruce, " I s r a e l v . The New Bible D i c t i o n a r y . J, D. Douglas ed. ondo don: I , V - P a 1 9 7 4 ) , pp. 578-588,

The e x i l i c p e r i o d is u s u a l l y r e f e r r e d t o as from 587 BC t o a b o u t 1 4 0 BC. O t h e r w i s e b o t h Samer ia and Judah remained c o l o n i e s o f Egypt , P e r s i a and R o m e , A l l J u d i a remained u n d e r Roman r u l e u p till t h e t i m e of C h r i s t ,

4. The H e l 1 e n i s t . i ~ wor ld g e n e r a l l y refers t o t h e A l e x a n d r i a n S t a t e s w i t h J e w i s h c o l o n i e s o r s u b j e c t s . These J e w s s p o k e t h e common Greek as w e l l a s Aramaic, t h e i r n a t i v e t ongue ; and a d o p t e d some Greek c u l t u r e , i n c l u d i n g mode of . t h o u g h t ,

CHlkPTER TWO I..

HEALING I N THE HELLENISTIC WORLD -- '7.- .- ...- - a,. -- I n a n c i e n t Babylon, A r a b i a and Egypt , i l l n e s s w a s

r e g a r d e d a s t h e r e s u l t o f a t t a c k by m a l i g n a n t demons, 1

P a t i e n t s w e r e o f t e n t r e a t e d i n t e m p l e s o r s h r i n e s b y a

v a r i e t y o f me?ns s u c h as h e r b s , g a r l i c and o t h e r

c o n c o t i o n s ,

I n Egypt , f o r example, i l l n e s s w a s h e l d t o r e s u l t

f rom t h e a c t i v i t y of e v i l s p i r i t s , which c o u l d o n l y be

c o u n t e r a c t e d most e f f e c t i v e l y b y magic and charms, Herbs

a n d an ima l s u b s t a n c e s were a l s o u s e d fo r h e a l i n g , There

2 w a s a l so t h e p r a c t i c e of w i n c u b a t i o n , "

The e a r l y Greeks and Romans s o u g h t ways f o r h e a l i n g

a s w e l l , The re w c r e s e v e r a l h e a l i n g c u l t s , n o t a b l e among

them was t h e c u l - t o f Aescu lnp ius , T h i s w a s q u i t e p o p u l a r

t h e H e l l e n i s t i c p e r i o d , The t e m p l e s i n which t h e god

w a s wor sh ipped were p l a c e s of h e a l i n g , as t h e p a t i e n t came

t o s l e e p w i t h i n t h e conf i n c s , a s k i n g f o r v i s i o n s o r dreams

from t h e god o f hea l - ingo It w a s supposed t h a t t h e g o d s o r

g o d d e s s a f f e c t e d c u r e s o r p r e s c r i b e d r e m e d i e s to t h e s i c k

T h e r e were s a c r i f i c e of a n i m a l s a t t h e a l t a r , accom-

p a n i e d w i t h r i t u a l %th;.ng ?nd m o s t of t h e t i m e ended w i t h

some k i n d of rell..i.cjious zxper.i.er.ce. 3

The Myth of A e s c u l a p i u s i t se l f i s p a t h e t i c . H e b e i n g

a b r i l l i a n t s c h o l a r and c l e v e r p h y s i c i a n , s u r p a s s e d h i s

t e a c h e r as a p h y s i c i a n , and w a s able t o raise even t h e

dead! T h i s a t t r a c t e d t h e a n g e r o f o t h e r g o d s s u c h a s

Zeus who u n l e a s h e d a t h u n d e r b o l t and k i l l e d him. Men

honoured A e s c u l a p i u s as a h e a l e r and o f t e n a p p e a l e d t o

him f o r relief of human misery . But h i s power was s u b j e c t

t o t h e h i g h e r a u t h o r i t y o f t h e o t h e r g r e a t e r gods. The

r e m u n e r a t i o n b y men e v e n t u a . 1 1 ~ made him a god and h i s

t e m p l e a p r i l g r i m a g e c e n t r e i n Greece, H e a l i n g r e p r e s e n t e d

b y A e s c u l a p i a n and o t h e r c u l t s was one s i d e d , a r r i v i n g

a t r e s t o r i n g t h e body a l o n e , 4

P l a t o r e c o g n i z e d t h e p r ime need f o r c u r i n g t h e s o u l ,

i n o r d e r to f i n d real h e a l i n g of t h e body. I n h i s w r i t i n g ,

D i a l o g u e s , h e s t r e s s e d t h e need a t g e t t i n g a t t h e d i s e a s e

b y t r e a t i n g t h e whole man. I n h i s d i s c u s s i o n of d i v i n e

i n s p i r a t i o n , he l i s t e d h e a l i n g a l o n g w i t h prophecy , a r t ,

and l o v e as a way i n which he saw t h e d i v i n e b r e a k i n g

t h r o u g h i n t o . t h e p h y s i c a l . 5

With A r i s t o t l e , d i v i n e h e a l i n g became i m p o s s i b l e

b e c a u s e of a m e t a p h y s i c s which r e j e c t e d any e l e m e n t a r y

p r i n c i p l e of e v i l i n t h e wor ld , and a t t h e same t i m e

e l i m i n a t e d a n y o t h e r r e a l m of r e a l i t y which c o u l d

i n t e r v e n e t o o f f e r h e a l i n g , A r i s t o t l e ' s God l i v e s

e t e r n a l l y , a p a r t from t h e wor ld a s a t h i n k i n g t h o u g h t which

t h i n k s o n l y i t s e l f , n e i t h e r know n o r l o v e s t h e wor ld ,

w i t h o u t c a s u a l e f f i c i e n c y , p r o v i d e n c e o r moral a u t h o r i t y ,

H e i s t h e d i v i n e mind: t h e unmoved f i rs t mover who

i s s o r i g i d l y immobile and immutable t h a t he knows o n l y

h i m s e l f and c a n n o t s u s t a i n any a c t i o n i n r e g a r d to o t h e r s ,

But t h e God of t h e Hebrews i s t h e w i s e Lord o f h i s t o r y ,

g u i d i n g t h e h i s t o r y o f h i s p e o p l e and of mankind as a whole

f rom b e g i n n i n g towards a g o a l ; n o t a r i b i t r a r i l y b u t acco rd -

i n g t o h i s p l a n , s o t h a t e v e r y d e t a i l , even s u f f e r i n g

d i s e a s e and d e a t h , a c q u i r e t h e i r p l a c e and meaning i n a

h i s t o r y of s a l v a t i o n which s p e a k s t o man and p r o v i d e s him

w i t h b o t h i n s t r u c t i o n and warn ing , 6

Throughout t h e l i t e r a t u r e o f a n c i e n t Greece and R o m e ,

w e f i n d t h e i d e a t h a t s i c k men, were s u f f e r i n g from t h e

d i s p l e a s u r e o f t h e gods. I n o t h e r words, t h e r e i s a

s p i r i t u a l a t t a c k o n t h z s o u l o f man r e s u l t i n g i n body ,

d i s o r d e r . L i k e t h e ~ o r d of t h e Hebrews, t h e sat-& g o d s t h a t

b r o u g h t d i s a s t e r c o u l d sometimes t u r n a b o u t and b r i n g

h e a l i n g . But Greek p o l y t h e i s m made i t u n n e c e s s a r y to

i n t e g r a t e t h i s i n s i g h t i n t o a more c e n t r a l p l ace i n G r e e k

t h i n k i n g . I n s t e a d t h e s e v a r i o u s s e p a r a t e g o d s o f h e a l i n g

w e r e a commentary i n t h e basic i d e a of a n c i e n t Greek

c u l t u r e , t h a t i s t h e d ichotomy o f mind 9 ':.\.,c and body

( ~ ; / ~ \ t ' j 1, which later became a basic p r i n c i p l e of I / ' i

Gnost ic i sm. T h i s t e a c h i n g h e l d t h e belief t h a t o u t of

t h i s came a t h e o r y of t h e o r i g i n o f man which h e l d t h a t

t h e body w a s e v i l and n o n - e s s e n t i a l , and s a l v a t i o n was t h e

l i b e r a t i o n of mind-soul f r o m t h e body, and t h i s was whole-

n e s s , f reedom t h a t man was y e a r n i n g f o r ,

The c o m b i n a t i o n of Greek t h i n k i n g and Greek h e a l i n g

c u l t s d i d n o t se t t le t h i s dj-chotomy, and so a p o i n t o f

v i e w emerged which r e g a r d e d h e a l i n g of t h e body a s

u n i m p o r t a n t . Many o f t h e Greek wor ld b e l i e v e d t h a t man's

p h y s i c a l and m e n t a l h e a l t h was i n f l u e n c e d by s p i r i t u a l

powers. T h i s a t t i t u d e was e x p r e s s e d i n m e d i c a l p r a c t i c e s

and magic , i n l i t e r a t u r e and myth, i n p o p u l a r Greek and

H e l l e n s i t i c r e l i g i o n , and a l s o i n p h i l o s o p h y of P l a t o ,

But s t i l l h e a l i n g a t t h e Greek s h r i n e s was an e x p r e s s i o n

of t h e l o n g i n g f o r a god who c a r e d a b o u t t h e b o d i e s a s

w e l l a; t h e minds a n d s o u l s of men, I n t h i s way, t h e

y e a r n i n g o f t h e H e l l e n i s t i c wor ld was s t i l l i n l i n e w i t h

t h e a n c i e n t , which had. a p i n t of v i ew o f r e l i g i o n known

as shamanism'- m e d i a t o r a l ro le be tween t h e s p i r i t ( s o u l j

and t h e body, H e who must be a h e a l e r i n t h e r e a l s e n s e

o f i t r n u s t . b e c o n v e r s a n t w i t h t h e s p i r i t u a l wor ld o r realm

a s w e l l a s t h e m a t e r i a l wor ld ,

It i s no wonder t h a t t h e c u l t s soon g a v e way t o t h e -5- '

*wm%-77 t 9- ,

r t

s . ,!* '

v i t a l p r a c t i c e s of J e s u s of Naza re th , who came among men

to h e a l t h e i r bodies and minds a l o n g w i t h . t h e i r s o u l s ,

When c h r i s t i a n i t y made i n - r o a d s i n t o Greek wor ld , i t was

n o t s u r p r i s i n g t o f i n d t h a t some s h r i n e s of gods , (e -g .

A e s c u l a p i a n ) were so o f t e n t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o C h r i s t i a n

~ h u r c h c s . ~ It may be s a i d t h a t h e a l i n g w a s g r e a t l y

i n f l u e n c e d by n o n - C h r i s t i a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s of man's

n a t u r e , The p o s t A p o s t o l i c Church o f t e n s a w t h e h e a l i n g

m i n i s t r y of J e s u s , and t h a t commit ted t o t h e Church, as

r a d i c a l l y opposed t o t h e methodology of H e l l e n i s t i c

p h y s i c i a n s of t h e p e r i o d ,

I n s t e p p i n g i n t o h i s h e a l i n g role, J e s u s combines t h e

p r o p h e t i c and s h a m n a s t i c ( m e d i a t o r a l ) or go-between

s t r a n d s of t h e O l d Tes t amen t t r a d i t i o n , H e t h u s b r i n g s

t o harmony t h e s o u l , mind and body, i n wha t i s known as

w h o l e n e s s , T h i s a s p e c t of r e l i g i o u s l i f e and e m p h a s i s had

b e e n n e g l e c t e d i n t h e H e l l e n i s t i c and J u d a i s t i c , t h e

o f f i c i a l r e l i g i o n s of t h e day,

The he'resy whic'h a t t r i b u t e s i l l n e s s t o p e r s o n a l o r

f a m i l y s i n , o r wh ich sees t h e s o u l as more i m p o r t a n t

t h a n t h e body i s i l l u m i n e d by h i s e n t i r e m i n i s t r y ,

e s f i e c i a l l y i n heal ing ' , But my s u r v e y p r e p a r e s u s t o t u r n

n e x t t o t h e h e a l i n g work of C h r i s t i n order to see whe the r ,

and t o what e x t e n t h i s h e a l i n g t h r o w s more l i g h t on t h e

a g e long q u e s t i o n and q u e s t f o r h e a l i n g , and t h e

C h r i s t i a n approach , To t h a t t a s k I now t u r n ,

s

NOTES - CHiiPTER TWO -4. -

L e s l i e Do W e a t h e r h e a d , P s y c h o l o R e l i q i o n a n d H e a l i n q . (London , ~ o d d e ? & S t o u Z E ~ o n , l 9 S 2 ) , pp- 28-31,

I b i d ,

I n c u b a t i o n i s t h e p r a c t i c e o f s p e n d i n g several n i g h t s i n t h e t e m p l e of s h r i n e s , t o effect h e a l i n g , The o r i g i n i s o b s c u r e b u t q u i t e a n c i e n t ,

Morton T. Kelzcy, H e a l i n q a n d C h r i s t i a n i t y ? ondo don: S.C,M., 19-73 1, pp. 47-48.

I b i d - , p , 48, - I b i d -, p. 46 , n - 5.

Kung, Loc, C i t , , ppp 295-301,

Mary H a m i l t o n , I n c u b a t i o n ( o r t h e C u r e of Disease i n Paqan Temples a n d C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h e s ) . ( K e n t ; - S i m p k i n , M a r s h a l l , H a m i l t o n a n d Co, , 1 9 0 6 1 ,

CHELPTER THREE

HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS

So f a r , I have t r i e d t o look a t some h e a l i n g

p r a c t i c e s found i n t h e H e l l e n i s t i c wor ld , T h i s was t h e

w o r l d and c u l t u r e i n t o which J e s u s was b o r n and l i v e d ,

When w e see J e s u s C h r i s t h e a l i n g d i s e a s e s , as r e c o r d e d i n

t h e S y n o p t i c , G c j s p c l s , w e have e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e i d e a l

i n t e n t i o n o f God i s p e r f e c t h e a l t h .

I n Mark 's a c c o u n t of t h e works of J e s u s , it i s s e e n

t h a t J e s u s had t h r e e - f o l d m i n i s t r y o f p r e a c h i n g , t e a c h i n g

a n d h e a l i n g , The o t h e r S y n o p t i c Gospe l s c o n f i r m it, 1

These a c c q u n t s s u g g e s t t h a t J e s u s m i r a c l e - h e a l i n g

i m p r e s s e d h i s f e l l ~ w G a l i l e a n s and t h i s made h i s fame

t o s p r e a d ,

1 n ' t h e ~ ~ n o p t i c a c c o u n t s , w e have t h r e e t y p e s of

h e a l i n g per formed by J e s u s : h e a l i n g o f v a r i o u s d i s e a s e s

which may i n c l u d e f e v e r (Mark 1: 29-31); Exorcism which

h a s t o d o w i t h c a s t i n g o u t o f e v i l s p i r i t i n man ark 1:

23-27); and r a i s i n g t h e dead t o l ife, 2

Before t h e t i m e of J e s u s , J e w s u n d e r s t o o d s i c k n e s s ,

s i n and d e v i l as c o n n e c t e d , H e a l i n g w a s God's p r e r o g a -

t i v e a l o n e , P h y s i c i a n s e x i s t e d b u t w e r e e i t h e r a b l e t o

pe r fo rm b e c a u s e God e n a b l e d t h e m , o r t h e y were l o o k e d

upon w i t h s u s p i c i o n ,

But b y t h e t i m e of J e s u s ben S i r a , as w e n o t e d earlier,

p h y s i c i a n s word had been acknowledge ( S i r i a c h 38: 6 - 7 ) . 3

J e s u s h e a l e d by t o u c h , o r by command, o r b o t h , and from a

d i s t a n c e . * Geza ~c r rnas~ q u o t e s a Telmudic r e p o r t o f a

h e a l i n g per formed by a con tempora ry of J e s u s , called

Hanina ben Dosa, T h i s h e a l i n g s t o r y resembles t h a t i n

Matthew 8: 5-13, h e a l i n g from a d i s t a n c e . Geaa V e r m e s

a r g u e s t h a t t h e c o n t e m p o r a r i e s o f J c s u s s a w i l l n e s s and

s i c k n e s s as a punishment f rom God, and so when t h e y

e x e r c i s e d or per formed a c t o f h e a l i n g , t h e y were r e g a r d e d

as a g e n t s o f God i n h e a l i n g and b r i n g i n g f o r g i v e n e s s ,

Whi le G e m V e r m e s a g r e e s and a c c e p t s J e s u s a s an

e x o r c i s t , h e d o e s n o t see him as a p r o f e s s i o n a l , An

example of a p r o f e s s i o n a l i s c i t e d i n T o b i t 8:2; and i n

a n o t h e r i n J o s e p h i u s , J e w i s h A n t i q u i t i e s v i i i , 45, 6

R a t h e r J e s u s w a s a man of God f u l l of a u t h o r i t y and

d i g n i t y and i n a word commanded e v i l s p i r i t s and d i s e a s e s

t o d e p a r t ,

T h a t J e s u s was a renowned h e a l e r and e x o r c i s t i s w e l l

a t t e s t e d i n t h e S y n o p t i c Gospe ls , Being a c h i l d of h i s

a g e , h e s h a r e d i n t h e i n t e r - t e s t a m e n t a l v iew of a wor ld

r u l e d by s p i r i t s of l i g h t and d a r k n e s s . The i n t e r e s t

J e s u s showed i n t h e p h y s i c a l and m e n t a l h e a l t h of men was

so much t h a t i t took c o n t r o l of a g r e a t e r p a r t of h i s

l i f e and m i n i s . t r y , The s o u r c e m a t e r i a l found i n t h e

s y n o p t i c s i s c o n s i s t e n t and enough, I s h a l l have a

s u r v e y of it i n b r i e f and t h e n l i m i t a d e t a i l e d s t u d y to

t h r e e , which a r e : t h e h e a l i n g of t h e paralyt ic;7 and

Gadarene d e m ~ n i a c , ~ and t h e b l i n d men.' Nea r ly o n e - f i f t h

of t h e S y n o p t i c Gospe l i s d e v o t e d t o J e s u s 1 h e a l i n g ,

W r i t i n g a b o u t t h i s , Ke l sey n o t e s ,

o u t o f t h e 3 ,779 v e r s e s i n t h e Gospe l s , 727 relate s p e c i f i c a l l y to t h e h e a l i n g of p h y s i c a l and m e n t a l i l l n e s s and r e s u r r e c t i o n o f t h e dead. I n a d d i t i o n t h e r e a r c 165 v e r s e s t h a t d e a l i n g e n e r a l w i t h e t e r n a l l i fe , and a l s o 3 1 g e n e r a l r e f e r e n c e t o m i r a c l e s t h a t i n c l u d e h e a l i n g .

1 0

H e g o e s on t o g i v e examples of some methods used :

A Word:, The h e a l i n g of a man w i t h unc lean ' s p i r i t

f ound i n Mark 1:23 and Luke 4 ~ 3 3 , t h a t w i t h a word, f u l l

of a u t h o r i t y . , J e s u s e x o r c i s e d t h e u n c l e a n s p i r i t , R man

w i t h w i t h e r e d hand, was h e a l e d w i t h a word of Command- 11

A Touch: The h e a l i n g of P e t e r ' s mother-in-law w a s a

case o f f e v e r , and w i t h a t o u c h and a p r a y e r , t h e woman

w a s h e a l e d , l2 T h e r e w a s a l so a case of h e a l i n g a l e p e r

w i t h p r a y e r and a touch , T h e r e was also a case of

r a i s i n g t h e d a u g h t e r of J a i r u s w i t h p r a y e r and a touch. 1 4

The woman w i t h i s s u e of b l o o d who touched t h e hem o f

J e s u s ' s ga rmen t w a s h e a l e d , i n s t a n t l y . 15

From a D i s t a n c e : The h e a l i n g o f t h e c e n t u r i a n l s

29,

s e r v a n t w a s from a d i s t a n c e , The C e n t u r i o n who came t o

s e e k h e a l i n g from J e s u s went home and saw t h e s e r v a n t

h e a l e d . l6 The h e a l i n g o f t h e d a u g h t e r o f t h e sy rophoen i -

c i a n woman, was from a d i s t a n c e , 17

One r e a d s a c c o u n t a f t e r a c c o u n t i n s u c c e s s i o n and

t h e y are c h a l l e n g i n g . A t h i s home town Naza re th , h e w a s

b e s i e g e d b y p e o p l e who wanted t o be h e a l e d . Some even

t h o u g h t h e w a s b e s i d e h i m s e l f , o t h e r s t h o u g h t t h a t a t t h e

ra te , and w i t h t h e t y p e of power w i t h which he per formed

h e a l i n g , t h a t i t was t h r o u g h B e e l z e b u l , t h e p r i n c e of

demons t h a t J e s u s c a s t o u t evil s p i r i t s , The f ac t was t h a t

J e s u s a c t u a l l y h e a l e d and e x o r c i z e d e v i l s p i r i t s , even h i s

e n e m i e s d i d n o t d o u b t t h i s , But t h e problem was t h a t t h e y

d i d n o t know what s p i r i t w a s a t work i n him a s he pe r fo rmed

t h e s e miracles, 18

The m i n i s t r y of h e a l i n g o f J e s u s i s c e r t a i n l y i n l i n e

w i t h t h e c o n s t a n t emphas i s i n h i s t e a c h i n g s upon compas-

s i o n and c a r i n g a b o u t o n e ' s n e i g h b o u r , One of t h e most

c o n c r e t e ways of e x p r e s s i n g t h a t l o v e i s t h r o u g h c o n c e r n

a b o u t o n e a n o t h e r ' s p h y s i c a l , m a t e r i a l and s p i r i t u a l

c o n d i t i o n , and t h e removal of i n f i r m i t i e s t h a t t o t u r e

man's h e a l t h and w e l l b e i n g ,

A l though s i n and d i s e a s e s t i l l b z s i c g e d man, t h e

e m p h a s i s o n w h o l e n e s s i n t h c work o f J e s u s , p a r t i c u l a r l y

30,

i n h i s h e a l i n g m i n i s t r y , was a f o r e s t a s t e of what t o e x p e c t

i n t h e a g e to come, when God, i n t h e e s c h a t o n , would b r i n g

p e a c e , o r d e r and who leness to t h e e n t i r e c r e a t i o n , n o t

j u s t man a l o n e , When t h a t time comes, t h e forces o f e v i l

w i l l be c o m p l e t e l y d e s t r o y e d , and s i c k n e s s would b e n o more,

One would have n o t i c e d i n t h i s c h a p t e r c e r t a i n assump-

t i o n s made r e g a r d i n g t h e h e a l i n g m i r a c l e s of J e s u s , The

f i r s t i s t h a t t h e Gospe l a c c o u n t s o f t h e s e e v e n t s are

r e l i a b l e , c o n s i d e r i n g t h e t e s t a g a i n s t ' s c i e n t i f i c t

criticism. Tha t t h e y a r e r e l i a b l e i s my c o n v i c t i o n .

Then a lso i s t h e a s sumpt ion of t h e ' p e r s o n o f J e s u s , h i s

d i v i n i t y and h i s humanity , b e i n g m i n d f u l of t h e inade -

q u a c i e s of t h o s e words a n d t h e i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e n e s s of

J e s u s , t h e God-man, I n t h e a n c i e n t wor ld , h e a l e r s w e r e t o

some e x t e n t r e g a r d e d a s d i v i n e o r a t least , i n t o u c h w i t h

t h e s p i r i t s . So, t h a t t h e e a r l y C h r i s t i a n s had t h e

h e a l i n g m i r a c l e a s e v i d e n c e o f t h e d i v i n i t y o f C h r i s t ,

w a s u n d e r s t o o d ,

The h e a l i n g miracles w e r e n o t a b r e a c h of t h e laws

of t h e u n i k r s e , r a t h e r t h e y were normal. a c t i v i t ies aI s

p e r s o n l i v i n g on a h i g h e r p l a n e o f e x p e r i e n c e and communion

w i t h God, T h e r e are many who have s u c h h e a l i n g g i f t s ,

and have u s e d them i n and o u t s i d e t h e C h r i s t i a n Church,

As t r u e as t h i s may be, I w i l l be h e s i s t a n t t o e q u a t e b o t h

t h e p e r s o n s and t h e h u a l i n g s pe r fo rmed t h r o u g h them, t o

C h r i s t ' s . 20 To g c t i n t o t h e d i f f e r e n c e and c o n t i n u i t y

i s o u t s i d e t h e s c o p e o f t h i s t h e s i s ,

We s h o u l d a l s o n o t c t h z t t h e r e i s no e v i d e n c e i n

t h c G o s p e l s , of J e s u s r e c e i v i n g a n y g i f t i n r e t u r n t o

h i s h e a l i n g e x c e p t g r a t i t u d e of lipsa2* On t h e o t h e r

hand, a good man would g o i n t o t h e r e s c u e of a drowning

man w i t h o u t s e e k i n g a g i f t o r pay b e c a u s e h i s good n a t u r e

prompted him t o behave t h a t way. So C h r i s t d i d n o t p u t

c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e way o f u s i n g s p i r i t u a l powers u n d e r

h i s c o n t r o l t o f r e e m e n from d i s e a s e and s i n , So t h a t

e v e n t h i s a t t i t u d e c a u s e d amazement i n t h e minds o f h i s

c o n t e m p o r a r i e s and c o u l d a c c o u n t for a r e a s o n why h e was

m i s u n d e r s t o o d , h a t e d and e v e n t u a l l y g o t r i d off on the

C a l v a r y C r o s s .

Wi th t h i s g e n e r a l , b u t b r i e f s u r v e y of h e a l i n g a c t s

of J e s u s , I want t o g o on t o l ook a t s e l c c t e d

h e a l i n g s i n d e t a i l s ,

NOTES - CHAPTER 'THREE See Mark 1: 14-28; Luke 4 : 3 1 f ; Matthew 8:14f .

See Mark 5 : 2 1 f f ; Matthew 9 : 1 8 f f ; Luke 8 : 4 0 f f .

J e s u s ben S i r a is b e l i e v e d t o be t h e a u t h o r of S i r i a c h o r E c c l i s i a s t i c u s i n t h e a p o c r y p h a l s e c t i o n o f t h e b i b l e . R e f e r e n c e t o t h i s was made i n C h a p t e r one page 11 above,

See Luke 12:13; Mark 7 : 33-34; Matthew 8: 5-13.

Geza V e r m e s , J e s u s and t h e wor ld of Judaism, ( P h i l a d e l p h i a ; F o r t r e s s Press, .1984),' p. 8.

V e r m e s i s a J e w and C h r i s t i a n t h e o l o g i a n , In t h i s book h e was a t t e m p t i n g t o p r e s e n t J e s u s from J e w i s h p e r s p e c k i v e ,

I b i d , - See Mark 2: 1-12; Matthew 9 : 1-8; Luke 5: 17-26.

See Mark 5 : 1-20; Matthew 8 : 28-34; Luke 8: 26-39,

See Mark 10 : 46-52; Matthew 2 0 . 29-34; Luke 1 8 : 35-43.

K e l s e y , - Encounter w i t h God. ondo don: Hodder & S t o u g h t o n , 1 9 7 2 ) , p. 43.

See Mark 3:1; Matthew 12:9; Luke 6:6.

There was a l s o t h e h e a l i n g of t h e boy w i t h ' e p f l e p s y f w i t h a word, See Mark 9:17; Matthew 17: 1 4 ; Luke 9:38.

S e e M ~ r k 1:30; Matthew 8 :14 ; Luke 4:38.

See Mark 1 :40; Matthew 8 :2 ; Luke 5:12.

S e e Mark 5:22; Matthew 9:3.8; Luke 8:41.

See Mark 5:25; Matthew 9 ~ 2 0 ; Luke 8:43,

See Matthew 8 : 5 f ; Luke 7 : l f f ; John 4:43f.

See Mark 7 : 2 4 f f ; Matthew 15:21f ,

18. S e e Mark 3 : 2 2 .

19. W e a t h e r h e a d , L o c , C i t . , p . 4 1 .

20. D r . C h a r l c s C h u k s , a n o n - d e n o m i n a t i o n a l e v a n g e l i s t i n N i g e r i a h a s a real g i f t of h e a l i n g a n d h a d a p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w w i t h t h e w r i t e r r e g a r d i n g h i e m i n i s t r y . F a c t s a b o u n d of c u r e d d i s e a s e s t i l l : : , .gh

. . h i s p r a y e r e,g. T u b e r c u l o s i s ; B d r r e n e s s , a n d c a n c e r of t h e breast.

21. S e e L u k e 1 7 : 1 7 - 1 8 .

2 2 . F o r a t a b u l a t i o n of a l l r e c o r d e d h e a l i n g s i n t h e S y n o p t i c G o s p e l s , see A p p e n d i x e s 1-111 (pages 126-1281

CHAPTER FOUR

HEALING MINISTRY 'OF JESUS : SELECTED CASES I N THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS -

I n t h e New T e s t a m e n t , g o s p e l h a s t h e s p e c i a l m e a n i n g

of m e s s a g e of s a l v a t i o n , T h e g o s p e l s of M a t t h e w , Mark ,

L u k e ( a n d J o h n ) a l l c a r r y t h i s m e s s a g e of s a l v a t i o n as

e x p r e s s e d i n t h e words a n d w o r k s of J e s u s C h r i s t .

T h e G o s p e l of M a t t h e w , Mark a n d L u k e a re g r o u p e d

u n d e r t h e name S y n o p t i c s m e a n i n g ' t o v i e w a t t h e same

t i m e , ' T h e aim of t h e G o s p e l s w a s n o t r e c o l l e c t i o n a b o u t

J e s u s n o r g l o r i f i c a t i o n of h i s miracles - t h e s e may be

' t o e v o k e p a r t of t h e i r c o n t e n t , T h e i r m a i n c o n c e r n

f a i t h a n d t o s t r e n g t h e n i t ." 1

T h e G o s p e l of Mark h a s b e e n described

s t o r y w i t'h a n e x t e n d e d i n t r o d u c t i o n . The

w a s ,

a s a

obser

p a s s i o n

v a t i o n is

t h a t t h e a u t h o r collected o r i g i n a l l y i so la ted u n i t s ,

i n c l u d i n g t h e miracle stories a n d r e - i n t e r p r e t e d t h e m

i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e p s s i o n n a r r a t i v e , 2

M a t t h e w ' s G o s p e l h a s b e e n d e s c r i b e d a s a new v e r s i o n

of Mark. M d t t h e w made more u s e of O l d T e s t a m a n t

r e f e r e n c e s t o p r o v e t h a t ' t h i s is t h e v e r y C h r i s t ' , t h e

s e c o n d Moses, Some see i n M a t t h e w I s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of

t h e m i r a c l e of J e s u s a s t y p e s p e r f o r m e d b y Moses, 3

I n L u k e ' s G o s p e l , a t t e m p t i s made t o a r r a n g e t h e

w o r k s o f J e s u s a s a h i s t o r i c a l p i e c e , One o f t h e m o t i v e s

of Luke w a s g i v i n g a r e l i a b l e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e e v e n t s

of t h e t r a d i t i o n h e h a s tested, Some b e l i e v e d Luke t o

be a man o f t h i r d s tage C h r i s t i a n t r a d i t i e n e 4 ~ u k e ~ s

g o a l w a s t o a r o u s e c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e c o n t e n t o f t h e

C h r i s t i a n t e a c h i n g b o t h t o T h e o p h i l u s , a n d h i s r e a d e r s ,

With s u c h a v i e w , t h e miracles are p r e s e n t e d a s t r u e ,

I s h a l l t u r n now t o t h e s e l e c t e d miracles f o u n d i n

t h e s y n o p t i c s . I w i l l t r y t o s h o w s imi lar i t ies and

d i s i m i l a r i ties i n t h e a c c o u n t s a n d t h e i r t h e o l o g i c a l

e m p h a s i s a n d bias,

5 (1) The G e r a s e n e d e m o n i a c : (Mark 5: 1-20; M a t t h e w 8: 28-34; Luke 8: 2 6 - 3 9 ) 6 .

T h i s w a s o n e of t h e e v e n t s t h a t t o o k p l a c e a r o u n d

t h e s e a s o f G a l i l e e a n d was r e p o r t e d i n Mark i n a way

t h a t s u g g e s t s a n e y e w l t n e a s a c c o u n t .

Mark w r i t e w a b o u t o n e d e m o n i a c i n G e r a s e n e s .

C-E-B- C r a n f i e l d r e m a r k s t h a t t h e r e w e r e t w o v a r i a n t s - G e r a s e n e s a n d G a d a r e n e . A f t e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n ~f t h e

t e x t u a 1 v a r i a n t s , C r a n f i e l d c o n c l u d e s ,

The most l i k e l y e x p l a n a t i o n seems t o be t h a t Mark wrote ' G e r a s e n e t w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o a town b y t h e l a k e (whose name may be p r e s e r v e d i n t h e modern Kersa or K o u r s i on t h e e a s t e r n s h o r e ) , b u t t h a t e a r l y readers m i s t o o k t h i s

f o r a r e f e r e n c e t o t h e we l l -known ' G e r a s a 'e S i n c e t h i s Gerasa was some t h i r t y miles from t h e l a k e , i t w a s n a t u r a l t h a t i m p r o v e m e n t s s h o u l d be a t t e m p t e d , h e n c e t h e v a r i a n t s . 7

R. Mol. W i l s o n s a y s ,

The d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e s c e n e i s v a g u e p r o b a b l y b e c a u s e Mark knew n o more,, . O r i g i n p r e f e r e d ' t h e c o u n t r y of t h e G e r g e s e n e s ', a n d some t e x t s c a r r y i t ,

M a t t h e w s a y s t h a t t h e r e a re t w o d e m o n i a c s . On t h i s ,

R. To F r a n c e s a y s ,

( i ) t h i s may be M a t t h e w ' s way of c o m p e n s a t i n g f o r h i s o m m i s s i o n of a n o t h e r e x o r c i s m i n M a r k , 1 : 2 3 a n d h e a l i n g o f t h e b l i n d i n Mark 8: 22 -26 , n o t i n M a t t h e w , B u t i n M a t t h e w 9 : 2 7 , two b l i n d men are h e a l e d i n s t e a d of o n e b l i n d man a c c o r d i n g t o Mark 10: 46-52.

( i i) M a t t h e w w r i t i n g f o r a J e w i s h c o n g r e g a t i o n may be m a k i n g t h e n u m b e r t w o i n r e q u i r e - m e n t of J e w i s h l a w f o r t w o w i t n e s s e s . 9

C e c i l H a r g r e a v e s s a y s ,

M a t t h e w ' s i n t e r e s t i n l i t e r a l f u l f i l m e n t of p r o p h e c y , i .e, t h a t M e s s i a n f c a g e w i l l c h a r a c t e r i z e o p e n i n g t h e e y e s of b l i n d men, a n d h e a l i n g d e m o n i a c s , i n f l u e n c e d h i s w r i t i n g , O n l y M a t t h e w h a s t h e p h r a s e , 'before t h e t i m e ' , i n v e r s e 2 9 , w h i c h w i l l mean to a J e w t h e e n d t i m e when M e s s i a h w i l l come a n d d e m o n s w i l l be t o r m e n t e d a n d d e s t r o y e d , 10 .

On L u k e ' s p l a c e n a m e , N o r v a l G e l d e n h u y s s a y s ,

T h e best known Gerasa was a G r e e k c i t y n e a r l y 4 0 miles S o u t h E a s t o f t h e l a k e , L u k e ' s r e a d i n g I ' G e r g e s e n e s t t may r e p r e s e n t e v e n more a c c u r a t e l y t h e a n c i e n t name o f t h i s p l a c e ,

as O r i g e n knew of a G e r g e s a on t h e L a k e of G a l i l e e , B u t t h e c i t y of Gadara owned some p r o p e r t y r o u n d a b o u t K h e s a , s o t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t a n d p i g s c o u l d p r o p e r l y a l s o be c a l l e d G a d a r e n e . 11

L u k e h a s o n l y o n e d e m o n i a c , l i k e M a r k , a n d d e s c r i b e d

h i m , as ' a man from t h e c i t y who h a d d e m o n s a n d w o r e n o

c l o t h e s (ve r se 27) . W i t h L u k e ' s i n t r o d u c t i ' o n of ' c i t y

i t c o u l d s u g g e s t or s u p p o r t t h e G a d a r e n e c i t y ,

ANALYSIS A N D INTERPRETATION --.

T h e pericope o f t h e G e r a s e s d e m o n i a c c o n t a i n s o n e

a s p e c t w h i c h i s o u t s i d e human e x p e r i e n c e - t h e b e h a v i o u r

o f t h e s w i n e . I n a n a r t ic le , D u r c a n M. D e r r e t t a r g u e s

t h a t u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e miracle s t o r y o n t h e p a s t h a d

h e e n h a m p e r e d by ( a ) l a c k of s k i l l i n h a g g a d i c M i d r a s h ;

( b ) l a c k of k n o w l e d g e - of t h e Jewish l a w ; (c) l a c k of

u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f the demon p o s s e s s i o n ; ( d l l a c k of

k n o w l e d g e of p i g s . I n h i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , Derrett m a k e s

t h e f 01 l o w i n g p o i n t s :

I t i s a miracle s t o r y s i n c e w o n d e r i s o n e of

t h e . r e s u l t s ,

t h e h e a l e d man w a s s e n t b a c k a s a m i s s i o n a r y

t o t h e G a l L l e a n s , a n a l t e r ' \ ~ t i v e a v e n u e f o r

f u?" !. h e n t.

A p o s s i b l e s u g g e s t i o n of J e s u s i n t e n d i n g

e q u a l a n d s e p a r a t e d e v e l o p m e n t of J e w s a n d

38.

G e n t i l e s ' M i s s i o n s - t h e G e n t i l e s on p e r s o n a l

k n o w l e d q e a n d e x p e r i e n c e h a t h e r t h a n s c r i p t u r a l

e d u c a t i o n f o r t h e J e w s .

( i v ) J e s u s was a c t u a l l y s a v i n g a man from t h e w o r l d

of t h e dead.

( v ) J e s u s h a d r e n d e r e d t h e power of d e v i l o b s o l e t e ,

A l l s a i d , B e r r e t t n o t i c e s a t l e a s t t w o l a y e r s of t h e

s t o r y :

( a ) Some w o r d s u s e d h a v e t o d o w i t h w a d g i n y a

b a t t l e a n d so are more m e a n i n g f u l when a p p l i e d m i l i t a r i l y ,

Examples o f s u c h words are t l e g i o n t , t o s e n d t , I h e r d t , ' o r d e r t , a n d r u s h e d t .

Then t h e u n c l e a n s p i r i t s e n t e r i n g i n t o t h e p i g s a n d

m a k i n g them b e h a v e u n l i k e p i g s b u t as a h e r d , w a s

m i r a c u l o u s , f o r p i g s are e x t e r m e l y i n d e p e n d e n t a n i m a l s ,

u n l i k e s h e e p o r cows o r h o r s e s , B e h a v i n g l i k e a h e r d ,

i ,e . u n l i k e p i g s , t h e y f o r m e d a m i l i t a r y u n i t - p i g s d o

n o t u s u a l l y b e h a v e l i k e t h i s , T h i s t h e n h a s a l l u s i o n t o

t h e E x o d u s s t o r y o f t h e p e o p l e of I s r ae l , e s c a p i n g f r o m

t h e E g y p t i a n s , and t h e E g y p t i a n s b e i n g d rowned i n t h e

Red S e a ,

(b) T h e n e x t l a y e r b e i n g p r o p h e t i c r e m i n i s c e n c e i n

I s a i a h 65: 1-7, t h e r e b e l l i o u s p e o p l e of Israel a re

c o m p a r e d a n d c o n t r a s t e d w i t h t h e m e s s i a n i c a g e a n d

p e o p l e , Cod h a s p r o m i s e d t o d e a l w i t h t h i s p e o p l e j u s t

a s t h e demons were d e a l t w i t h i n t h e G e r a s e n e d e m o n i a c .

A l s o i n Nahum 1: 1-15 w h i c h t a l k s a b o u t t h e woe of

N i n e v e h and t h e r e s t o r a t i o n of I s rae l , d e s t r u c t i o n

a w a i t e d p e o p l e or forces t h a t a t t a c k e d G o d ' s p e o p l e ,

Wi th t h a t , Derrett c o n c l u d e d t h a t i n t h i s miracle

s t o r y , J e s u s i n i t i a t e d a G e n t i l e M i s s i o n i n h i s l i f e -

t i m e , b u t may n o t h a v e i n t e n d e d t h e p a t t e r n t o be e x a c t l y

l i k e t h a t o f t h e 3c;+S. l2 The d e m o n i a c ' s s t a t e c a u s e d him

a l o t of a g o n y , w i t h c o n f l i c t and s t r a i n . C h r i s t c u r e d

h im a n d b r o u g h t p e a c e t o t h e man a g a i n . T h e p r e s e n c e o f

C h r i s t a s s u r e d t h e man a n d C h r i s t i a n g e n e r a t i o n s a f t e r ,

t h a t s a t a n i c f o r c e s c o u l d be c o n q u e r e d a b s o l u t e l y , a n d

w h o l e n e s s r e s t o r e d .

2. The ~ A r a l ~ t i c : (Mark 2: 1-12; M a t t h e w 9: 1-8; Luke 5: 17-26)

T h e p r e v i o u s e p i s o d e s o f h e a l i n g o f J e s u s p r o d u c e d

n o q u a r r e l w i t h r e l i g i o u s l e a d e r s , The h e a l i - n g of t h e

p a r a l y t i c is t h e f irst of f i v e ' c o n t r o v e r s y . . s t o r y ' i n

w h i c h Mark p r e s e n t s a s t r o n g - o p p o s i t i o n t o Jesw from t h e

S c r i b e s a n d t h e p h a r i s e e s e a r l y enough i n h i s m i n i s t r y .

Some s c h o l a r s c o n s i d e r t h i s p a s s a g e c o m p o s i t e ; a

m i r a c l e s t o r y i n t o w h i c h a c o r i t r o v : r s i a l s e c t i o n ( 5 b - 1 0 )

h a s b e e n a d d e d , ( ~ u l t m a n n , T a y l o r ) . 1 3

On t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e r e i s a d i f f e r e n c e of o p i n i o n o v e r

t h e precise l i m i t s of t h e s t o r y of h e a l i n g . Some s u g g e s t

verses 1-Sa & 11, O t h e r s s a y v e r s e s 1-5 & 12, T h e

ma t t e r i s made more c o m p l e x b y t h e i n a b i l i t y of t h e m o d e r n

man t o see t h e a s s o c i a t i o n of h c a l i n g a n d f o r g i v e n e s s

w h i c h was a s s u m e d i n a n c i e n t t i m e , 1 4 Mark ' s roof w a s

f l a t , c o v e r e d w i r h e a r t h , t r o d d e n h a r d ; a n d t h e h o u s e

was p r o b a b l y a s t o r y b u i l d i n g . P a l l e t w a s a p o o r m a n ' s

bed i n a n c i e n t P a l e s t i n e , 15

M a t t h e w ' s a c c o u n t a s of t e n , s h o r t e n s M a r k ' s v e r s i o n ,

but preserves a l l i ts m a i n f e a t u r e s . Capernaum is to

M a t t h e w , t h e home town of J e s u s ( M a t t h e w 4:13), R e T.

F r a n c e observed t h a t t h e m a i n i n t e r e s t of M a t t h e w w a s

n o t t h e miracle i t se l f b u t t h e d i a l o g u e w h i c h a c c o m p a n i e s

i t , w h i c h i n t r o d u c e s a new a s p e c t of J e s u s ' a u t h o r i t y .

So r i g h t a t t h e o u t s e t w e h a v e h i s d e c l a r a t i o n , ' Y o u r

s i n s are f o r g i v e n , ' 16 I n o t h c r w o r d s , most form cr i t ics

a s s u m e t h a t the o r i g i n a l k e r n e l i s n s i m p l e s t o r y of how

J e s u s s a w t h e f a i t h of t h e man a n d s a i d , ' a r ise , take up

y o u r bed ' , . a n d t h e c o n t r o v e r s y o v e r t h e f o r g i v e n e s s o f

s i n s a d d e d t o t h e t r a d i t i o n . D. E, Nineham g o e s so f a r

t o s a y t h a t M a t t h e w 9:8b may h a v e b e e n i n v e n t e d b y t h e

e a r l y C h u r c h t o j u s t i f y h e r c l a i m t o f o r g i v e s i n s . 17

4.1.

I n L u k e ' s c h r o n o l o g i c a l s e t t i n g of t h e e v e n t , i t i s

i n d e f i n i t e , M a t t h e w p l a c e s t h e o c c u r a n c e a t Capernaum

a f t e r J e s u s h a d re t u r n e d f r o m t h e l a n d o f t h e G e r g e s e n e s ,

w h e r e h e h e a l e d t h e d e m o n i a c s de at thew 8: 2 8 f ) . Mark p u t s

i t v e r y e a r l y i n t h e M i n i s t r y of J e s u s , f i r s t of t h e

c o n f l i c t stories. L u k e p l a c e s i t as a t r a p . The

P h a r i s e e s a n d t e a c h e r s o f t h e law f r o m J e r u s a l e m a n d

Ga l i l ee w e n t t o o b s e r v e h i s t e a c h i n g s a n d d o i n g s care-

f u l l y , The summary i n 5 : 1 7 b i s L u k e ' s way of s e e i n g

J e s u s as a d i v i n e p h y s i c i a n r e v e a l e d e v e n t o t h o s e who

came t o observe a n d t o c a t c h h im,

L u k e p r e s u p p o s e s n o n - p a l e s t i n i a n a r c h i t e c t u r e when

h e s p e a k s of t i l e s ( r a t h e r t h a n t h a t c h of s t r a w , coated

w i t h mud or c l a y ) t h a t c o u l d be l i f t e d . 18 L u k e o n l y

n o t i c e d t h a t , t h e man g l o r i f i e d God - see v e r s e 25b. I n

M a t t h e w , t h e p e o p l e were a f r a i d ( M a t t h e w 9:8); i n Mark

t h e y were amazed (Mark 2 : 1 2 ) , a n d i n L u k e t h e y w e r e

amazed and f i l l e d w i t t i awe ( L u k e 5 : 2 6 ) . ~ m a z e m e n t a n d

awe w e r e e m o t i o n s e v o k e d by s u c c e s s f u l h e a l e r r a t h e r

t h a n t h e s u c c e s s f u l c o n t r o v e r s i a l i s t ,

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONS -

T h e h e a l i n g o f t h e p a r a l y t i c i s g e n e r a l l y h e l d by

many s c h o l a r s , t o be made u p o f two d i f f e r e n t p a r t s :

'The p e r i c o p e ' , wri tes L. C o p p e l t , ' h a s t w o p i e c e s of

42.

t r a d i t i o n woven t o g e t h e r a t a s u b s e q u e n t s t a g e of d e v e l o p -

men t . T h e miracle s t o r y i t se l f i s Mark 2: 1-5, lob-12 , t h e

c o n t r o v e r s y d i a l o g u e on f o r g i v e n e s s of s i n i s verse 6-10a.

T h e i m p a r t i n g o f f o r g i v e n e s s of s i n a l r e a d y b e l o n g e d t o

t h e o r i g i n a l m a t r i x of t h e s t o r y , s i n c e t h e c o n n e c t i o n

b e t w e e n f o r g i v e n e s s of s i n a n d h e a l i n g was t y p i c a l for

J e s u s , w h i l e i n t h e s i t u a t i o n o f t h e communi ty , f o r g i v e -

n e s s of s i n a n d t h e i m p a r t i n g o f t h e s p i r i t b e l o n g e d

19 t o g e t h e r - see A c t s 2:38.

W h i l e t h e f r i e n d s of t h e p a r a l y t i c a n t i c i p a t e d

h e a l i n g , J e s u s p r o n o u n c e d f o r g i v e n e s s . A t t h e o b j e c t i o n

of ' t h e S c r i b e s why J e s u s s h o u l d t a k e G o d ' s p r e r o g a t i v e ,

J e s u s j u x t a p o s e d ' g e t t i n g u p t o w a l k q a n d ' f o r g i v e n e s s of

s i n . T h i s c o n f i r m e d t h a t h e a l i n g a n d f o r g i v e n e s s b r o u g h t

w h o l e n e s s t o t h e p e r s o n . C o p p e l t , E. S c h w e i t z e r , a n d

Von Rad, a l l t e s t i f y t o t h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e w a s n o J e w i s h

o r O l d T e s t a m e n t p a r a l l e l o f i m p a r t i n g f o r g i v e n e s s by

J e s u s . S u g g q s t i n g t h a t t h e S c r i b e s o b s e r v e d c o r r e c t l y .

F o r g i v e n e s s b e l o n g e d t 9 God (see 2 S a m u e l 12: 13).

P r o p h e t N a t h a n ' s word t o D a v i d w a s a b o u t God's

f o r g i v e n e s s . I n I s a i a h 44: 2 2 , God p r o m i s e d f o r g i v e n e s s

t o t h e e n t i r e p e o p l e . 20 B u t W. L a n e t h i n k s d i f f e r e n t l y

f o r h e s a y s ,

t h e p r o n o u n c e m e n t o f f o r g i v e n e s s w a s , s t a r t l i n g b e c a u s e i t seemed i n a p p r o p r i a t e a n d e v e n i r r e l e v a n t t o t h e i m m e d i a t e s i t u a t i o n , B u t i n t h e Old T e s t a m e n t , s i n a n d d i s e a s e , f o r g i v e n e s s a n d h e a l i n g a re f r e q u e n t l y i n t e r - r e l a t ed c o n c e p t s . I n a number of t e x t s , ' h e a l i n g a n d ' f o r g i v e - n e s s ' are i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e terms, e.g, Psa lm 41:4 s a y s , ' h e a l m e f o r I h a v e s i n n e d a g a i n s t t h e e , ' S i c k n e s s , d i s e a s e a n d d e a t h a r e t h e c o n s e q u e n c e of t h e s i n f u l c o n d i t i o n of a l l men. C o n s e q u e n t l y , e v e r y h e a l i n g i s a d r i v i n g b a c k of d e a t h a n d a n i n v a s i o n of t h e p r o v i n c e o f s i n , It is u n n e c e s s a r y t o t h i n k , t h e r e f o r e , o f a c o r r e s p o n d i n g s i n f o r e a c h i n s t a n c e o f s i c k n e s s .21

When J e s u s c a u s e d t h e p a r a l y t i c t o w a l k , before

t h e e y e s of h i s crit ics, t h e y w e r e f o r c e d to recognize

t h a t t h i s d e c l a r a t i o n of f o r g i v e n e s s a n d h e a l i n g had

b e e n e f f e c t i v e , The h e a l i n g of t h e p a r a l y t i c was more

t h a n a d i s p l a y of m e r c y t o a w r e t c h e d man. The e n t i r e

p e r s o n w a s made w h o l e a n d ' t h a t w a s a s i g n of t h e

Kingdom of God, God p r o m i s e d t h a t i n t h e r e s t o r a t i o n

of a l l t h i n g s , t h e . l a m e w o u l d sha re i n t h e j o y o f t h e

c o m i n g s a l v a t i o n - see I s a i a h 35:6; J e r e m i a h 31:8,

J e s u s f o r g i v e n e s s was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r placing t h e

s i n n e r o n t h e p a t h to God b e c a u s e i t b e s t o w e d o n t h e n

before h a n d c o m p l e t e f e l l o w s h i p w i t h God w i t h o u t i m p o s i n g

c o n d i t i o n s , T h i s f o r g i v e n e s s of J e s u s w a s c o n s t a n t l y

u n i t e d w i t h h i s p e r s o n a l i n v o l v e m e n t w i t h t h e i n d i v i d u a l

and was n e v e r p r o c l a i m e d as a g e n e r a l a b s o l u t i o n ; h e n c e

h e s a i d s p e c i f i c a l l y t o t h e p a r a l y t i c - r i se , t a k e u p

y o u r p a l l e t , a n d go home (Mark 2 : 1 1 ) , 2 2

3, B l i n d B a r t i m a e u s : ark 10: 46-52; M a t t h e w 20: 29-34; L u k e 18: 35-43)

T h i s is t h e l a s t h e a l i n g m i r a c l e r e c o r d e d i n Mark,

A c c o r d i n g t o C r a n f i e l d , some s c h o l a r s r e g a r d i t as

l e g e n d a r y , b u t h e h i m s e l f sees i t as a more p r o b a b l e

n a r r a t i v e b a s e d on t h e r e m i n i s c e n c e of a n e y e - w i t n e s s , 23

Only Mark m e n t i o n s t h e name of t h e b l i n d man as t h e

sn of T i m a e u s , ( ~ a r - T i m a e u s ) . A f t e r c o n s i d e r i n g t h e

p o s s i b l e r e n d e r i n g of t h e name by Mark , W. L a n e c o n c l u d e s ,

B a r t i m e a u s is' a p p a r e n t l y a p a t r o n m i c of A r a m a i c o r i g i n , t h e s o n o f T i m a i , $4

O t h e r s s u g g e s t t h a t t h i s s t o r y r e f e r r e d o r i g i n a l l y

t o a n a m e l e s s b l i n d man who l a t e r came t o be i d e n t i f i e d

w i t h B a r t i m a e u s of J e r i c h o , a f i g u r e w e l l known i n t h e

e a r l y C h u r c h as o n e who h a d f o l l o w e d J e s u s o n t h e way. 25

I n Mark , t h e m i r a c l e h a p p e n e d w h i l e J e s u s a n d h i s

d i s c i p l e s were l e a v i n g J e r i c h o ark 1 0 : 4 6 b ) , and 'Son

of D a v i d ' o c c u r s o n l y h e r e i n Mark 10:27,

Matthew n a r r a t e s t h e s t o r y as i n v o l v i n g t h e h e a l i n g

of t w o b l i n d men. But Matthew , o m i t t e d Mark *s h e a l i n g of

a b l i n d man (Mark 8: 2 2 - 2 6 ) , i t c o u l d be t h a t h e added

t h e o ther h e a l i n g s t o r y h e r e ,

Some s u g g e s t t h a t i t was a f u r t h e r e x p l a n a t i o n of

t h e r e p l y J e s u s g a v e t o t h e t w o d i s c i p l e s w h o had J u s t

a s k e d for a p l a c e i n H i s Kingdom ( M a t t h e w 20:21),

s u g g e s t i n g t h a t t h e y w e r e b l i n d t o w h a t t h e y w e r e r e a l l y

a s k i n g f o r and needed t h e i r e y e s opened , Ano the r way of

l o o k i n g a t t h i s i s t h a t t h e b l i n d men were t w o , but t h e

name of o n e was n o t known, and M a t t h e w d e s c r i b e d t h e b l i n d

i n v o l v e d i n t h e s t o r y a s t w o , 2 6

Matthew o n l y o b s e r v e d t h a t J e s u s t o u c h e d t h e e y e s

of t h e t w o b l i n d men, t h u s making i t i n t o a more

c o n v e n t i o n a l miracle s t o r y . From t h i s p o i n t on i n t h e

p l a n of t h e Gospe l s e t t i n g , t h e e n t r y i n t o J e r u s a l e m w i l l

s e r v e a s t h e h i g h e s t miracle of e y e o p e n i n g to a l l ,

a b o u t t h e M e s s i a h s h i p of C h r i s t ,

I n Luke, J e s u s was g o i n g i n t o Jericho, w h e r e a s i n

Mark and Matthew, h e was l e a v i n g . An a t t e m p t a t

h a r m o n i z i n g ' t h e v a r i a t i o n i n t h e a c c o u n t s g o e s t h u s :

B a r t i m a e u s was c u r e d of h i s b l i n d n e s s a t some p o i n t a f t e r J e s u s had p a s s e d t h r o u g h o l d Jericho ( t h e ,site o f t h e C a n a a n i t e c i t y ) , H e t h e n p a s s e d t h r o u g h New Jericho ( t h e

r e c e n t l y b u i l t H e r o d i a n c i t y ) w h e r e H e h a d H i s i n t e r v i e w w i t h Z a c c h a e u s . I f L u k e w a s t o i n t r o d u c e t h e s t o r y o f Z a c c h a e u s , as h a v i n g t a k e n p l a c e i n J e r i c h o , t h e n J e s u s c o u l d n o t h a v e l e f t t h e c i t y before t h e i n c i d e n t , i.e. t h e e n c o u n t e r w i t h Z a c c h a e u s . 27

L u k e refers t o t h e man a s a ' c e r t a i n b l i n d man

( ~ u k e 1 8 : 3 5 ) , a n d o n l y i n h i s a c c o u n t i s t h e b l i n d man

g l o r i f y i n g God a f t e r t h e h e a l i n g , a n d t h e p e o p l e p r a i s i n g

G o d , ( 1 8 : 4 3 ) . I n L u k e a s i n M a r k , t h e h e a l e d man

f o l l o w e d them o n t h e way.

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

T h e h e a l i n g o f B a r t i m a e u s ( o r t h e b l i n d men i n

M a t t h e w ' s a c c o u n t ) may h a v e t a k e n p l ace i n o r n e a r J e r i c h o .

T h e p e r s i s t e n c e of t h e b l i n d m a n , d e s p i t e t h e r e b u k e of

t h e p a s s e r s - b y , s u g g e s t s belief a n d f a i t h i n J e s u s - T h e

b l i n d man (or men ) s h o u t e d , ' J e s u s , Son of David, h a v e /

m e r c y o n m e ( u s ) '. The a p p e a l f o r m e r c y c a l l e d f o r

p r a c t i c a l h e l p . Mercy is n o t a n e m o t i o n , b u t a p r a c t i c a l

r e s p o n s e t o n e e d . And h e r e i t is l i n k e d w i t h 'Son of

D a v i d s u g g e s t i n g t h a t s u c h ! m e r c y 1 was e x p e c t e d t o

c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e D a v d d i c M e s s i a h ( 1 s a i a h 35: 5-6 a n d

L a n e t h i n k s t h a t t h e t i t l e 'Sen of Davidt i s

d i f f i c u l t t o d e t e r m i n e , f i r s t l y b e c a u s e Mark u s e d i t

47 .

o n c e i n t h e m o u t h o f t h e c r o w d ( 1 1 : 9 - 1 0 ) , o n c e i n t h e

m o u t h of J e s u s w h i l e t e a c h i n g ( 1 2 : 3 5 - 3 7 ) , a n d o n c e i n

t h e m o u t h of a b l i n d man ( 1 0 : 4 7 ) , a n d i n e a c h case, J e s u s

d i d n o t s t o p t h e u s e s i n c e J e s u s was n e a r J e r u s a l e m now,

t h e ' M e s s i a n i c s ec re t8 , - i s r e l a x e d . T h e r e f o r e i t i s .

p r o p e r t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e d e s i g n a t i o n i n i t s m e s s i a n i c

c o n t e x t . 29 ~ a n e s u m m a r i z e s i t t h u s :

T h e

t h e p r o b l e m i s t h a t B a r t i m a e u s u s e o f ' Son of D a v i d 1 i s c o n f i n e d t o h i s p e r i o d of b l i n d n e s s b e f o r e h e g a i n e d J e s u s a t t e n t i o n . When h e s t a n d s i n t h e p r e s e n c e of J e s u s , h e addresses H i m r e s p e c t u f u l l y a s 'My Master ' , b u t t h e r e i s n o s u g g e s t i o n o f M e s s i a n i s m i n t h i s t i t l e of h o n o u r . . . i t is bet ter t o f i n d i n , ' S o n o f D a v i d ' a r e s p e c t f u l form o f address c o l o u r e d b y t h e v i v i d D a v i d i c a s s o c i a t i o n s of J e r u s a l e m b u t i n f o r m e d b y t h e c o n v i c t i o n t h a t J e s u s w a s t h e i n s t r u m e n t o f ,God b r i n g i n g h e a l i n g a n d b l e s s i n g t o t h e l a n d . 3 6

t h e o l o g i c a l p u r p o s e of t h e s t o r y i s c lea r , f o r

o n e t o o b t a i n t h e m e r c y o f o p e n i n g of t h e e y e s , ie ,

s e e i n g t h e l i g h t , i n o n e I s p r e d i c a m e n t , t h e o n e n e e d s a

p e r s i s t e n t f a i t h i n God (Mark 1 0 : 48-5.2 1-

I t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e p h r a s e , ' f o l l o w e d Jesus i n

t h e . w a y t may c a r r y o v e r t o n e s of C h r i s t i r a d i s c i p l e s h i p ,

s i n c e ' t h e way w a s a common d e s c r i p t i o n i n e a r l i e s t

t i m e o f C h r i s t i a n i t y ( A c t s 9 :2 ; 1 9 : 9 - 2 3 ) , E v i d e n c e

a b o u n d a l s o i n t h e S y n o p t i c s a b o u t t h o s e h e a l e d f o l l o w i n g

J c s u s ( L u k e 1 8 : 4 3 ) ~ l o r i f y i n g God a n d s p r e a d i n g t h e news . 3 1

NOTES - CHAPTER FOUR

W e r n e r G. Kummel - I n t r o d u c t i o n t o t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t , (New ~ o r k y ) , p, 37 ,

I b i d Po 9 pp. 84-85 . T h e a u t h o r h o w e v e r o b s e r v e d t h e i s s u e a n d a r g u m e n t s n o t c o n c l u s i v e e n o u g h ,

R. T, F r a n c e , M a t t h e w . ( ~ e i c e s t e r : IVP, 1 9 8 4 1 , p. 40 .

Kummel, Loc. C i t . ,

G e r a s e n e is u s e d i n Mark. O t h e r a n c i e n t a u t h o r i t i e s r e a d G e r g e s e n e s , some G a d a r e n e s ,

T h i s a c c o u n t i n Mark t a k e n t h e f i r s t t w e n t y verses o f C h a p t e r 5 a n d i s d e s c r i b e d i n a b o u t 4 1 0 G r e e k w o r d s , a n d i s l o n g e r t h a n t h e o t h e r two a c c o u n t s . T h i s a c c o u n t i n M a t t h e w is c o n t a i n e d i n s e v e n v e r s e s i n C h a p t e r 8 a n d is d e s c r i b e d i n a b o u t 171 w o r d s . It i s s h o r t e r t h a n M a r k ' s . T h i s a c c o u n t i n L u k e i s c o n t a i n e d i n t h i r t e e n v e r s e s i n C h a p t e r 8 , a n d is d e s c r i b e d i n a b o u t 3 7 9 w o r d s . I t c o n t a i n s a s much d e t a i l s a s Mark ' s . A l l t h e h e a l i n g miracles i n t h e S y n o p t i c s a r e t a b u l a t e d i n t h e A p p e n d i x , The cases of r a i s i n g t h e d e a d b e l o n g t o a d i f f e r e n t g r o u p a n d a r e n o t i n c l u d e d .

C.E.B. C r a n f i e l d , The G o s p e l ~ c c o r d i n q to St . Mark ( C a m b r i d g e : C a r b r i g e P r e s s , l 9 6 3 ) , p. 1 7 6 .

R. M c l . W i l s o n , ' M a r k ' , P e a k e t s Commenta ry on the B i b l e , ( L o n d o n : Thomas N e l s o n , 1 9 7 5 ) , p. 8 0 4 .

F r a n c e , Loc. C i t . , p , 1 6 3 ,

C e c i l ~ a r ~ r e a v e s , The Miracles of J e s u s ; ( M e d r a s : C.L.S., 1 9 6 4 1 , p. 111,

11, N o r v a l G e l d e n h u y s , T h e G o s p e l of Luke , ( L o n d o n : M a r s h a l l Morgan & S c o t t , 1 9 7 5 ) , p. 258 .

1 2 , D u r c a n M. D e r r e t t , - JNST, V o l . 3 , ( 1 9 7 9 ) , pp. 3-14.

C r a n f i e l d , Loc. C i t. , p. , 9 6 .

R. ~ c l . W i l s o n . Loc . C i t . , p. 801 .

C r a n f i e l d , LOC. C i t . , p. 97 .

F r a n c e , Loc . C i t . , p. 1.

D. E. N i n e h a m , S t . Mark , ( L o n d o n : P e n g u i n , 1 9 6 4 1 , pp. 3 4 a n d 9 2 . .

G e l d e n h u y s , Loc. C i t. , pp. 187-188.

L. G o p p e l t , T h e o l o g y o f t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t , ( G r a n d R a p i d s , E e r d m a n s ) , pp. 131-134.

G o p p e l t , I b i d . , p, 1 3 2 .

W. L. L a n e , The G o s p e l o f Mark , ( G r a n d R a p i d s : E e r d m a n s , l 9 7 8 ) , pp. 94-96.

I n h i s a n n o u n c e m e n t a n d g r a n t i n g of r e m i s s i o n of s i n s , J e s u s i n d i c a t e s w h a t m a n ' s e s s e n t i a l d i s t r e s s is. T h i s d o e s n o t c o n s i s t i n h i s t r a n s i e n t l o t i n l i f e , w i t h i t s many v i c i s s i t u d e s , b u t i n h i s a l i e n a t i o n f r o m t h e l i v i n g God, i n h i s l i f e i n s i n a n d g u i l t . I t i s f r o m t h i s t h a t man m u s t be r e d e e m e d , a n d i t i s from t h i s t h a t Jesus d o e s i n f a c t r e d e e m him.

C r a n f i e l d , Loc. C i t . , p. 344.

L a n e , Loc. C i t . , p. 3 8 5 ,

M.A.H. M e l i n s k y , H e a l i n q Miracles, ondo don : Mowbrays , 1 9 6 8 ) , p. 1 3 6 . ,

J. C. ento ton, S t . M a t t h e w , ( L o n d o n : P e n g u i n , 1 9 6 4 1 , p. 326 .

G e l d e n h u y s , Loc. C i t . , p. 467 .

C. E. Graham S w i f t , ' M a r k ' , New B i b l e C o m m e n t a r x ( L o n d o n : IVP, 1 9 6 7 1 , p. 8 7 4 .

L a n e , Loc. C i t . , pp. 387-389.

SO,

See a l s o Mess ianic pa s sages such a s I s a i a h 1l:lff; Je remiah 23:Sf. Lanes c i tes 4 Q P a t r i a c h a l b l e s s i n g s 1: 3-4.

30, I b i d , , p, 388

31, Melinsky, Loc, C i t e , p. 137.

CHAPTER FIVE

HEALING AND FORGIVENESS

I n many cases of i l l n e s s , i t i s f o u n d t h a t t h e

s e n s e of s i n a n d g u i l t p l a y a l a r g e p a r t . Take t h e case

of a man s u f f e r i n g from a n i l l n e s s w h i c h made him t o be

bed r i d d e n for y e a r s . ~t t h e bed s ide w a s a c l e r g y man

w i t h w o r d s of comfort from t h e H o l y b ib l e , m a k i n g him, t o

r e a l i z e God's l o v e f o r him e v e n i n h i s c o n d i t i o n . I n

r e p l y , t h e man s a i d , "1 j u s t p r a y t h a t God f o r g i v e s my 1

s i n s a n d h e a l s m e or l e t m e d i e i n peace.!!

The h i s t o r y of p r i m i t i v e r e l i g i o n r e v e a l s t h a t

e v e n a t o u r own t i m e , t h e human m i n d r e a l i z e s t h a t some-

how, s o m e w h e r e a n d a t s o m e t i m e , s i c k n e s s m e a n s conge-

q u e n c e , a n d p e r h a p s p e n a l t y a s w e l l , f o r b r e a k i n g some

taboo or l a w O 2 When a man feels g u i l t y , o n e effect c o u l d

be t o t r y t o p u t t h i n g s r i g h t . And o n e way of d o i n g t h i s

i s s e e k i n g f o r g i v e n e s s a n d r e c e i v i n g h e a l i n g . On t h i s

t h e m e , t h e l a t e B i s h o p S t e p h e n N e i l 1 s a i d ,

T h e . l i f e of man c a n d e v e l o p f u l l y o n l y t h r o u g h t h e h a r m o n i o u s e v o l u t i o n of a f o u r f o l d r e l a k i o n s h i p t o t h e g o o d e a r t h b e n e a t h h i s fe,et , h i s p h y s i c a l e n v i r o n m e n t ; t o o t h e r men , t o h i s l i v i n g a n d human e n v i r o n m e n t ; to h i m s e l f , t h r o u g h a r i g h t o r d e r i n g of h i s own i n n e r a n d c o m p l e x e x i s t e n c e ; t o God, t h e s o u r c e of a l l h i s b e i n g . O n c e t h e l a s t i s i m p a i r e d (i .e. r e l a t i o n s h i p t o God) a l l t h e o t h e r s g o wrong .3

52.

I f s i n i s u n d e r s t o o d as t u r n i n g away from G o d , i t is

o n l y o b v i o u s t h a t t h i s s t a t e w o u l d c a u s e i l l n e s s .

( i ) R e l a t i o n s h i p B e t w e e n S i c k n e s s a n d S i n

Some o b s e r v a t i o n s h a v e b e e n made r e g a r d i n g a

p o s s i b l e d i r e c t c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n s i c k n e s s a n d s i n . As

we h a v e s e e n ea r l ie r , i n t h e s t o r y of t h e p a r a l y t i c ,

J e s u s s a i d t o h i m , 'My S o n , y o u r s i n s a re f o r g i v e n . '

(Mark 2:5) . N o t h i n g i s s a id t o t h e affected p a r t .

Wha t c u r e d him w a s f o r g i v e n e s s of s i n s . May be J e s u s

k n e w some s i n w h i c h t h e man c o m m i t t e d i n some y e a r s p a s t

w h i c h b r o u g h t g u i l t a n d t h e c o n s e q u e n t i l l n e s s . T h i s is

t h e o n l y p o s s i b l e way of u n d e r s t a n d i n g p r o n o u n c i n g

f o r g i v e n e s s t o a p a r a l y s e d man a n d g e t t i n g him c u r e d .

When l o o k i n g a t t h e m e t h o d s u s e d by J e s u s i n h i s

h e a l i n g m i n i s t r y , N l e a n y a Onwu, i n a n a r t i c l e n o t e d t h u s ,

' ' in t h e h e a l i n g of t h e p a r a l y t i c , i t is e v i d e n t t h a t h e a l i n g is c o n d i t i o n e d by t h e f o r g i v e n e s s of God a n d i s o f t e n t h e 4 d e m o n s t r a t i o n of t h a t f o r g i v e n e s s . l1

T h e r e i s a s t o r y of a man who e v e r y J u n e s u f f e r e d

p a i n f u l s k i n r a s h w h i c h i n c a p a c i t a t e d him f o r w e e k s .

On i n t e r v i e w , i t w a s f o u n d t h a t o n e J u n e , y e a r s before,

h e s e d u c e d a g i r l a n d b o t h had k e p t i t secret, T h e y

d r i f t e d a p a r t w i t h n o c o n s e q u e n c e s e x c e p t t h a t e v e r y

J u n e t h i s s k i n r a s h w o u l d a p p e a r . O n l y when t h e man s a w

t h e c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n g u i l t a n d r a s h a n d a c c e p t e d

f o r g i v e n e s s of G o d , d i d h e r e c e i v e h i s h e a l i n g w i t h

p e a c e f u l m o n t h s of J u n e . 5

K e l s e y a r g u e s t h a t a l t h o u g h some i l l n e s s is c a u s e d

b y s i n , J e s u s d i d n o t h a v e a n y i l l u s i o n t h a t t h e r e f o r e

i t a l l o r i g i n a t e s i n s i n , Nor d i d he h o l d t h a t o n c e , a

man had s t e p p e d o f f t h e way a n d w a s s u f f e r i n g f o r i t ,

h e o u g h t t o be made t o e n d u r e t h e f u l l b u r d e n of h i s

b m i s t a k e s . K e l s e y g o e s o n t o t r a c e t h e D e u t e r o n o m i c ,

J u d a i s t i c , a n d t h e H e l l e n i s t i c u n d e r s t a n d i n g of s i c k n e s s

as a p u n i s h m e n t from God, a n d a r g u e s t h a t i t had

7 , ' p a g a n i c ' o r i g i n , H e m a i n t a i n s t h a t J e s u s d i d n o t f a l l

i n t o t h i s errbr of a l l s i c k n e s s b e i n g . a s a r e s u l t of s i n ,

as L u k e 13: 2-5 a n d J o h n 9 : 3 t e s t i f y , R a t h e r J e s u s

seemed t o b e l i e v e t h a t a p r i m a r y c a u s e of s i c k n e s s w a s a

force of e v i l loose i n t h e world w h i c h was h o s t i l e to

God a n d h i s way. H e b e l i e v e d t h a t men were sometimes i n

t h e h a n d s of t h i s p o w e r , so t h a t i t e x e r t e d a b a r e f u l

i n f l u e n c e i n t h e i r l i v e s , You may c a l l t h i s force s a t a n ,

t h e d e v i l , e v i 1 s p i r i t s , d e m o n s , a u t o n o m o u s c o m p l e x e s ,

a c c o r d i n g t o p s ~ c h o l o g i s t s a n d p s y c h o a l a y i s ts , or c a l l i t

w h a t y o u w i l l ; i t s e x a c t s o u r c e w a s n e v e r f u l l y a c c o u n t e d

for . 8

T h i s b e i n g t r u e a s i t may , we may now a p p r e c i a t e

t h e c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e s e n s e of g u i l t a n d s i n , a n d

s i c k n e s s . On t h i s s u b j e c t , W e a t h e r h e a d s a y s ,

E v e r y o n e who h a s t a l k e d w i t h p e o p l e i n t r o u b l e realises some t h i n g of t h e i m m e n s e a n d p a r a l y s i n g p o w e r w h i c h g u i l t c a n h a v e . ~t f r e q u e n t l y a c c o u n t s f o r c o m p l e t e b r e a k - down i n h e a l t h . It d r i v e s c r i m i n a l s w h o s e crimes c o u l d n o t p o s s i b l y be d i s c o v e r e d t o g i v e t h e m s e l v e s up . It h a s f r e q u e n t l y d r i v e n men t o s u i c i d e . 9

A s much a s i t i s n o t t r u e t o s a y t h a t e v e r y i l l n e s s is

a s a r e s u l t of s i n , some d e f i n i t e l y r e s u l t from s i n a n d

g u i l t , a n d f o r g i v e n e s s i s t h e c u r e .

(ii) R e l a t i o n s h i p B e t w e e n F o r q i v e n e s s of S i n a n d W h o l e n e s s '

I n t h i s s e c t i o n we come t o t h e v e r y h e a r t ' o f t h e

q u e s t i o n o n h e a l i n g a n d w h o l e n e s s . T h e f o r g i v e n e s s of

God i s a l l we n e e d f o r p e a c e a n d w h o l e n e s s . When o n e

l i v e s a l i f e of a s s u r a n c e of t h e f o r g i v e n e s s of God, t h e

o n e l i v e s a b a l a n c e d a n d h a r m o n i o u s l i f e . Many p a s s a g e s

s p e a k of God's f o r g i v e n e s s , ' S i n w i l l be remembered n o

more1 eremi mi ah 31:34). ' S i n i s r e m o v e d from t h e

s i n n e r a s f a r a s t h e Eas t i s from t h e Westt ( P s a l m

D u r i n g t h e e a r t h l y m i n i s t r y of J e s u s , h e f r e e l y

f o r g a v e men. a n d women t h e i r s i n s i n order to restore

t h e m t o p e r f e c t h e a l t h , T h e s t o r y of t h e woman w i t h

t h e i s s u e of b l o o d i n Mark 5:25 a n d p a r a l l e l s i n M a t t h e w

a n d L u k e , s u g g e s t t h a t w i t h t h e t o u c h of f a i t h , s h e

r e c e i v e d p h y s i c a l h e a l i n g from h e r i n f i r m i t y , B u t when

J e s u s s p o k e t o h e r t o g o i n p e a c e , h e r c o m p l e t e h e a l i n g

t o o k p l a c e . G, E. O k e k e i n a l e c t u r e s a i d ,

I f a s i n n e r , r e a l i z e s h i s s i n , r e p e n t s a n d c o n f e s s e s i t , a n d is f o r g i v e n b y God ( C h r i s t ) t h e o n e i s n o t j u s t f o r g i v e n b u t a l s o restored t o h e a l t h , a n d t h i s is w h o l e n e s s . 1 0

M o r t o n K e l s e y p u t s i t t h u s ,

H e a l t h of mind a n d b o d y a n d C h r i s t i a n i t y c a n n o t be s e p a r a t e d . , It may be p o s s i b l e t o s e p a r a t e h e a l t h a n d m i n d a n d b o d y o u t from o t h e r r e l i g i o n s , b u t n o t f r o m C h r i s t i a n i t y ; t h e y are i n a c o r p o r a t e r e l a t i o n s h i p . W h e t h e r God w a n t s p e r f e c t h e a l t h f o r a l l men a t a l l times o n e c a n n o t be s u r e b u t i t is c e r t a i n t h a t h e w a n t s w h o l e n e s s , s a l v a t i o n f o r e a c h i n d i v i d u a l . God s e n t C h r i s t i n t o t h e world i n o rde r t o g i v e men a bet ter c h a n c e t o w h o l e n e s s , a t l i f e w i t h a c a p i t a l ~ .11

On t h e s a m e s u b j e c t , W e a t h e r h e a d writes:

I f t h i s g r e a t i d e a o f f o r g i v e n e s s i s r e a l l y r e c e i v e d by t h e m i n d , n o t o n l y b y t h e i n t e l l e c t , b u t b y t h e e m o t i o n a s w e l l , t h e n a i t i s l i k e t h e dawn b r e a k i n g a f t e r a l o n g n i g h t b l a c k t o r t u r e , a n d I h a v e

f r e q u e n t l y known s e v e r e p h y s i c a l i l l n e s s c lear u p s p e e d i l y when i t h a s b e e n g r a s e d a n d a c c e p t e d b y t h e w h o l e p e r s o n a l i t y , 1:

T h e r e may be t h e n e e d h e r e t o a t t e m p t a t h e o l o g y of

f o r g i v e n e s s . P o p u l a r v i e w of f o r g i v e n e s s i s t h a t e v e r y -

t h i n g i s p a s t , s i n , damage a n d c o n s e q u e n c e .

P r o p e r c o n c e p t i o n o f G o d t s f o r g i v e n e s s i s n o t

c a n c e l l i n g t h e e f f e c t s of s i n b u t t h e r e s t o r a t i o n of a

b r o k e n r e l a t i o n s h i p . S i n h a s t w o p a r t s t o i t - p e n a l t y

a n d c o n s e q u e n c e . P e n a l t y of s i n i s s e p a r a t i o n from G o d

a n d o r p r o g r e s s i v e d e t e r i a t i o n o f c h a r a c t e r . So when God

f o r g i v e s , i t means t h e e n d i n g of p e n a l t y , a n d a p o s s i b i -

l i t y o f new r e l a t i o n s h i p . I n o t h e r w o r d s , w e are for-

g i v e n , l e t g o , c o v e r e d u p , s i n n o t r emembered a n d s u c h

l i k e d e s c r i p t i o n s .

But t h e c o n s e q u e n c e of s i n c o m m i t t e d i s n o t t a k e n

care of by f o r g i v e n e s s . S i n h a s set i n m o t i o n c e r t a i n

effects w h i c h m u s t t a k e p l a c e , i n t h i s w o r l d o f l a w of

c a u s e a n d e f f e c t .

C o n t r a c t i n g v e n e r a l d i s e a s e may be t h e c o n s e q u e n c e

of c o m m i t t i n g a d u l t e r y o r f o r n i c a t i o n , b u t may n o t

n e c e s s a r i l y be t h e p e n a l t y f o r t h e s i n . What if t h e

d i s e a s e i s c u r e d , d o e s t h a t t h e n s u g g e s t t h a t t h e o n e

h a s e v a d e d God p e n a l t y ? O r i f on a c c o u n t s of a v a i l -

a b i l i t y of d r u g s , t h e d n e d o e s n o t c a t c h t h e d i s e a s e ,

s u r e l y o n e c a n n o t s a y t h a t t h e p e n a l t y i s removed. What

w e m i g h t s a y i s t h a t b o d i l y c o n s e q u e n c e s a r e e v a d e d , b u t

w h a t a b o u t m o r a l d e g e n e r a t i o n a n d e t h i c a l chaos i n t h e

p e r s o n 1s l i f e ?

Moral d e g e n e r a t i o n a n d e t h i c a l c h a o s i n o n e ' s l i f e

i s a s u r e s i g n of s e p a r a t i o n from God, a n d t h i s i s

p e n a l t y fo r s i n , I t i s d a n g e r o u s t o r e m a i n u n c o n s c i o u s

of t h e p e n a l t y of s i n & . c a u s e o n e c a n evade t h e c o n s e -

q u e n c e s f o r t h e u l t i m a t e a n d may be w h a t t h e b ib l e

described as ' e t e r n a l d a m n a t i o n , 1

What t h e t h e s i s is s a y i n g h e r e i s t h a t f o r g i v e n e s s

b r i n g s a b o u t a r e l a t i o n s h i p w h i c h s i n h a s b r o k e n . What-

eve r t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s may h a v e b e e n b o r n e , t h e r e l a t i o n -

s h i p i s a s t r u e a s i t w a s before s i n . b r o k e i t , p u t

m a t h e m a t i c a l l y : F = R + C - P

Where : F - F o r g i v e n e s s ; R - R e l a t i o n s h i p

C = C o n s e q u e n c e d u e t o s i n ;

P = P e n a l t y of s i n , 13

We w i l l do w e l l t o s e p a r a t e i n o u r m i n d s t h e d i f f e r e n c e

b e t w e e n c o n s e q u e n c e d u e t o s i n , a n d p e n a l t y f o r c o m m i t t i n g -

: .. s i n . T h e n e x t t h i n g we o u g h t to c o n s i d e r i s t h a t i t i s

e s s e n t i a l f o r t h e f o r g i v e n s i n n e r t o be t r e a t ed i n s u c h

a way a s t o s e t him t o s o m e , t a s k s w i t h a view t o

r e s t o r i n g him, I n h i s b o o k , H, A, L a n b o u r n e asserts:

To be made w h o l e i s t h e r e f o r e t o be j o i n e d t o a g r o u p c h o s e n t o a c c o m p l i s h a p a r t i c u l a r * t a s k f o r ~ o d . 1 4

The h e a l e d becomes b y t h e v e r y a c t of h e a l i n g , p a r t

of t h e h e a l i n g c o m m u n i t y . I t i s t h e e x p e r i e n c e of c o m i n g

i n t o w h o l e n e s s t h a t e n a b l e s t hem to i d e n t i f y w i t h t h e

s i c k , t h e s u f f e r i n g , a n d t h e a b a n d o n e d , a n d g o to be u s e d

58.

a s a n i n s t r u m e n t of t h e d i v i n e w i l l f o r f o r g i v e n e s s a n d

w h o l e n e s s .

One of t h e most p u z z l i n g s t a t e m e n t s of J e s u s , f o u n d

i n M a t t h e w 5:48,

y o u m u s t be p e r f e c t a s y o u r h e a v e n l y F a t h e r i s p e r f e c t ,

w a s made w i t h i n t h e c o n t e x t o f f o r g i v e n e s s , t o l e r a n c e

f o r b e a r a n c e , l o v e a n d h a r m o n i o u s l i v i n g . It c a n be

i n f e r r e d from t h i s t h a t J e s u s dec lared t h e i n t e n t i o n of

H i s F a t h e r . God d o e s n o t i n q u i r e w h e t h e r a man was

g o o d or bad, r e p e n t e d o r r e f o r m i n g before h e a l i n g him.

H e l o v e d them a s t h e y w e r e a n d w a n t e d t o h e l p them o u t

of t h e i r m i s e r y . F o r men to be a t p e a c e w i t h o n e a n o t h e r ,

t o l i v e a l i f e .of f o r g i v e n e s s , a n d s o b e c o m e p e r f e c t ,

w h i c h i s b e i n g w h o l e , t h e y o u g h t t o im i t a t e God's way of

l o o k i n g a t a s i n n e r f o r w h a t o r whom h e w i l l become

r a t h e r w h a t o r who h e i s a t p r e s e n t , T h i s c a l l s f o r

f a i t h a n d t r u s t i n t h e a l m i g h t y p o w e r of God who f o r -

g i v e s a n d ' r e - m a k e s ' a s i n n e r t o become a S a i n t . To

t h e r o l e of f d i t h i n h e a l i n g , I s h a l l now t u r n .

NOTES - CHAPTER FIVE

1, T h i s is a t r u e s t o r y o f a man whom t h e writer i n c o u r s e of h i s P a s t o r a l v i s i t s to t h e s i c k a n d s u f f e r i n g i n h i s P a r i s h e n c o u n t e r e d . A p r a y e r o f f o r g i v e n e s s was o f f e r e d a n d h e r e c o v e r e d a f e w w e e k s l a t e r .

2 , W e a t h e r h e a d , Loc. C i t , , pp. 320-331,

3. S t e p h e n N e i l l , B i b l e Words a n d C h r i s t i a n M e a n i n q s ? (London : SPCK, 1 9 7 0 ) , pp. 3-6.

4. O n w , N , mMiracl .~s, Mec i i c ine m d h e a l i n g : A ,-I-- , ~ , e o i o ~ i c a l P e r s p e c t i v e H , TCNN ~ e s e a r c h B u l l e t i n ( B u k u r u : N i g e r i a , 1 9 8 8 ) . F o r t h c o m i n g .

W e a t h e r h e a d , Loc. C i t , ,

6. K e l s e y , H e a l i n g a n d C h r i s t i a n i t y . Loc. C i t . pp, 94-96.

7, ' P a g a n ' - t h e word is u s e d h e r e to mean o n e who k e e p s t o t h e r e l i g i o n o f h i s a n c e s t o r s .

K e l s e y , Loc. C i t . , p . , 9 5 .

W e a t h e r h e a d , Loc. C i t . ,

10. G. E. Okeke i n a l e c t u r e i n 1 9 8 8 made t h i s s t a t e r n e n t a n d I h e a r d him. Okeke is a S e n i o r L e c t u r e r i n t h e D e p a r t m e n t of R e l i g i o n , U n i v e r s i t y of N i g e r i a , Nsukka.

K e l s e y , Loc. C i t . ,

Weat h e r h e a d , Loc. C i t . ,

13. I am i n d e b t e d t o W e a t h e r h e a d , I b i d pp. 339-347 i n -9

t h i s s e c t i o n o f t h e work. The m a t h e m a t i c a l a n a l o g y ' i s m i n e a n d may n o t b e p r e s s e d too f a r , i f n o t , i t b r e a k s down a t a p o i n t j u s t a s a n a l o g i e s d o .

1 4 . R. A. Lambourne , Community, C h u r c h a n d H e a l i n q . ondo don: DLT, 1 9 6 3 ) , pp. 103-107,

CHAPTER S I X

HEALING AND FAITH

The u s e of t h e w o r d , ' F a i t h - h e a l i n g I , s u g g e s t s a l l

h e a l i n g t h a t d o e s n o t i n v o l v e p h y s i c a l m e a n s t o a c h i e v i n g

h e a l t h . T h e r e i s n o d o u b t a b o u t t h e f a c t of h e a l i n g

t h r o u g h f a i t h . J e s u s of N a z a r e t h stressed t h e n e e d of

f a i t h i n b o t h , t e a c h i n g a n d h e a l i n g m i n i s t r y , I s h a l l

l o o k a t f a i t h , i n r e l a t i o n t o h e a l i n g , B u t f i r s t , l e t

m e t r y t o e x p l a i n w h a t f a i t h m e a n s ; f o r i t i s a w o r d t h a t

i s w i d e l y u s e d a n d g r o s s l y m i s u n d e r s t o o d ,

F a i t h f o r some i s e n s h r i n e d i n C r e e d a n d w r i t t e n

p r a y e r s p r e s e r v e d b y t h e C h u r c h a s a n i n s t i t u t i o n over

t h e y e a r s . T h i s m a k e s i t d i f f i c u l t f o r s u c h p e o p l e t o

be o p e n t o r e a s o n . A g a i n , some are e v e n a f r a i d t o u s e

t h e i r r e a s o n , b e c a u s e f a i t h i s n o t a n i n t e l l e c t u a l

e x e r c i s e . F a i t h i s s o m e t h i n g o n e h a s t o f i g h t f o r ,

i n c r e a s e i t , or d e c r e a s e i t , T h r e e f ac to r s of m i n d ,

e m o t i o n a n d t h e w i l l a re i n v o l v e d i n f a i t h , A s a k i n d

of d e f i n i t i o n , W e a t h e r h e a d s a i d ,

C h r i s t i a n f a i t h i s t h e r e s p o n s e of t h e w h o l e man, t h i n k i n g , f e e l i n g a n d w i l l i n g , t o t h e i m p a c t of God i n C h r i s t , b y w h i c h man comes i n t o a c o n s c i o u s , p e r s o n a 1 r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h God.1

So f a i t h w i l l be S e e n i n a p e r s o n a l i t y i n whom

t h i n k i n g h a s p e n e t r a t e d as f a r a s i t c a n , f e e l i n g ,

p a r t i c u l a r l y l o v i n g , h a s become a h a b i t , a n d a c t i o n i s

as o b v i o u s a n d d y n a m i c a s t h e w i l l c a n t a k e i n a n d

c o n t a i n . O n l y when t h e t h r e e a r e f u l l y o p e r a t i o n a l i n a

p e r s o n , c a n we refer t o a p e r s o n a s a man/woman of f a i t h .

I n a n a r t i c l e o n H e a l i n g , R. K. H a r r i s o n a r g u e s t h a t

t h e r e a r e g o o d r e a s o n s f o r b e l i e v i n g t h a t i n t h e h e a l i n g

a c t i v i t y of J e s u s , h e was l a b o u r i n g to ra ise t h e s u f f e r e r s

l e v e l of s p i r i t u a l i t y a s w e l l a s t a k i n g care of t h e n e e d

of t h e b o d y a n d s o u l , E n t r a n c e t o t h i s realm of t h e

s p i r i t p r e s u p p o s e d t h e o p e r a t i o n of d i v i n e l o v e o n t h e

o n e h a n d , a n d o n t h e o t h e r d e g r e e of f a i t h m a n i f e s t e d

w i t h him. H a r r i s o n d e c l a r e s :

T h o u g h t h e d e g r e e of p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n f a i t h v a r i e d w i t h d i f f e r e n t i n d i v i d u a l s , t h e Gospel n a r r a t i v e s make i t c lear t h a t some m e a s u r e of f a i t h w a s n o r m a l l y e v o k e d b y J e s u s a s a c o n d i t i o n of h e a l i n g . 2

t

!nYe h e a l i n g of t h e woman w i t h t h e i s s u e of blood, i t w a s t h e

f a i t h i n h e r t h a t Jes .us r e c o g n i z e d a n d c o n f i r m e d t o

become h e a l i n g a n d w h o l e n e s s t o h e r . On t h i s N l e a n y a

Onwu s a y s ,

I t w a s t h e g r 3 s p of h e r f a i t h r a t h e r t h a n t h e t o u c h t h a t had s e c u r e d t h e h e a l i n g s h e s o u g h t . From t h e p e r s p e c t i v e of Mark

a n d L u k e , t h e e n t i r e i n c i d e n t i s a c a l l fo r r a d i c a l faith,?^

(b) F a i t h o f I n t e r e s t e d R e l a t i v e s :

I n t h e h e a l i n g of t h e b o y w i t h a dumb s p i r i t , Mark

9 : 1 4 - 2 9 , i t w a s t h e f a i t h of t h e f a t h e r w h i c h J e s u s

e v o k e d , as s e e n i n t h e man ls r e s p o n s e , '1 b e l i e v e , h e l p

my u n b e l i e f *. A s i m i l a r i n c i d e n t h a p p e n e d i n t h e h e a l i n g

o f t h e c e n t u r i o n ls s e r v a n t i n M a t t h e w 8: 5-13. J e s u s

r e c o g n i z e d t h e f a i t h of t h e c e n t u r i o n . A g a i n t h e f a i t h

of t h e f r i e n d s who b r o u g h t t h c p a r a l y t i c d e t e r m i n e d h i s

h e a l i n g i n Mark 2 : 3-11. I n s eve r a l i n s t a n c e s , t h e f a i t h

o f a t h i r d p e r s o n o r p a r t y was a n i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r f o r

h e a l i n g . I t n e e d s t o be s t r e s s e d t h a t t h i s f a i t h i s f a i t h

i n a p e r s o n . I t i s a r e s p o n s e t o God i n C h r i s t , shown b y

t h e r e l a t i v e s .

It i s i m p o r t a n t t o n o t e h e r e t h a t o n e c a n be h e a l e d

w i t h o u t f a i t h i n C h r i s t ; a n d t h e s i c k c a n h a v e f a i t h i n

C h r i s t w i t h o u t b e i n g . h e a l e d .

I f a f t e r p r a y e r s , a p e r s o n i s h e a l e d o r n o t h e a l e d ,

i t d o e s n o t t h r o w much l i g h t o n t h e q u a l i t y of t h e

p e r s o n ls f a i t h . T h a t 'is t o s a y t h a t f a i t h i s n o t

n e c e s s a r i l y p r o v e d t h r o u g h h e a l i n g or d e n i e d b y t h e

c o n t i n u e d p r e s e n c e o f t h e d i s e a s e .

On t h i s t h e m e , James H i c k s o n w r i t e s :

t h o s e who c a m e w e r e e n c o u r a g e d t o h a v e f a i t h i n t h e p o w e r of C h r i s t t o f u l f i l His p u r p o s e s i n them. It m i g h t n o t be C h r i s t ' s p u r p o s e t o h e a l t h e m a t a l l , b u t we w o u l d g i v e t h e m p e a c e of m i n d , o r p o w e r t o w i t n e s s i n s p i t e of d i s a b i l i t y . 4

T h e f r i e n d s of t h e p a r a l y t i c i n Mark 2 : 3-11, h a d

l o v e f o r t h e i r p a r a l y z e d f r i e n d a n d b r o u g h t him t o J e s u s .

T h i s p r e s e n t s a p i c t u r e of a g r o u p w i t h a warm e x p e r i e n c e

a n d k n o w l e d g e of God i n t h e i r h e a r t s . T h e y h a d t h e

c a p a c i t y a n d w i l l i n g n e s s t o t a k e t h e i r s i c k f r i e n d t o

C h r i s t . S o a l s o t h e f a t h e r o f t h e dumb b o y , a n d t h e

c e n t u r i o n . F a i t h i n love a n d w i t h a c t i o n a t t racted t h e

a t t e n t i o n o f C h r i s t a n d g a i n e d t h e r e q u i r e d h e a l i n g .

( c ) F a i t h o f t h e H e a l e r

It i s o b s e r v e d t h a t c e r t a i n h e a l i n g s t o o k p l a c e

w i t h o u t s p e c i f i c m e n t i o n of f a i t h b e i n g p r e s e n t i n t h e

s i c k a t a l l . T h e p a r a l y t i c c i ted a b o v e i s a c lear

e x a m p l e . I n M a t t h e w 9: 1-3, J e s u s s a w t h e f a i t h , not

of t h e p a r a l y t i c , b u t of t h o s e who b r o u g h t him. B u t i n

t h e h e a l i n g of t h e man w i t h w i t h e r e d h a n d , J e s u s g a v e a

word of comm-and a f t e r a l i t t l e a r g u m e n t w i t h t h e s y n a g o g u e

a u t h o r i t i e s , a n d t h e m a n ' s hand became w e l l . N o m e n t i o n

of f a i t h o f t h e s i c k , h e r e , a n d so o b v i o u s l y , J e s u s h a d

f a i t h i n h i m s e l f a n d s o w e n t o n t o o f f e r t h a t h e a l i n g .

I n L u k e 1 3 : 1 0 - 1 3 , J e s u s h e a l e d a woman who h a d

b e e n i ll w i t h b e n t b a c k fo r o v e r 18 y e a r s w i t h a word of

command a n d a t o u c h . T h e r e i s n o m e n t i o n of f a i t h i n t h e

woman, and s o o n e c o u l d c o n c l u d e t h a t J e s u s had f a i t h i n

h i m s e l f w h i c h was a b l e t o l i f t t h e woman 's b u r d e n .

A l s o i n Luke 14~4, t h e h e a l i n g o f a man w i t h d r o p s y ;

i n Luke 22 :5 , i n t h e h e a l i n g of t h e e a r of a High Priest ' s

s e r v a n t , a l l t h e s e had n o m e n t i o n of f a i t h .

One c o u l d a r g u e of c o u r s e t h a t b e c a u s e of t h e

c i r c u m s t a n c e s u r r o u n d i n g these p a r t i c u l a r h e a l i n g s , t h e

d e t a i l s a b o u t f a i t h o f t h e s i c k was a s s u m e d . B u t t h e

p r o b l e m h e r e is t h a t of w h e t h e r we a c c e p t t h a t t h e

a u t h o r i t y of J e s u s C h r i s t a n d i n d e e d God, i s d e p e n d e n t

upon m a n ' s f a i t h .

I n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n , f a i t h g o e s w i t h a u t h o r i t y .

J e s u s a d d r e s s i n q t h e S c r i b e s i n Mark 2 : 1 9 s a i d ,

t h a t you may know t h a t t h e Son of Man h a s a u t h o r i t y . .. h e s a i d t o t h e p a r a l y t i c . . . r i se ...go home!

The q u e s t t o n i n g i n t h e h e a r t of t h e S c r i b e s w a s e n o u g h t o

d a u n t J e s u s ! s p i r i t or e v e n r e d u c e H i s own f a i t h t o h e a l

t h e man.

A s a m a t t e r of f a c t , t h e s i t u a t i o n w a s s u c h t h a t

J e s u s s a w t h e f a i t h o f t h e f r i e n d s o f t h e p a r a l y t i c ,

a n d s a w a l s o t h e d o u b t s of t h e S c r i b e s ; a n d t h e c rowd

was on a d i f f e r e n t s i d e n o t k n o w i n g w h a t was g o i n g t o

h a p p e n b u t n e v e r t h e l e s s , w a t c h e d w i t h e x p e c t a t i o n . U n d e r

s u c h a s i t u a t i o n , o n e would n a v e e x p e c t e d t h e f a i t h of

J e s u s t o be d a u n t e d , b u t h i s f a i t h w a s n o t a f f e c t e d ,

H e commanded, a n d i t w a s d o n e . H e h a d s o much f a i t h i n

H i m s e l f t h a t i t d i d n o t m a t t e r much i f t h e p a r a l y t i c

and i n d e e d a n y s i c k p e r s o n h a d a n y or n o n e ,

( d l F a s t i n g - P r a y e r a n d F a i t h :

I n Mark 9: 14-29/Mat thew 1 7 : 14-21 , m e n t i o n i s made

of p r a y e r and f a s t i n g i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h h e a l i n g , T h e r e

are t e x t u a l v a r i a t i o n s i n t h e t e x t . Mark 9 : 2 9 h a s

p r a y e r , ?/Ljo/e 7,y(i i n some m a n u s c r i p t s , b u t p r a y e r \ 1

and f a s t i n g JK,x~ $ 7 y i n o t h e r s , a n d t h i s may h a v e I I

b e e n a n a d d i t i o n , B u t i n M a t t h e w 1 7 : 2 1 , t h e e n t i r e

v e r s e 2 1 i s o m i t t e d i n some m a n u s c r i p t s , w h i l e o t h e r s h a d

p r a y e r a l o n e , some o t h e r s h a d p r a y e r and f a s t i n g . Some

s c h o l a r s , f o r e x a m p l e , C. N. odd' s u g g e s t t h a t t h e

e a r l y C h u r c h ' s e m p h a s i s on t h e e f f i c a c y o f f a s t i h l g may

h a v e a f f e c t e d t h e t e x t s i n q u e s t i o n , r a t h e r t h a n J e s u s '

6 o r i g i n a l s a y i n g . T h e r e a r e n o t many s a y i n g s a b o u t

f a s k i n g i n t h e s y n o p t i c s . I n Mark 2: 18-22, J e s u s

s u p p o r t e d t h e i d e a of d i s c i p l e s n o t e n g a g i n g i n f a s t i n g

w h i l e h e w a s w i t h . them, H e t o o k t h e l i n e o f t h e p r o p h e t s

s u c h as I s a i a h who c a l l e d f o r a r i g h t a t t i t u d e t o

f a s t i n g r a t h e r t h a n as a r e l i g i o u s f o r m a l i t y . Compare

I s a i a h 58: 1-12 w i t h M a t t h e w 6 : 1-18 w h e r e J e s u s i s

g i v i n g i n s t r u c t i o n a b o u t f a s t i n g a n d p r a y e r .

M e n t i o n s h o u l d be made of t h e e m p h a s i s o n f a s t i n g

and p r a y e r by t h e Desert f a t h e r s . I t w a s i n t h i s

m o n a s t i c l i f e t h a t p r a y e r - f a s t i n g , w i t h g r e a t e r i n t e n s i t y

of self d i s c i p l i n e a n d i n n e r l i f e r e s u l t e d i n many

h e a l i n g m i r a c l e s i n t h e s e c o n d and t h i r d c e n t u r i e s of

7 t h e C h r i s t i a n e r a . I t i s t r u e from t h e e v i d e n c e a n d

f i n d i n g s t h a t s u b j e c t i n g p e o p l e t o f a s t i n g and p r a y e r

u s u a l l y s e r v e s a s a n a i d t o t h e i r f a i t h a n d r e s u l t s i n

h e a l i n g a n d e x o r c i s m , A r t h u r W a l l i s s a y s ,

F a s t i n g h a s a way o f d e t a c h i n g u s from t h e w o r l d of t h e m a t e r i a l , s o t h a t o u r t h i n k i n g becomes f o c u s e d on God, When t h i s h a p p e n s , a release of f a i t h r e s u l t s . 8

A s t o r y i s t o l d cf P a s t o r H s i i n C h i n a whc h a d a

g i f t of h e a l i n g . Many p e o p l e were h e a l e d t h r o u g h t h e

l a y i n g on of h a n d s . ' S u d d e n l y t h e w i f e became demon-

p o s s e s s e d a n d s u f f e r e d t e r r i b l y . The v i l l a g e r s b e l i e v e d

t h a t h e r b y e v i l s p i r i t s was a j u d g e m e n t upotl

H s i f o r h i s s i n a g a i n s . t t h e g o d s , They h a d b e e n w a r n i n g

h im t o s t o p p r e a c h i n g C h r i s t a n d t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of

' h o l y p l a c e s 1 . B u t H s i w a s a man of p r a y e r w i t h f a s t i n g ,

and f u l l of f a i t h ,

H e c a l l e d f o r a t h r e e d a y a n d n i g h t f a s t i n h i s h o u s e -

h o l d , a n d g a v e h i m s e l f t o p r a y e r . Weak i n b o d y , b u t

s t r o n g i n f a i t h , h e l a i d h o l d on t h e p r o m i s e s of God,

a n d c l a i m e d c o m p l e t e d e l i v e r a n c e . T h e n w i t h o u t

h e s i t a t i o n h e w e n t t o h i s distressed w i f e , a n d l a y i n g

h i s h a n d s u p o n h e r , i n t h e name of J e s u s commanded t h e

e v i l s p i r i t s t o d e p a r t a n d t o r m e n t h e r n o more. S h e was

h e a l e d . ' When o n e c o m b i n e s p r a y e r , w i t h f a s t i n g , o f t e n

times f a i t h i s i n c r e a s e d , f a i t h i n God , f a i t h i n o n e s e l f

a n d f a i t h t o h e a l ,

NOTES - CHAPTER SIX

W e a t h e r h e a d , Loc . C i t . , p. 429 .

R . K . H a r r i s o n , ' H e a l i n g ' I n t e r p r e t e r s D i c t i o n a r y of t h e B i b l e : (New y o r k : ~ b i n g d o n , 1 9 6 2 1 , pp. 547-553.

Onwu, Loc . C i t .

James More H i c k s o n , Heal t h e S i c k , hi el hi: M e t h n e n P r e s s , 1 9 2 4 1 , p. 266 .

C. H . Dodd, T h e F o u n d e r o f C h r i s t i a n i t y . ( L o n d o n : SCM, 19751, PP. 119-122-

C

A f t e r ii/ 7 ~ 0 4 ~ ~ 1 m o s t m a n u s c r i p t s a d d

r 4 d \r ' /~dlt /q ' T h e a u t h o r i t i n s s u p p o r t i n g t h e

omissidn a re f e w b u t i m p o r t a n t , t h e y i n c l u d e (NBK C l e m e n t - ~ l e x ) . B. M . ~ e t z ~ e r s a i d , ' I n l i . g h t o f t h e i n c r e a s i n g e m p h a s i s i n t h e e a r l y C h u r c h o n t h e n e c e s s i t y o f f a s t i n g , i t i s u n d e r - s t a n d a b l e t h a t i s a g l o s s

w h i c h f o u n d i t s way id to most w i t n e s s e s .

h T e x t u a l C o m m e n t a r y o n t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t L ( U n i t e d B i b l e S o c i e t i e s , 1 9 7 5 1, p. 101 .

K e l s e y , Loc . C i t . , pp . 163-167.

A r t h u r Wall is , . G o d ' s C h o s e n F a s t . ( L o n d o n : V i c t o r y P r e s s , 1 9 7 7 1 , pp. 80-81.

I b i d 7 p. 5 4 .

CHAPTER SEVEN

HEALING AND ?HE KINGDOM OF GOD

Mark 1: 15 r e a d s ,

The t i m e i s f u l f i l l e d , and t h e Kingdom of God i s a t h a n d ; r e p e n t , a n d b e l i e v e i n t h e G o s p e l .

T h i s s u m s u p t h e m e s s a g e a n d m i n i s t r y o f J e s u s . k . M.

H u n t e r s a y s ,

I n t h e t h o u g h t o f t h e Kingdom o f h i s F a t h e r J e s u s l i v e d and w o r k e d a n d d i e d .

T h e word q K i n g d o m q . a r g u e s Jeremias, i s a m i s l e a d i n g

t r a n s l a t i o n . I t i s n o t a t e r r i t o r i a l or s t a t i c d o m a i n

b u t a d y n a m i c s y m b o l . 2 I t t h e r e f o r e m e a n s t h a t God i s

r e i g n i n g i n t h e w o r l d , s e t t i n g t h e w o r l d t o r i g h t ,

s a v i n g men f r o m s i n , s i c k n e s s , a n d e v i l , a n d e s t a b l i -

s h i n g a new o r d e r o f t h i n g s , T h i s J e s u s came t o reveal,

t e a c h a n d d e m o n s t r a t e , H i s v i e w o f t h e k i n g d o m d i f f e r s

from t h e J u d a i s t i c m o d e l i n t h a t h e b e l i e v e s i t t o be

bound u p w i t h h i m s e l f , I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e r u l e o f

God h a s a l r e a d y b e g u n t o b r e a k t h r o u g h i n t o t h e p r e s e n t

w i t h t h e a r k i v a l a n d w o r k s o f J e s u s , On t h i s M e t z g a r

Some o f H i s ( J e s u s ) s a y i n g s r e f e r t o t h e Kingdom as a l r e a d y p r e s e n t i n h i s own p e r s o n and d e e d s . . . . On t h e o t h e r h a n d , many s a y i n g s s t i l l r e f e r t o a f u t u r e k ingdom, The i m p l i c a t i o n of a p r e s e n t k i n g d o m a n d a

f u t u r e k i n g d o m seem t o be c o n t r a d i c t o r y a n d some h a v e s o u g h t t o e l i m i n a t e o n e of them. A t h o r o u g h i n v e s t i g a t i o n of t h e u s e i n t h e G o s p e l s p r o v e t h a t b o t h f u t u r e a n d p r e s e n t i d e a of t h e k i n g d o m of God a r e i n t e r w o v e n . 3

T h i s idea of t h e Kingdom of God, t h a t i s , b o t h

f u t u r e and p r e s e n t was n o t e a s y f o r t h e J e w s t o u n d e r -

s t a n d . T h e O r t h o d o x J e w e x p e c t e d t h e r e i g n o f God t h a t

wou ld g i v e n o room f o r d o u b t , On t h i s t h e m e , G o p p e l t

t h e r e i g n of God comes t o be s e e n as a f u t u r e o n e , a n d y e t t h e p e c u l i a r t h i n g a b o u t t h e f u t u r e d i m e n s i o n of God * s r e i g n is t h a t t h i s f u t u r e i s n o t u n d e r s t o o d as a r e l a t i o n s h i p of d i s t a n c e from t h e p r e s e n t , b u t r a t h e r as a n e a r f u t u r e t h a t a l r e a d y m a k e s t h e p r e s e n t i n t o i t s b e g i n n i n g , T h i s k i n d of f u t u r e i s n o t s o m e t h i n g y e t t o come, b u t p r o j e c t s i n t o t h e p r e s e n t . I t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o g r a s p i t s m e a n i n g i n terms o f '

t i m e a n d s p a c e . 4

I ' J e s u s ' , a r g u e s Maddocks , p r o c l a i m e d t h e Kingdom of

God n e i t h e r s o l e l y as a f u t u r e e v e n t n o r o n l y as a

p r e s e n t 1 5

r e a l i t y .

W i t h J e s u s p r o c l a i m i n g t h e Kingdom of God ( n e a v e n )

as now access.ible t o men, h e t a u g h t h i s h e a r e r s how t o

r e l a t e t h e i r l ives t o God a n d h i s k ingdom.

J e s u s p r o c l a i m e d t h e Kingdom of God, o r t h e Kingdom

o f H e a v e n as i s common i n M a t t h e w * s a c c o u n t , t h r o u g h :

( i ) H i s s a y i n q s i n L u k e 17 : 20-21,

t h e k i n g d o m o f God i s n o t com~ i n g w i t h s i g n s t o be o b s e r v e d , n o r w i l l t h e y ' s a y , "LO, h e r e i t is!" o r " t h e r e " ! f o r b e h o l d , t h e k i n g d o m o f God i s i n t h e m i d s t o f you .

C o n s i d e r t h e s a y i n g s o f J e s u s i n h i s p a r a b l e s . I n

M a t t h e w 13: 33, h e s a y s ,

T o w h a t s h a l l I c o m p a r e t h e Kingdom o f God? I t i s l i k e l e a v e n w h i c h a woman t o o k a n d h i d i n t h r e e m e a s u r e s o f meal, till i t was a l l l e a v e n e d ,

( i i ) I n t h e p r a y e r h e t a u q h t h i s d i s c i p l e s . I n ~ u k e

11: 2-4, a l i n e s a y s ,

T h e y Kingdom Come,

T h e e n t i r e p r a y e r is a p e t i t i o n f o r G o d ' s r u l e b o t h i n

t h e h e a r t s o f men - as t h e y l i v e a l i f e o f f o r g i v e n e s s - a n d i n t h e u n i v e r s e a n d H i s name i s H a l l o w e d 1

( i i i ) T h r o u g h h i s h e a l i n q m i n i s t r y , T h e o n e i m p o r t a n t

h e a l i n g t h a t b r o u g h t o u t t h i s v e r y c l e a r l y was t h e

h e a l i n g o f t h e d e m o n i a c w h i c h p r o m p t e d t h e B e e l z e b u l

c o n t r o v e r s y ( ~ u k e 11: 14-23). J e s u s s a i d ,

I f i t i s by t h e f i n g e r o f God t h a t I cast o u t d e m o n s , t h e n t h e Kinqdom of God h a s

. I . T h e v e r b h a s t h e a o r i s t as ($(,$$-&,T~

/ w h i c h m e a n s ' h a v e j u s t a r r i v e d ' , T h e l i t e r a l m e a n i n g o f

t h e s t a t e m e n t w o u l d be, ' I f I b y t h e f i n g e r ( o r ' s p i r i t '

as i n

of Goc

M a t t h e w ) of

3 h a s a r r i v e (

God cast o u t demon , t h e n t h e Kingdom

T h e . r e f o r e when J e s u s h e a l e d t h e s i c k , h e was n o t

a c t i n g t o w a r d s a wor ld w h i c h w i l l o n l y l a s t a s h o r t

t i m e . H e bel ieved i n a w o r l d t h a t i s G o d ' s c r e a t i o n a n d

w h i c h i s i n f e c t e d w i t h d e m o n i c powers a n d n e e d s t o be

h e a l e d . On t h i s t h e m e , H a n s ~ o n z e l m a n n s a y s ,

J e s u s does n o t h e a l t h e s i c k t o p r e p a r e t h e m f o r t h e Kingdom of God ( b u t h e a l i n g i s a s u r e s i g n of t h e p r e s e n c e of t h e ~ i n g d o m )

T a k i n g t h e v a r i o u s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s g i v e n t o t h i s

t e x t t h a t i s L u k e 11: 14-23 i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n , C, E.

E v a n s c o n c l u d e s :

T h e s ' a y i n g i s a c c o r d i n g l y t o be as m e a n i n g t h a t J e s u s ' e x o r c i s m s a re a n i n d i c a t i o n t h a t t h e Kingdom, i n a r e a l s e n s e , h a s a l r e a d y a r r i v e d . T h e ' s t r o n g manv J e s u s referred t o s t a n d s f o r s a t a n , a n d i t w a s a d e f i n i t e J e w i s h u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t a t t h e l a s t d a y , s a t a n w o u l d be bound . T h e a c t u a l p l u n d e r i n g of s a t a n t s h o u s e i m p l i e d by J e s u s v e x o r c i s m s is t h u s a n i n d i c a t i o n t h a t t h e e s c h a t o n i s a l r e a d y i n o p e r a t i o n . I t i s a l so t o .be n o t e d t h a t b e c a u s e t h e r e w a s some be l i e f t h a t s a t a n w o u l d be b o u n d a t t h e l a s t d a y by t h e M e s s i a h , i t made many t o l o o k o n a n d a c c e p t e d J e s u s as t h e M e s s i a h , t h e o n e M i g h t i e r t h a n s a t a n . 7

J e s u s g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r a b a n d of d i s c i p l e s t o c a r r y

o n h i s w o r k a f t e r h e w a s g o n e . W h i l e h e w a s s t i l l w i t h

t h e m , h e s e n t t h e m o u t w i t h t h e same m i n i s t r y . I n

Mark 6: 7 , M a t t h e w 1 0 : 5-8 a n d L u k e 9: 1, w e h a v e t h e

a c c o u n t of J e s u s s e n d i n g o u t h i s d i s c i p l e s a n d g i v i n g

t h e m a u t h o r i t y t o c a s t o u t d e m o n s , a n d t o p r e a c h , h e a l

t h e s i c k , c lease l e p e r s , a n d ra i se t h e d e a d . T h e

d i s c i p l e s r e t u r n e d w i t h ecs ta t i c j o y a n d a m a z e m e n t

b e c a u s e of t h e i r s u c c e s s . J e s u s r e p l y t o t h e m i s ,

I s a w s a t a n f a l l l i k e l i g h t e n i n g from h e a v e n , b e h o l d I h a v e g i v e n y o u a u t h o r i t y t o t r e a d u p o n s e r p e n t s a n d s c o r p i o n s a n d over a l l t h e p o w e r of t h e enemy a n d n o t h i n g s h a l l h u r t y o u , D o n o t rejoice i n t h i s , t h e S p i r i t a r e s u b j e c t t o y o u ; rejoice t h a t y o u r n a m e s a r e w r i t t e n i n h e a v e n , ( ~ u k e 1 0 : 18 -20J .

T h i s c o u l d o n l y mean t h a t t h o s e who h a d d o n e b a t t l e

w i t h J e s u s . a g a i n s t s a t a n , are t o r e i g n w i t h h i m when t h e

w i l l of God is c o n s u m a t e d . ( i .e. Kingdom of G o d ) .

I t i s n o t r e a l l y poss ib le t o i g n o r e t h i s f a c t t h a t

h e a l i n g m i n i s t r y is c e n t r a l t o o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g of

C h r i s t a n d of t h e w o r k t h a t h i s d i s c i p l e s were t o

p e r f o r m , H i s f u n c t i o n was p r i n c i p a l l y a r e c o n c i l i n g

a n d l i b e r a t i n g o n e ; r e c o n c i l i n g m a n k i n d w i t h God,

l i b e r a t i n g men f r o m t h e i r s i n s a n d so i n a u g u r a t i n g arid

e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e ~ i n g d o m of God , h a v i n g u t t e r l y over-

t h r o w n a n d d e s t r o y e d t h e Kingdom o f s a t a n i n a l l i t s

forms, s u c h as s i c k n e s s a n d s i n ,

NOTES - CHAPTER SEVEN

1- A. M. H u n t e r , J e s u s L o r d a n d S a v i o u r . ( L o n d o n : SCM, 1 9 7 6 1 , p. 47 .

2- J. Jeremias, N e w T e s t a m e n t T h e o l o q y . ( L o n d o n : SCM, 1 9 7 1 ) , p. 98 .

3. M e t z g e r , L o c , C i t . , PP. 147-148.

4. G o p p e l t , Loc . C i t . , p o 18.

6 . H a n s C o n z e l m a n n , An O u t l i n e o f t h e T h e o l o q y of New T e s t a m e n t . ( L o n d o n : SCM, l 9 7 6 ) , pp. 112-124. . ( T h e w o r d s e n c l o s e d i n b r a c k e t s a r e m i n e ) .

7, 0. E, E v a n s , 'K ingdom o f God1 i n I n t e r p r e t e r s D i c t i o n a r y of t h e B i b l e . G e o r g e A r t h u r B u t r i c k e t a1 e d s . V o l . 3 , (New York : Ab ingdom, l 9 6 2 ) , pp. 22-26.

P A R T T W O

THE R E L E V A N C E O F H E A L I N G I N

A F R I C A N C H R I S T I A N I T Y T O D A Y

( W I T H ' P A R T I C U L A R R E F E R E N C E TO N I G E R I A )

76

CHAPTER EIGHT

An a t t e m p t i s made i n t h i s s e c t i o n t o make a

c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e h e a l i n g m i n i s t r y o f J e s u s o f

N a z a r e t h , t h e C h r i s t , a n d t h a t of C h r i s t i a n i t y i n Afr ica .

I s h a l l b e g i n w i t h a b r i e f g e n e r a l l o o k a t h e a l i n g

from t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t t i m e C h u r c h u p t o o u r own time,

as a k i n a , o f b a c k g r o u n d . T h e n I s h a l l c o n s i d e r g e n e r a l l y

t h e C o s m o l o g y , P h i l o s o p h y a n d R e l i g i o u s b a c k g r o u n d o f t h e

A f r i c a n p e o p l e w i t h a v i e w o f e n a b l i n g u s t o a p p r e c i a t e

more, t h e h e a l i n g m o v e m e n t s w i t h i n A f r i c a n C h r i s t i a n i t y ,

when w e come t o c o n s i d e r i t .

HEALING I N THE CHURCH

So f a r , I h a v e l o o k e d a t t h e h e a l i n g miracles o f

J e s u s a n d d e d u c e d f r o m t h e r e , t h a t h e d e s i r e d G o d ' s

Kingdom f o r i n d i v i d u a l s a n d p e o p l e s i n h i s h e a l i n g

miracles, I w a n t h e r e now t o d r a w y o u r a t t e n t i o n t o

w h a t h a p p e n e d t o t h e ' C h u r c h ' s ' m i n i s t r y o f h e a l i n g

a f t e r h i s a s c e n s i o n . 1 '

I n A c t s of t h e Rpos t les, t h e e v e n t s r e c o r d e d w e r e

h e a l i n g , p r e a c h i n g a n d t e a c h i n g . T h e i n j u c t i o n , ' t o

g o , h e a l t h e s i c k . . . s a y t o t h e m t h e Kingdom of God is

come n i g h u n t o y o u ( L u k e 10:1, 9 , 1 7 ) w a s f o l l o w e d t o

t h e l e t t e r .

77.

I n A c t s 8 : 7 , ' P a u l a n d B a r n a b a s s p e a k o f t h e s i g n s

a n d w o n d e r s G o d h a d w r o u g h t among t h e G e n t i l e s b y t h e m , '

I n James 5 : 1 4 we r e a d , "Is a n y among y o u s i c k ? L - e t h i m

c a l l f o r t h e e l d e r s o f t h e C h u r c h , " T h e s e a n d many are

e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e e a r l y C h u r c h c o n c e r n e d h e r s e l f w i t h

t h e h e a l i n g o f d i s e a s e s .

F rom t h e t i m e of J u s t i n M a r t y r ( A D 1 0 0 - 1 6 5 ) t o S t .

Jerome ( A D 340-4201 , r e p o r t s a b o u t h e a l i n g t h r o u g h p r a y e r s

of S a i n t s a n d t h e C h u r c h were r e c o r d e d , S t , Jerome

r e p o r t s t h e u s e o f o i l w h i c h h a d b e e n b l e s s e d as a n

' i n f a l l i b l e c u r e ' i n c a s e s o f s n a k e - b i t e . S t , C u t h b e r t

( A D 6 3 5 - 6 8 7 ) u s e d w a t e r a n d o i l , b o t h h a v i n g b e e n

b l e s s e d , t o c u r e d i s o r d e r s , 2

H o w e v e r , by t h e e n d o f t h e t h i r d c e n t u r y , d i v i s i o n s ,

c o n t r o v e r s y , h e r e s y a n d a p o s t a s y h a d l o w e r e d t h e s p i r i t u a l

force o f t h e C h u r c h . I n d i v i d u a l C h r i s t i a n s s e e m e d a b l e ,

h e r e a n d t h e r e t o b r i n g b a c k h e a l i n g of t h e s i c k , b u t

t h e p o w e r o f t h e u n ' i t e d f e l l o w s h i p h a d d e p a r t e d , 3

E m p e r o r C o n s t a n t i n e ' s v i s i o n o f t h e cross 2nd h i s

c o n s e q u e n t c o n v e r s i o n t o C h r i s t i a n i t y i n AD 325 t u r n e d

t h e C h u r c h from r e l i q i o i l l i c i t a to r e l i q i o l i c i t a . A l l

p e o p l e s w h e t h e r c o m m i t t e d or n o t f l o o d e d t h e C h u r c h w i t h

4 t h e i r v a r i e t y o f g o d s , C h r i s t i a n i t y became a comfort-

a b l e r e l i g i o n o f t h e s t a t e , T h i s t i m e a l s o w i t n e s s e d

v a r i o u s w a r s a n d c i v i l i z a t i o n s - L o m b a r d s , G o t h s a n d

5 F r a n k s , Norman a n d D a n e s . I t was a p e r i o d f u l l o f

i n s t a b i l i t y o f Kingdom a n d n a t i o n s . T h e r e g u l a r i t y w i t h

w h i c h w a r s , d i s e a s e s a n d p o v e r t y o c c u r e d , a f f e c t e d

p e o p l e s ' v i e w a b o u t l i f e .

T h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g w a s n o t t o f i n d c o m f o r t i n t h i s

l i f e - t h a t c o u l d h a r d l y b e e x p e c t e d - b u t r a t h e r t o

i n s u r e a g o o d e x i s t e n c e ' a f t e r d e a t h , C a r e o f t h e s o u l

became more i m p o r t a n t t h a n t h e b o d y , h e n c e e m p h a s i s o n

f o r g i v e n e s s o f s i n t h a n s e e k i n g h e a l i n g o f p h y s i c a l

i l l n e s s , s i n c e man s u f f e r e d as a r e s u l t o f G o d ' s w r a t h .

T h e o t h e r l i f e was e m p h a s i z e d w i t h t h e t e a c h i n g t h a t

t h r o u g h s u f f e r i n g man e n t e r e d t h e n e x t l i f e . T h e r e w a s

l i t t l e a t t e n t i o n t o t h e s u f f e r i n g a n d i l l n e s s t h a t w a s

n o t of t h e f a u l t o f t h e s u f f e r e r . U n d e r s u c h a s i t u a -

t i o n t h e s i c k were t a k e n t o t h e C h u r c h f o r t h e is hop t o

l a y h i s h a n d s upon t h e m a n d w o u l d a n o i n t t hem w i t h o i l .

G r a d u a l l y . t h e e m p h a s i s w a s p l a c e d more o n a n o i n t i n g w i t h

o i l , t h a t by 1151 AD, i t h a s become o n e of t h e s e v e n

s a c r a m e n t s a d m i n i s t e r e d t o t h e d y i n g f o r t h e i r s i n s t o

be f o r g i v e n a n d h e be a c c e p t e d i n p a r a d i s e . T h e C h u r c h

h a s l o s t c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e e f f i c a c y of p r a y e r a n d

a n o i n t i n g f o r r e c o v e r y a n d f c r h e a l i n g .

I t w a s n o w o n d e r t h a t men p r e f e r r e d t o resort t o some

w o n d e r - w c r k e r , o r s a i n t o r t o u s e rel ics, or u s e of

d r u g s a n d m e d i c i n e ,

The C h u r c h a l s o s u f f e r e d a s h i f t i n t h e o l o g i c a l

t h i n k i n g i n which P l a t o ' s w o r l d v i e w w a s r e p l a c e d by

t h a t o f A r i s t o t l e . The r e s u l t w a s a r a t i o n a l i s t i c o u t -

l o o k w i t h l i t t l e o r n o d i r e c t c o n t a c t b e t w e e n God a n d

man. Many E u r o p e a n s , P r i n c e s a n d S c h o l a r s , t r a d e s m e n

a n d p a u p e r s a l i k e became s c h o l a s t i c ,

E v e r y t h i n g a b o u t l i f e and e x p e r i e n c e were p a r t of a

l o g i c a l l y c e r t a i n s y s t e m , r a n g i n g f r o m a g e o c e n t r i c

a s t r o n o m y - t o t h e l o g i c a l n e c e s s i t y of a n y t h i n g , b e f o r e

i t became v a l i d a n d a c c e p t e d , The C h u r c h g o t h e r

l a n g u a g e a n d d o c t r i n e ' r i g h t t , a n y d e v i a t i o n f r o m t h i s

t o t a l v i e w o r any p a r t o f i t w a s c o n s i d e r e d h e r e s y . T h e

o b v i o u s r e s u l t w a s s c h i s m b e t w e e n t h e E a s t e r n a n d t h e

W e s t e r n C h u r c h , T a k e f o r e x a m p l e , a matter as i n s i g n i -

f i c a n t a s t h e f i l i o q u e c l a u s e b o f t h e N i c e n e Creed.

What d i d i t m a t t e r t o a n o r d i n a r y w o r s h i p p e r w h e t h e r t h e

H o l y S p i r i t p r o c e e d e d f r o m t h e F a t h e r or t h e Son o r b o t h

B u t b e c a u s e o f t h e i n f l u e n c e o f , s c h o l a s t i c i s m , t h e p h r a s e

or c l a u s e became a p o i n t o f d i s a g r e e m e n t . U n d e r s u c h a

s i t u a t i o n t h e r e w a s l i t t l e room f o r h e a l i n g p o w e r i n a

C h u r c h t h a t w a s t o r n i n b i t s by crisis. By t h e 1 6 t h

c e n t u r y , h e a l i n g a n d e x o r c i s m w e r e r e s t r i c t e d o n l y t o t h e

P r i e s t s . A s f a r as t h e g i f t s d e s c r i b e d by P a u l are

c o n c e r n e d , t h e r e was a s p e c i a l r u l e f o r S a i n t s . A g i f t

l i k e h e a l i n g m i g h t b e a s i g n o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y h o l i n e s s ,

B u t f o r o r d i n a r y p e o p l e , t o p o s s e s s some of t h e s e g i f t s ,

were c o n s i d e r e d , w i t h o u t q u a l i f i c a t i o n , a mark of d e m o n i c

p o s s e s s i o n , 7

B u t s u f f i c e i t t o s a y t h a t r i g h t f r o m t h e Reforma-

t i o n p e r i o d o f t h e 1 6 t h c e n t u r y A D , u p till d a t e , t h e

pend lum h a s swung t o t h e p o s i t i v e d i r e c t i o n o f r e c o g n i -

z i n g t h i s h e a l i n g g i f t of God t o H i s C h u r c h , S a i n t s l i k e

G e o r g e F o x i n t h e 1 7 t h C e n t u r y , J o h n WesIey i n t h e 1 8 t h

c e n t u r y , P a s o r B l u m h a r d t i n t h e 1 9 t h C e n t u r y , a n d

F a t h e r J o h n of C r o u s t a d t o f t h e 2 0 t h C e n t u r y were a l l

h e a l e r s , who w i t h n o o t h e r weapon e x c e p t t h e i r r e g u l a r

communion w i t h C h r i s t , a n d by H i s p o w e r , h e a l e d t h e s i c k .

I t i s t r u e t h a t a t t h i s t i m e , many h o s p i t a l s w e r e

f o u n d e d by t h e s a i n t s , b u t s o o n t h e y l o s t t h e i r d i s t i n c -

t i v e l y C h r i s t i a n f u n c t i o n , The h o u r o f t h e m e d i c a l

p r o f e s s i o n h a d a r r i v e d . On t h i s theme W e a t h e r n e a d s a y s ,

... T h e d o c t o r r i g h t l y r e f u s e d t o be h a m p e r e d by an ecclesiastical o b s c u r a n t i s m t h a t t r ied t o i n s i s t on a f a l s e t h e o l o g i c a l e x p l a n a t i o n o f t h e o r i g i n o f d i s e a s e , a n d which r e g a r d e d m e d i c i n e a s a n i n v a s i o n of r e l i g i o n ' s s a c r e d p r o v i n c e a n d s c i e n t i f i c t r e a t m e n t s as a n i n t o l e r a b l e i m p i e t y . 8

The t w o h e a l i n g s t r e a m s - D i v i n e and M e d i c a l - may

d i v i d e , b u t C h r i s t s t i l l m a n i f e s t s h i s h e a l i n g power

w h e r e v e r H i s C h u r c h is. I n t h i s 2 1 s t C e n t u r y , t h e r e a r e

a u t h e n t i c h e a l i n g r e c o r d s i n C h u r c h e s , M i s s i o n f i e l d s

a n d t h r o u g h i n d i v i d u a l s ,

T h i s new e m p h a s i s i s n o t i s o l a t e d phenomenon, I t

i s w o r l d - w i d e , e x t e n d i n g to I n d i a , J a p a n , C h i n a , w h e r e

many r e l i g i o u s b o d i e s h a v e b e e n f o u n d e d w i t h s p e c i a l

9 e m p h a s i s on h e a l i n g . C l e a r l y , a new s p i r i t i s moving

among God ' s p e o p l e a n d t h e C h u r c h , which s p e a k s o f G o d ' s

love and c b n c e r n f o r them a n d t h e i r n e e d f o r d i v i n e

h e a l i n g .

T h e ~ i s s i o n church1' i n A f r i c a s u f f e r e d a s e t - b a c k

w i t h h e r c o u n t e r p a r t s i n E u r o p e when m e d i c a l h e a l i n g

t o o k t h e p l a c e o f d i v i n e h e a l i n g .

D i v i n e h e a l i n g was n o t g i v e n a s much a t t e r i t i o n i n

t h e C h u r c h i n Af r i c n as s c i e n t i f i c h e a l i n g . The f a c t

t h a t some i l l n e s s e s do ' n o t r e s p o n d t o m e d i c a l t r e a t m e n t

made many i n t h e C h u r c h t o s e e k t r a d i t i o n a l m e t h o d s s u c h

a s f o r t u n e t e l l i n g a n d d i v i n a t i o n . A s a way o r h e l p i n g

s u c h c a s e s , Iwuagwu writes:

S u c h i l l n e s s e s d e f y o r d i n a r y d i a g n o s i s . Such i l l n e s s e s c a n r a t h e r be d i a g n o s e d t h r o u g h p s y c h o l o g i c a l o r s p i r i t u a 1 m e t h o d s ; a n d it i s God a l o n e who c a n h e a l them i n h i s a n s w e r t o t h e p r a y e r s o f f a i t h h e a l i e r s .

11

82.

I n A f r i c a b e l i e f i n w i t c h c r a f t and demons , h a s i t s

own p e c u l i a r w o r l d v iew. T h e M i s s i o n C h u r c h e s e i t h e r

d e n i e d t h e i r r e a l e x i s t e n c e o r made n o e f f o r t a t

i n v e s t i g a t i n g t h e r o o t s o f s u c h beliefs, S c i e n t i f i c

o r medical h e a l i n g was v i g o r o u s l y p u r s u e d i n M i s s i o n

C h u r c h e s t h a t t h e r e was t h e n e e d f o r a movement t o p o i n t

t h e C h u r c h b a c k t o h e r ro l e as b o t h t h e a n n o u n c e r a n d

b r i n g e r of s a l v a t i o n and w h o l e n e s s t o man.

I s h a l l g o on t o c o n s i d e r w h a t s u c h a movement d i d

t o h e a l i n g i n C h r i s t i a n i t y i n Af r i ca .

NOTES - CHAPTER EIGHT

The u s e o f t h e word ' C h u r c h ' h e r e i s t a k e n to mean t h e body o f f o l l o w e r s o f t h e l i f e and t e a c h i n g of J e s u s of N a z a r e t h r i g h t f r o m t h e t i m e o f h i s e a r t h l y l i f e t i l l a f t e r h i s a s c e n s i o n , The Kingdom o f God w h i c h C h r i s t p r o c l a i m e d a n d d e m o n s t r a t e d may be p r e s e n t i n t h e C h u r c h b u t is n o t l i m i t e d t o i t ,

E v e l y n F r o s t , C h r i s t i a n H e a l i n g . (London: Mowbrays, 1 9 4 0 1 , pp. 145-150.

F r o s t , Loc , C i t , , p, 1 5 0 ,

F , F , B r l c e , T h e S p r e a d i n q F lame . (London: SPCK, 1 9 7 4 ) ~ pp- 4-80

F i l i o q u e i s a L a t i n word m e a n i n g ' a n d t h e S o n 1 , I t i s a d o g m a t i c f o r m u l a e x p r e s s i n g t h e d o u b l e p r o c e s s i o n o f t h e H o l y G h o s t f r o m t h e F a t h e r a n d t h e Son a d d e d by t h e W e s t e r n C h u r c h t o t h e C r e e d , I t b r o u g h t g r e a t o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e E a s t e r n C h u r c h a n d u p till t h e p r e s e n t , t h e d o c t r . i n e a n d t h e t h e o l o g y b e h i n d i t h a s n o t b e e n a c c e p t e d by t h e E a s t e r n O r t h o d o x C h u r c h ,

K e l s e y , Loc , C i t . , p, 210.

W h e a t e r h e a d , Loc. C i t . , p - 95.

Monica F u r l o n g , Burswood - F o c u s o f H e a l i n (London: H o d d e r & S t o u g h t o n , 1 9 7 8 1 , pp. 11:-128. T h e r e is t h e h e a l i n g s p r i n g a t L o u r d e s t o w h i c h many p r i l g r i r n s f r o m E u r o p e go. Some claim h e a l i n g as a r e s u l t o f j o i n i n g i n p r o c e s s i o n , d r i n k i n g a n d b a t h i n g i n t h e stream, T h e r e is a n o t h e r a t B u r r s w o o d i n K e n t , a home of h e a l i n g a n d many too h a v e c l a i m e d h e a l i n g t h e r e ,

Missiofi C h u r c h h e r e i n c l u d e s t h e Roman C a t h o l i c , t h e A n g l i c a n , t h e M e t h o d i s t s , t h e P r e s b y t e r i a n , t h e B a p t i s t , t h e L u t h e r a n , t h e S a l v a t i o n Army, a n d o t h e r s whose p r e s e n c e i n A f r i c a n w e r e as a r e s u l t o f M i s s i o n a r y a c t i v i t i e s i n E u r o p e and America, w h e r e t h e y , i,e, t h e C h u r c h e s , o r i g i n a t e d ,

A, 0. Iwuagwu, 'The H e a l i n g M i n i s t r y i n t h e C h u r c h i n N i g e r i a * , WAR, 17, 1, 1 9 7 6 , p, 47.

CHAPTER N I N E

AFRICAN COSMOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY A N D RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

T h e r e i s t h e n e e d t o h a v e a l o o k a t t h e w o r l d v i e w

of t h e A f r i c a n , e s p e c i a l l y i n matters r e l a t i n g t o h e a l i n g

a n d w h o l e n e s s . World v i e w o f c o s m o l o g y refers t o b e l i e f s

a n d h a b i t s of a p a r t i c u l a r p e o p l e and how t h e y e x p r e s s

t h a t . On t h i s theme , T. U. N w a l a s a y s ,

... T h i s i n c l u d e s t h e o v e r a l l p i c t u r e t h e p e o p l e h a v e a b o u t r e a l i t y , t h e u n i v e r s e , l i f e and e x i s t e n c e ; t h e i r a t t i t u d e t o l i f e and t o t h i n g s i n g e n e r a l ; w h a t t h e y do a n d t h i n k o f w h a t l i f e i s , w h a t t h i n g s are w o r t h s t r i v i n g t o a t t a i n ; w h a t m a n ' s p l a c e i s i n t h e s c h e m e o f t h i n g s ; w h e t h e r o r n o t man h a s a n i m m o r t a l s o u l ; w h e t h e r o r n o t l i f e h a s a m e a n i n g and p u r p o s e , etc. 1

The c r e a t i o n of t h e u n i v e r s e i s b e l i e v e d t o be t h e

work o f t h e Supreme C h i n e k e . From t h e s t u d i e s

s c h o l a r s i n A f r i c a n T r a d i t i o n a l R e l i g i o n , Nwoga seems t o

s u g g e s t t h a t i t i s n o t clear i f t h i s S u p r e m e God

e x e r c i s e s a l l s u p r e m e a u t h o r i t y i n t h e u n i v e r s e h e n c e ,

t h e A f r i c a n bel ief i n o t h e r d i e t i e s and s p i r i t s . 2

E v i l i s i n ' t h e form of disease , d e a t h , a n d atmos-

p h e r i c c a t a s t r o p h e , a n d a s a r e s u l t o f t h e work o f e v i l

s p i r i t s who abound i n t h i s w o r l d , i n c l u d i n g t h e s p i r i t s

o f t h e d i s p l e a s e d d e a d a n c e s t o r s . I l o g u s a y s t h a t ,

t h e e x i s t e n c e o f e v i l s p i r i t s i s a l w a y s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h s o m e t h i n g else r a t h e r t h a n t h e b e n e v o l e n t c r e a t o r god. T h i s c o u l d be t h e s a c r e d g r o v e o r t h e a n c e s t o r or b a d b u s h , b u t n e v e r a s e l f - e x i s t e n t d y n a m i c f o r c e w i t h i n d e p e n d e n t l i f e and p e r s o n a l i t y , 3

O r a c c o r d i n g t o E. M. P. E d e h ,

E v i l s c a n be g r o u p e d u n d e r t h r e e c a t e g o r i e s , n a m e l y , p h y s i c a l e v i l i n t h e u n i v e r s e , p h y s i c a l e v i l i n man, and moral e v i l i n man o r any p e r s o n a l b e i n g . However , r e ' g a r d l e s s Of t h e c a t e g o r y t o which a n e v i l b e l o n g s , t h e A f r i c a n s l o c a t e i t s p r o x i m a t e c a u s e o r c a u s e s w i t h i n t h e r e a l m o f t h e e v i l s p i r i t s ,

The e a r t h i s s e e n a s c r e a t e d by God and a s a n a r e n a

i n w h i c h man i s t o l i v e o u t h i s l i f e i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r

t h e l i f e beyond , 0. I m a s o g i e w r i t e s :

T h e e a r t h i s ~ u l t i d i m e n s i o n a l . The o r d i n a r y man sees o n l y t h e p h y s i c a l d i m e n s i o n , b u t t h e r e a r e o t h e r d i m e n s i o n s which are n o t v i s i b l e t o t h e n a t u r a l e y e . T h e r e is t h e v i t a l f o r c e , p s y c h i c f o r c e o r dynamism, T h i s i s s e e n a s a b e l i e f i n , a n d t h e p r a c t i c e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e belief i n h i d d e n , m y s t e r i o u s , s u p e r - s e n s i b l e , p e r v a d i n g e n e r g y , p o w e r s , p o t e n c i e s a n d f o r c e s , which a r e t h o u g h t t o c o n s t i t u t e a d i m e n s i o n of t h e e a r t h - 5

I n d i s c u s s i n g t h e d y n a m i c s o f q d y n a m i s m q , I m a s o g i e

t h o u g h n e u t r a l , i t may be t a p p e d f o r good o r i l l . T h i s power i s a c c e s s i b l e t o t h o s e c o n s c i o u s n e s s h a s b e e n e x p a n d e d t h r o u g h o c c u l t p o w e r s . Such p e o p l e a r e n o t o n l y a b l e t o become aware c f t h i s d i m e n s i o n o f t h e e a r t h , b u t t h e y c a n a l s o u t i l i z e i t f o r t h e i r n e e d s e i t h e r t o h e l p o r ha rm o t h e r s , . . , W i t c h e s a n d w i z a r d s t h a t h a u n t and h a r a s s p e o p l e a l s o owe t h e i r

o c c u l t p o w e r s t o t h i s d i m e n s i o n .of t h e e a r th , The c o n c e p t of m a g i c a n d c h a r m a l s o o w e t h e i r o r i g i n t o t h i s d i m e n s i o n , i n c l u d i n g o t h e r s p i r i t s a n d g h o s t s , and t h e a n c e s t o r a l s p i r i t s . 6

The w o r l d v i e w o f t h e A f r i c a n i s a w o r l d p e r v a d e d

by w i c k e d s p i r i t s a n d g h o s t s w i t h t h e i r human a l l ies .

H e n e e d s a d e q u a t e p r o t e c t i o n i n c a s e t h e s e e v i l s p i r i t s

s t r i k e a n y t i m e , T h e r e f o r e t h e n e e d f o r o c c u l t f i n g e r

r i n g s , a m u l e t s , w r i s t o r w a i s t b a n d s , e tc , , r i t u a l l y

p r e p a r e d by o c c u l t i s t s or n a t i v e doctors a n d m e d i c i n e

men.

T h i s is why d i v i n a t i o n , f o r t u n e - t e l l i n g a n d sacri-

f i ce are a l i v e i n t r a d i t i o n a l ~ f r i c a n S o c i e t y , as a way

of s e e k i n g b e y o n d p h y s i c a l e v e n t s , t o t h e i r s p i r i t u a l

a e t i o l o g y . S i n c e t h e w h o l e o f l i f e i s a m y s t e r y w i t h

m y s t e r i o u s s p i r i t s a r o u n d , t h e A f r i c a n b e l i e v e s t h a t

d i v i n a t i o n a n d f o r t u n e - t e l l i n g i s a n i m p o r t a n t means o f

u n r a v e l l i n g t h e m y s t e r y s u r r o u n d i n g t h i s u n i v e r s e ,

A l m o s t e v e r y d i v i n a t i o n c o n s u l t a t i o n i s f o l l o w e d by

sacrifices. S a c r i f i c e s are made t o e x p i a t e f o r s i n s

c o m m i t t e d , t o show , g r a t i t u d e f o r b l e s s i n g s r e c e i v e d .

D i v i n e r s o f t e n a s k t h e i r c l i e n t s t o make sacrifices t o

t h e i r a n c e s t r a l s p i r i t s o r t o d i v i n i t i e s f o r p r o t e c t i o n

a g a i n s t e v i l s p i r i t ,

T h i s w a s t h e t y p e o f c o s m o l o g y , p h i l o s o p h y and

r e l i g i o u s bel ief t h a t t h e e a r l y C h r i s t i a n M i s s i o n a r i e s ,

came i n t o u c h w i t h i n Af r i ca . To many of them, e v e r y -

t h i n g w a s ' f e t i s h ' o r ' d e m o n i c 1 o r ' i r r e l i g i o u s ' a n d

' p r i m i t i v e ', Some of t h e s e p r e s u p p o s i t i o n s made t h e

C h r i s t i a n M i s s i o n a r i e s t o be i n s e n t i v e t o t h e s e l f

u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e A f r i c a n w i t h i n t h e i r own c o s m o l o g y

and n a t u r a l t h e o l o g y . On t h e i n t e r a c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e

m i s s i o n a r i e s and t h e A f r i c a n w o r l d - v i e w , I d o w u s a y s ,

t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s were c o n v i n c e d t h a t s i n c e t h e A f r i c a n bowed down t o "wood a n d s t o n e s f t i t was h i s p r i v i l e g e t o i n t r o d u c e t h e A f r i c a n t o t h e c o n c e p t o f God f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e , c o n s e q u e n t l y t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s s u c c e e d e d o n l y i n , . , p r e a c h i n g t o , and i n t e a c h i r g a b o u t a s t r a n g e God whom t h e y h a v e somehow, come t o i d e n t i f y a s t h e God of t h e w h i t e man. B u t w h a t h a s h a p p e n e d t o t h e God.. . who i s t h e f o u n d a t i o n of t h e i r t r a d i t i o n a l belief? T h e C h u r c h u n w i t t i n g l y l e f t t h e A f r i c a n c o n v e r t w i t h t w o Gods i n t h e i r h a n d s a n d t h u s made of them p e o p l e s of a m b i v a l e n t s p i r i t u a l l i v e s . 7

Cases a b o u n d , of ~ f r i c a n C h r i s t i a n s who r e v e r t t o

t r a d i t i o n a l p r a c t i c e s , of d i v i n a t i o n and sacr i f ices , o r

t o m e d i c i n e men, i n times of s e r i o u s crisis a n d ill-

h e a l t h . T h i s p o s e s a problem t o t h e C h u r c h i n Africa.

H o w i s s h e t o be r e l e v a n t t o t h e n e e d s a n d p r o b l e m s of

h e r members who a r e p l a g u e d w i t h s o much d i s e a s e a n d

s u f f e r i n g w i t h o u t f a l l i n g i n t o R e l i g i o u s S y n c r e t i s m ?

T h e A f r i c a n i s a f r a i d of forces t h a t a c t a g a i n s t t h e

good w i l l o f t h e a n c e s t o r s t o w a r d s t h e i r o f f s p r i n g a n d

would v a l u e h e l p f r o m a n y s o u r c e j u s t t o s u r v i v e , On

t h i s S. N . E z e a n y a s a y s ,

The R e l i g i o u s p h i l o s o p h y o f t h e A f r i c a n is l i f e c e n t r e d . N e a r l y a l l t h e p r a y e r s o f f e r e d t o God, t h e s p i r i t s a n d t h e a n c e s t o r s a re r e d u c i b l e i n o n e way o r a n o t h e r t o e i t h e r p r a y e r f o r o b t a i n i n g l i f e , o r f o r r e s t o r i n g i t , o r f o r p r e s e r v i n g i t from c o u n t l e s s d a n g e r s t h a t t h r e a t e n i t o r f o r r e c o v e r y from i l l n e s s o r f o r m a k i n g l i f e more a b u n d a n t a n d e v e n i n e x t r e m e cases f o r r e m o v a l o f o n e ' s e n e m i e s who c o n s t i t u t e a t h r e a t t o o n e ' s l i f e . 8

T h e A f r i c a n , who i s f a c e d w i t h p r o b l e m s , t h e r e f o r e ,

i s i n c l i n e d t o l o o k f o r h e l p and s u c h h e l p t h a t w o u l d

make h im f e e l t h e s p i r i t u a l i m p a c t o f t h e c h a l l e n g e t h a t

i s g i v e n t o t h e e v i l force t h a t i s a g a i n s t h i m , I f i t

i s p r a y e r , i t h a s t o be p o w e r f u l a n d e f f e c t i v e ,

On t h i s t h e A f r i c a n i n d i g e n o u s C h u r c h e s h a v e t a k e n

a s t a n d . L e t m e t h e n l o o k a t h e a l i n g a s i t i s p r a c t i c e d

i n some o f t h e s e i n d i g e n o u s A f r i c a n C h u r c h e s who a re

m a k i n g d e s p e r a t e e f f o r t t o r e a c h t h e A f r i c a n , a n d d i s p e l

h i s f e a r s a n d h e a l h i s d i s e a s e s .

NOTES - CHAPTER NINE

T. U . Nwala , I q b o P h i l o s o p h y . ( I k e j a : L i t e r a m e d Pub . L t d . , 1 9 8 3 ) ~ p. 26.

D. I. Nwoga, T h e S u p r e m e God as S t r a n q e r i n I q b o R e l i q i o u s T h o u q h t . ( ~ h i a z u Mbaise: Hawk P r e s s , 19841, p. 69.

Nwoga h e r e s a y s t h a t C h i o r Chukwu is t h e s o u r c e of - t h e m i n o r d i e t i e s and t h e o n e t o whom s a c r i f i c e t o t h e s e d i e t i e s u l t i r n a t e l y g o e s . B u t t h e s e d e i t i e s , s u c h a s - A n i ( e a r t h g o d d e s s ) , s t i l l e x e r c i s e a u t ' h o r i t y and c o n t r o l over e a r t h a n d v e g e t a t i o n .

E. I l o g u , C h r i s t i a n i t y and I q b o C u l t u r e . ( U , S . A . N O K , 1 9 7 4 1 , p. 38.'

E.M.P. E d e h , T o w a r d s an I g b o M e t a p h y s i c s . ( C h i c a g o : L o y o l a , l 9 8 5 ) , p. 107,

0, I m a s o g i e , G u i d e l i n e s f o r C h r i s t i a n T h e o l o q y i n A f r i c a , ( I b a d a n : U n i v e r s i t y F r e s s , 19861, p. 54.

I b i d . , P. 55 . - B e I d o w u , l l M i s s i o n a r i ~ s and A f r i c a n Wor ld V i e w " i n ~ i b l i c a l ' R e v e l a t i o n a n d A f r i c a n Be l ie fs , ( c d s . ) D i c k s o n a n d P , E l l i n q w o r t h . ( N e w y o r k : O r b i s B o o k s , 1 9 6 9 ) ; p. 131

E z e a n y a , Loc.. C i t . , pp. 2 - 3 ,

CHAPTER TEN

HEALING I N THE INDIGENOUS CHURCHES

T h e h e a l i n g d i m e n s i o n i n t h e C h u r c h ' s M i n i s t r y i n

A f r i c a i s r e c e i v i n g a r e n e w e d e m p h a s i s t o d a y u n l i k e

before i n t h e h i s t o r y o f C h r i s t i a n i t y i n ~ f r i c a , On t h i s

t h e m e , Iwuagwu s a y s , x.

I t i s i n t h e new i n d e p e n d e n t s p i r i t u a l C h u r c h m o v e m e n t s t h a t t h e a c t u a l r e v o l u t i o n i n p r a y e r h e a l i n g i s t a k i n g p l a c e o I n t h e A p o s t o l i c C h u r c h e s a n d C h e r u b i m m o v e m e n t s w e c a n see a d y n a m i c e f f o r t t o h e a l t h e s i c k by p r a y e r , T h e new m o v e m e n t s h a v e t r i e d t o e s t a b l i s h p r a y e r h o u s e s , h e a l i n g homes o r s p i r i t u a l h o s p i t a l s w h e r e mad p e r s o n s a n d o t h e r p a t i e n t s p s y c h o - s p i r i - t u a l l y ill, are t r e a t e d . B e c a u s e of t h i s n e e d , a l a r g e n u m b e r o f t h e members o f t h e Y i s s i o n C h u r c h e s h a v e l e f t f o r t h e new m o v e m e n t s . 1

I t i s t h e view o f s o m e p e o p l e t h a t t h e e m e r g e n c e o f

t h e ' A f r i c a n . i n d i g e n o u s C h u r c h e s I , h a s a c t u a l l y h e l p e d

t o f o r c e t h e e s t a b l i s h e d o r M i s s i o n C h u r c h e s ( i .e , Roman

C a t h o l i c s , A n g l i c a n s , P r e s b y t e r i a n s , M e t h o d i s t s ,

B a p t i s t s , e t c . ) t o r e t h i n k t h e i r t h e o l o g y a n d w o r s h i p , 2

T h e e m e r g e n c e o f t h e s e i n d i g e n o u s C h u r c h e s ( w h i c h

w i l l i n c l u d e G a r r i c k B r a i d e C h u r c h , a n d C h r i s t Army

C h u r c h , C h e r u b i m a n d S e r a p h i m , The C h u r c h o f t h e L o r d ,

A l a d u r a , B r o t h e r h o o d o f t h e C r o s s a n d S t a r , etc. i n

N i g e r i a ) a r e n o r m a l l y n a r r o w e d down t o p o l i t i c a l ,

e c o n o m i c , s o c i a l a n d r a c i a l d i s c r i m i n a t i o n .

B u t maw r e s e a r c h e r s i n t h i s f i e l d now c o n t e n d t h a t ./

s p i r i t u a l h u n g e r i s t h e main c a u s e of t h e e m e r g e n c e -

I n t h e s e C h u r c h e s , t h e r e l i g i o u s n e e d s of h e a l i n g ,

d i v i n i n g , p r o p h e s y i n g a n d v i s i o n i n g a r e f u l f i l l e d b y

C h r i s t i a n m e a n s . R e f e r r i n g t o t h e s e i n d i g e n o u s i n d e p e n -

d e n t c h u r c h e s a s t t S p i r i t u a l C h u r c h e s N , Baeta made t h e

f o l l o w i n g o b s e r v a t i o n f o l l o w i n g h i s s t u d y i n G h a n a :

p e o p l e do n o t j o i n t h e S p i r i t u a l C h u r c h e s u n l e s s t h e y f i n d t h e m s e l v e s w a n t i n g some- t h i n g or o t h e r t h a t t h e C h u r c h e s a re be l i eved t o e n a b l e t h e m t o o b t a i n . Many s t a y o n i f t h e i r w i s h e s h a v e b e e n r e a l i z e d , o r i f t h e y a r e a b l e t o c o n t i n u e t o h o p e ; m a n y l e a v e a g a i n , w h a t e v e r t h e r e s u l t of t h e i r j o i n i n g h a s b e e n , U s u a l l y p e o p l e g o f o r h e a l i n g ' a f t e r h a v i n g u n s u c c e s s f u l l y t r i e d s c i e n t i f i c m e d i c i n e or A f r i c a n - h e r b a l t r e a t m e n t or t h e f e t i s h p r i e s t o r a l l t h r e e , . , . H f e w s a i d t h e y w e n t or w o u l d go t o t h e m b e c a u s e i t w a s a c h e a p w a y of g e t t i n g h e a l e d . A l l y o u n e e d t o p a y i s t h e C h u r c h c o l l e c t i o n , a n d y o u c a n make t h a t w h 3 . t y o u l i k e . 3

I f t h i s w a s w h a t p e o p l e w i s h e d t o f i n d i n t h e

C h u r c h , why d i d t h e e s t a b l i s h e d C h u r c h e s f a i l t o meet

t o t h e n e e d a n d w i s h of t h e s e p e o p l e ?

A s a w a y of i l l u s t r a t i o n , I s h a l l c o n s i d e r f o u r o f

t h e s e i n d i g e n o u s I n d e p e n d e n t A f r i c a n C h u r c h e s w i t h a v i e w

t o h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e i r c h a l l e n g e t h e M i s s i o n C h u r c h e s - ,

GARRICK SOKARI B R A I D E :

I n 1915, a r e v i v a l i s t m o v e m e n t l e d b y a C a t e c h i s t

n a m e d G a r r i c k S . B r a i d e of t h e N i g c r Delta P a s t o r a t e . ' ,> ?

,, 3

rn

( ~ n g l i c a n c h u r c h ) b r o k e o u t i n Degema Dis t r ic t , a n d

s p r e a d i n less t h a n a y e a r t h r o u g h most of t h e

S o u t h e r n p a r t o f t h e t h e n O w e r r i P r o v i n c e .

B i s h o p J o h n s o n i n F e b r u a r y , 1 9 1 6 , a t a m e e t i n g of

t h e N i g e r D e l t a C h u r c h Board was q u o t e d a s s a y i n g ,

I c o u l d a l m o s t s a y i t h a s c a p t u r e d t h e P a s t ~ r a t e w i t h a f e w s m a l l p l a c e s e x c e p t e d - 4

T h e Commiss ion of e n q u i r y a p p o i n t e d t o s t u d y t h e

s i t u a t i o n i n t h e D e l t a C h u r c h r e p o r t e d t o t h e 1918 Synod

of L a g o s t h a t :

t h e d i s t r i c t s c h i e f l y a f f e c t e d w e r e Bonny, Abonnema, a n d P o r t H a r c o u t . . T h e l o s s i n t h e s e d i s t r i c t s n u m e r i c a l l y a n d f i n a n c i a l l y i s c o n s i d e r a b l e . 5

Bra ide w a s a y o u n g C h r i s t i a n w o r k e r of p r o m i s e a n d

w a s much u s e d i n h e a l i n g t h e s i c k b y p r a y e r , b u t belief

i n h i s , , b r o p h e t i c o f f i c e s o o n Lad t o w h a t A n g l i c a n C h u r c h

h i s t o r i a n s c a l l e d e e x t r a v a g a n t e x c e s s e s I. He p r o c l a i m e d

h i m s e l f t o be t h e s e c o n d E l i j a h r e f e r r e d t o i n M a l a c h i

4 :5. The p e o p l e p a i d h i m t h e g r e a t e s r e v e r e n c e . Even

h i s b a t h water was t h o u g h t t o be c h a r g e d w i t h s u p e r -

n a t u r a l power a n d was d r u n k o r mixed w i t h e a r t h a n d

s m e a r e d o n t h e b o d y a s m e d i c i n e . T h i s r e v i v a l l a t e r

g a v e b i r t h t o G a r r i c k B r a i d e C h u r c h a n d C h r i s t Army

Church . T h i s movement g a t h e r e d many o f i t s members from

a l r e a d y e s t a b l i s h e d C h u r c h e s of t h e A n g k i c a n , Roman

C a t h o l i c , P r e s b y t e r i a n a n d M e t h o d i s t .

B u t w a s B r a i d c f s M o v e m e n t s i m p l y a s p l i t from t h e

A n g l i c a n C h u r c h ? Bra ide w a s a n A n g l i c a n C a t e c h i s t before

t h e r e v i v a l t h a t came t h r o u g h h i m , t h i s may m a k e o n e t o

see i t s i m p l y as a s p l i t from t h e A n g l i c a n C h u r c h . B u t

t h i s w a s n o t t h e t r u e p i c t u r e . Many of t h e f o l l o w e r s ,

a s n o t e d a b o v e w e r e from t h e M i s s i o n C h u r c h e s a n d a l s o

t h e h e a t h e n w o r l d , C h u r c h H i s t o r i a n s a n a l y s e d i t t h u s :

( i ) T h e masses w e r e r e a d y f o r c h a n g e . T h e y w e r e n o t

s a t i s f i ed w i t h w h a t t h e y h a d i n t h e i r r e l i g i o n - be i t

C h r i s t i a n i t y o r t h e t r a d i t i o n a l a n d o r t h o d o x t y p e . o r

A f r i c a n T r a d i t i o n a l R e l i g i o n ,

( i i ) T h e bas ic t e a c h i n g s of t h i s m o v e m e n t w e r e b o t h

B i b l i c a l a n d moral - D e s t r o y y o u r i d o l s , r e p e n t of y o u r

s i n s , a n d l e a v e o f f d r i n k i n g g i n . T h e y w e r e n o t l o o k i n g

f o r a w a t e r e d - d o w n C h r i s t i a n i t y w i t h l o w moral r e q u i r e m e n t ,

( i i i ) T h e e n t i r e l i v e s of t h e s e p e o p l e h a d b e e n d e p e n d e n t

u p o n a n d i n t e g r a t e d w i t h t h e i r former t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i g i o n ,

T h e p h y s i c a l h e a l i n g t h r o u g h p r a y e r w a s a m a n i f e s t a t i o n

of t h e p o w e r a n d c l o s e n e s s of J e s u s t h a t p e o p l e f e l t w a s

l a c k i n g i n t h e i r p r e v i o u s e x p e r i e n c e w i t h C h r i s t i a n i t y ,

w h i c h t h e y s a w i n G a r r i c k S o k a r i B r a i d e . 6

Cl lRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH

J c s e p h B a b a l o l a , a m e c h a n i c a t I l o f a , n e a r I b a d a n ,

anc; a member of t h e F a i t h T a b e r n a c l e C h u r c h , h a s b e e n

a s soc ia ted w i t h a m o v e m e n t , a p r a y e r b a n d , w h i c h even-

t u a l l y g a v e b i r t h t o C h r i s t A p o s t o l i c C h u r c h ,

T h e h i s t o r y b e g a n w i t h a ser ies of d r e a m s a n d

p r o p h e c i e s w i t h o t h e r P e n t e c o s t a l g i f t s - c h a r i s m a t a ,

e x h i b i t e d w i t h i n a n u m b e r of p r a y e r g r o u p s w i t h i n a n d o u t

s i d e t h e F a i t h T a b e r n a c l e C h u r c h b e t w e e n 1929-1930, S o o n

P r o p h e t s e m e r g e d w i t h i n t h e s e g r o u p s w i t h e x t r a - o r d i n a r y

a b i l i t i e s f o r v i s i o n s , d r e a m s a n d h e a l i n g t b u g h p r a y e r .

C o m p l e t e d e p e n d e n c e i s p l a c e d u p o n p r a y e r , a n d f a i t h f o r

t h e s o l u t i o n of a l l p r o b l e m s a n d h e a l i n g of a l l

7 d i s e a s e s , S i g n i f i c a n t i n t h e i r t e a c h i n g i s t h e

e m p h a s i s o n A d u l t B a p t i s m a s o p p o s e d t o I n f a n t B a p t i s m

p r a c t i c e d ' b y t h e M i s s i o n C h u r c h e s ,

T h i s m o v e m e n t , l i k e t h e G a r r i c k B r a i d e M o v e m e n t ,

h a s h i g h moral v a l u e s . a n d was b i b l e - b a s e d . T h e g r e a t

a t t r a c t i o n t o t h i s rnovernent came l a r g e l y from:

( i ) T h e com'mon A f r i c a n b e l i e f i n t h e i m p o r t . m c e a n d

p o w e r o f v i s i o n s a n d d r e a m s , a n d

( i i ) t h e h o p e fo r h e a l i n g a n d miracles i n m e e t i n g t h e

p r o b l e m s of t h i s l i f e ,

CHERUBIM A N D SERAPHIM: - ?

Moses O r i m o l a d e T u n o l a s e i s h e l d t o be t h e f o u n d e r ,

of t h i s C h u r c h . Moses w a s c r i p p l e d a t h i s home t o w n ,

I k a r r e i n O n d o i n 1908. T h r o u g h h i s own p r a y e r s i n

1 9 2 0 , h i s l ~ g s w e r e h e a l e d . H e t h e n b e g a n g o i n g from

t o w n t o t o w n t e a c h i n g a n d p r a y i n g , H i s f o l l o w i n g g r e w

r a p i d l y a s h i s s t o r y became k n o w n , A n o t h e r r e m a r k a b l e

h e a l i n g of a g i r l , A b i o d u m j i k i n s o w o n i n L a g o s , h i g h t e n e d

h i s fame, L a t e r , b y 1 9 2 6 , Moses a n d A b i o d u n became

s p i r i t u a l leaders of t h i s g r o u p ,

T h e g r o u p o r i g i n a l l y o p e r a t e d as a p r a y e r - h o u s e ,

a n d e n c o u r a g e d f o l l o w e r s t o c o n t i n u e i n t h e i r own

C h u r c h e s , C h u r c h a u t h o r i t i e s h o w e v e r o p p o s e d some of

t h e i r be l ie fs a n d a c t i v i t i e s s u c t ! a s bel ief i n w i t c h c r a f t

a n d u s e of o l i v e o i l a n d h o l y w a t e r , T h e r e s u l t w a s a

b r e a k - a w a y from t h e e s t a b l i s h e d C h u r c h e s w h e r e t h e

i n d i v i d u a l members b e l o n g e d , a n d t h e f o r m i n g o f t h e

'Sacred C h e r u b i m a n d S e r a p h i m S o c i e t y t a n a m e t h a t came

from v i s i o n s i n s t r u c t i n g t h e m t o t e k e i t . 8

gain n o t i c e t h e f a c t o r s t h a t a i d e d t h e g r o w t h :

( i ) T h e d o w n - t o - e a r t h e m p h a s i s o n p r a y e r t o meet most

p r o b l e m s o f t h i s l i f e . S m a l l w o o d e n cross a n d rod a r e

b o t h u s e d t o p e r f o r m s p i r i t u a l a c t s s u c h a s d r i v i n g

a w a y e v i 1 s p i r i ts a n d w i tc h e s ,

(ii S i n s are c o n f e s s e d , o p e n l y a t s p e c i a l s e r v i c e s a n d

u s e i s made o f h o l y w a t e r , i n c e n s e , a n d c a n d l e s f o r

c l e a n s i n g .

( i i i ) The formal W e s t e r n a n d E u r o p e a n s t y l e o f w o r s h i p

i s f o r e i g n t o many N i g e r i a n s a n d so t h e f r e e e x p r e s s i o n

a n d g r o u p p a r t i c i p a t i o n of C h e r u b i m a n d S e r a p h i m i n

d r u m m i n g , d a n c i n g , h a n d - c l a p p i n g , v i s i o n s a n d p r o p h e c y

a re f e a t u r e s t h a t a r e f a m i l i a r among N i g e r i a n s .

T H E CHURCH OF THE LORD ( A L A D U R A )

B e g i n n i n g i n I j e b u i n 1925, a n A n g l i c a n C a t e c h i s t

a n d S c h o o l t e a c h e r named J o s i a h O l u l u w o O s h i t e l u , h a d a

series o f v i s i o n s t h a t l e d him t o e s t a b l i s h t h e C h u r c h ,

as i t s h e a d a n d p r i m a t e . S i n c e 1930, t h e C h u r c h h a s

g r o w n a n d s p r e a d s t e a d i l y . M e m b e r s h i p i s d r a w n a s i n

t h e C h e r u b i m a n d S e r a p h i m , from t h e e s t a b l i s h e d C h u r c h e s ,

m a i n l y A n g l i c a n a n d Roman C a t t l o l i c , a n d f r o m Islam a n d

t r a d i t i o n a l r e l i g i o n s .

Among t h e d i s t i n c t i v e f e a t u r e s a r e :

( i ) A c a t e c h i s m b a s e d o n t h e A n g l i c a n form, b u t w i t h

e m p h a s i s o n a d u l t b a p t i s m a n d w i t h i m m e r s i o n .

( i i ) P o l y g a m y i s a l lowed a n d r e f e r e n c e m a d e of Abraham,

Jacob, Moses a n d Dav id a s h a v i n g more t h a n o n e w i f e a n d

y e t s e r v e d God f a i t h f u l l y .

( i i i ) P r a y e r i s s a i d a t l e a s t f i v e times i n t h e d a y , a t

6-00 a . m . , 9 . 0 0 a . m . , 1 2 m i d - d a y , 3 . 0 0 p.m., a n d 6.00 p,m,

T h e r e a r e o c c a s i o n a l n i g h t p r a y e r s a n d v i g i l s ,

( i v ) S p e c i a l ' F a i t h Roomsf a r e a t t a c h e d t o e a c h A l a d u r a

C h u r c h f o r t h o s e w h o desire h e a l i n g or o t h e r h e l p .

P e o p l e w h o h a v e n e e d s g o t h e r e t o l i v e , u n t i l t h e i r

ob j ec t i s a t t a i n e d ,

( v ) Women are g i v e n o f f i c e s a n d p a r t i c i p a t e f u l l y i n

p r o p h e c y a n d v i s i o n s , b u t women i n t h e i r m e n s t r u a l

p e r i o d a r e n o t a l l o w e d i n s i d e t h e C h u r c h , b u t may

w o r s h i p i n a p J a c e a s s i g n e d .

( v i ) H i g h e r d e g r e e s of m e m b e r s h i p , c a l l e d cross-

bearers, a r e a n n o i n t e d to p r e a c h , h e a l t h e s i c k , r a i se

t h e dead a n d w o r k miracles.

T h e s t ress , a g a i n , a s i n t h e p r e v i o u s s a m p l e s of

t h e I n d i g e n o u s A f r i c a n C h u r c h e s , i s o n d i v i n e h e a l i n g -,I

a n d miracles, 9

N u m e r o u s o t he ' r i n d e p e n d e n t c h u r c h e s h a v e b e e n b o r n

i n ~ f r i c a i n g e n e r a l a n d N i g e r i a i n p a r t i c u l a r o u t of

s u c h r e v i v a l s , P a r r i n a e r l i s t s f i f t e e n v a r i t i e s a n d

t w e n t y - f i v e c h u r c h e s i n t h e c i t y of I b a d a n a l o n e , And

h e w a s t o l d t h a t n e w c h u r c h e s a r r i v e t h e r e a t t h e r a t e

of o n e o r t w o a w e e k . 10

T h e s e C h u r c h e s s e e k a w a y of C h r i s t i a n e x p r e s s i o n ,

s t r u g g l i n g f o r s e l f h o o d o f t h e C h u r c h , a n d a s k i n g t o be

a l l o w e d to w o r s h i p a s I g b o or Y o r u b a , o r N i g e r i a n

( ~ f r i c a n ) C h r i s t i a n . T h e y d o n o t w a n t t o be t u r n e d i n t o

E u r o p e a n s before t h e y c a n w o r s h i p God a r i g h t r a t h e r , t h e y

s e e k to f u l f i l t h a t w h i c h i s l a c k i n g i n t h e E u r o p e a n

M i s s i o n C h u r c h e s , e . g . i n m u s i c , e x t e m p o r e p r a y e r a n d

n o n - l i t u r g i c a l b u t c h a r i s m a t i c w o r s h i p w i t h e m p h a s i s o n

h e a l i n g .

Most i l l n e s s e s w h e t h e r p s y c h i c or somatic a r e

be l ieved t o be d u e t o t h e a c t i v i t y o f t h e s p i r i t w o r l d ,

a n d w i t h t h e p o w e r s of t h e s p i r i t u a l l y e n d o w e d l eaders ,

t h e s e p r o b l e m s a r e d e a l t h w i t h s u c c e s s f u l l y . Some of

t h e d i s e a s e s c u r e d i n c l u d e c h r o n i c d i s e a s e s c o n s i d e r e d

i n c u r a b l e b y N e s t e r n t e c h n o l o g i c a l m e d i c i n e . More of t e n

t h a n n o t , most o f t h e m e m b e r s h i p o f t h e s e C h u r c h e s w e r e

c u r e d of o n e d i s ea se o r a n o t h e r . As a r e s u l t t h e y

become a l i v i n g t e s t i m o n y .

A CliALLENGE TO MISSION Cti UHCtlES

I n t h e M i s s i o n C h u r c h e s , m e d i c a l p r a c t i c e s h a s

b e c o m e so s p e c i a l i z e d a n d s e c u l a r i z e d t h a t w o r s h i p i s

s e p a r a t e from h e a l i n g . B u t w i t h t h e c h a l l e n g e from t h e

i n d i g e n o u s c h u r c h e s , m a n y M i s s i o n C h u r c h e s now r u n

h e a l i n g services o n c o v e n i e n t d a y s m o s t l y o n w e e k - d a y s

w i t h c l e r g y m e n i n - c h a r g e o f s u c h s e r v i c e s . I n some

C h u r c h e s , a w h o l e P a r i s h c a n b e l e f t i n t h e h a n d s o f

c l e r g y m e n . An e x a m p l e i s Rev. F r . Edeh , who h a s t h e

g i f t o f h e a l i n g , a n d many p e o p l e i n a n d o u t s i d e t h e

p a r i s h , w i t h p s y c h i c o r s o m a t i c p r o b l e m s , d o g o t o him

o r h i s P a r i s h f o r h e l p , I n t h e A n g l i c a n Diocese o f Aba,

N i g e r i a , t h e 1 9 8 1 Synod r e s o l u t i o n made i t a l m o s t

m a n d a t o r y f o r e v e r y c l e r g y i n t h e p a r i s h t o s e t u p a

Mid-Week F a s t i n g P r a y e r M e e t i n g , f o r d i v i n e h e a l i n g .

S i n c e t h e n , r e c o r d e d m i r a c u l o u s h e a l i n g s h a v e t a k e n

p l a c e i n many p a r i s h e s a n d t h i s h a s a d d e d l i f e , m e a n i n g

and a u t h e n t i c i t y t o C h u r c h w o r s h i p , s i m i l a r p r a c t i c e s

a r e r e p o r t e d i n o t h e r d i o c e s e s and d e n o m i n a t i o n s too.

I n t h e s e p r a y e r c i rc les a n d g r o u p s w i t h i n t h e

M i s s i o n C h u r c h , a c u t e m e n t a l c a s e s , c h r o n i c d i s e a s e s o f

i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l o r g a n s , h a v e b e e n s u c c e s s f u l l y

c u r e d t h r o u g h p r a y e r a n d e x o r c i s m .

C o n s i d e r t h i s e x a m p l e ; I n K w u l u n e b e v s P a r i s h , t h e

s e x t o n of t h e C h u r c h now, w a s a n i n m a t e o f t h e home w i t h

g r a v e m e n t a i d i s o r d e r , b u t w i t h l o v i n g c a r e a n d p r a y e r s

o f t h i s P a r i s h - c u m - h e a l i n g C h u r c h , he h a s r e c o v e r e d a n d

is now i n t e g r a t e d i n t o t h e C h u r c h ' s l i f e a n d m i n i s t r y ,

H e now l i v e s a s e l f f u l f i l l i n g l i f e - h e a l t h r e s t o r e d ,

12 a n d a j o b f o r l i v e l i h o o d .

1 0 0 .

I t i s t r u e t o s a y t h a t l i f e a n d v i g o u r h a v e r e t u r n e d

t h e M i s s i o n C h u r c h e s . T h e y now g o o u t p r e a c h i n g a n d

h e a l i n g diseases. W i t h t h e i r w e a l t h o f C h u r c h t r a d i t i o n

a n d t h o r o u g h t r a i n i n g o f t h e i r c l e r g y , t h e y seem more

c o m p e t e n t t o l ead p e o p l e i n t h i s s p i r i t u a l realm.

The i n d i g e n o u s A f r i c a n C h u r c h e s may be t r y i n g to

s p r e a d a t a v e r y f a s t r a t e , b u t t h e i r t e a c h i n g i s n o t

u s u a l l y b i b l i c a l l y b a l a n c e d . T h e y may p r a y e f f e c t i v e l y

a n d r e c o r d many h e a l i n g c a s e s , s t i l l t h e r e i s t h e n e e d

t o p r e a c h a l o n g t h e l i n e o f h i s t o r i c a l a n d t r a d i t i o n a l

C h r i s t i a n i t y , f o r c o n t i n u i t y a n d s t a b i l i t y .

L e t m e h e r e c o n s i d e r t h e t o l e o f E v a n g e l i s m i n

h e a l i n g m i n i s t r y .

CHAPTER TEN

I w u a g w u , L o c , C i t., p. 4 9 .

I b i d Po 9 p p , 4 7 - 5 0 .

C. G. dae t a , P r o p h e t i s m i n G h a n a : pr on don: SCM, 1 9 6 2 ) , p. 1 4 3 .

J o B. G r i m l e y a n d G, E. R o b i n s o n ( e d s . ) C h u r c h G r o w t h i n C e n t r a l a n d S o u t h e r n N i g e r i a , ( ~ i c h i g a n : E e r d m a n s , l 9 6 6 ) , p. 3 0 1 .

I b i d .

I b i d . , p. 3 3 3 .

B. S t e w a r d , H i s t o r i c a l B a c k g r o u n d of C h u r c h e s i n Niger ia , (Sum- ere N i g e r i a : I n t e r w a l e P r e s s ) , p , 1 7 .

J. R. G r i m l e y a n d G. E, ~ o b i n s o n , L o c . C i t . , p. 3 0 6 .

I b i d 9 p o 3 1 1 .

G. P a r r i n d e r , R e l i q i o n i n a n A f r i c a n C i t y . ondo don: O.U.P., 1 9 5 3 1 , p. 1 0 7 ,

E. 0. O b e n g , ' I n r o a d s of A f r i c a n R e l i g i o n i n C h r i s t i a n i t y : t h e C a s e of t h e S p i r i t u a l C h u r c h e s t i n ATJ V o l . 16 , No. 1, 1 9 8 7 , p. 45.

-7

T h e w r i t e r of t h i s t h e s i s is a s t a f f of t h e D i o c e s e of A b a , a n d a n e x e c u t i v e member of t h e F a s t i n g P r a y e r C o m m i t t e e of t h e Diocese. V i s i t s t o some s t a t i o n s i n t h e Diocese v a l i d a t e t h e f a c t ,

N . N. K w u l u n e b e ( R e v d , C a n o n ) i s a n A n g l i c a n P a r i s h ' P r i e s t w o r k i n c ; i n S t . S a r n a b a s C h u r c h , Igbo-Ukwu i n Awka Diocese. kie t o o k m e r o u n d h i s s t a t i o n w h e n I C i s i t e d , a n d k i n d l y a n s > ~ e r e d my q u e s t i o n s .

CHAPTER ELEVEN

MEALIN6 AND EVANGELISM I N (NIGERIA) AFRICA

T h e h e a l i n g a c t i v i t y o f J e s u s was u s u a l l y d o n e w i t h i n

t h e c o n t e x t of p r o c l a i m i n g t h e Kingdom of God or of

e v a n g e l i z a t i o n . H e n c e , when h e s e n t o u t t h e s e v e n t y of

h i s d i s c i p l e s , i t w a s w i t h t h e c h a r g e t o p r e a c h , t e a c h

a n d h e a l t h e s i c k . 1

The A f r i c a n b e l i e v e s i n a C r e a t o r - G o d , a n d a w o r l d

f u l l of d i v i n i t i e s , s p i r i t s , d e m o n s a n d t h e i r human a l l i e s

i n t h e form of w i t c h e s a n d w i z a r d s . F o r t h e A f r i c a n ,

t h e r e i s ' n o s o l i d l i n e of d e m a r c a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e sacred

a n d t h e s e c u l a r b e c a u s e t h e s p i r i t u a l i n t e r p e n e t r a t e s

t h i s w o r l d . Man i s v u l n e r a b l e a n d i s o p e n t o t h e

s p i r i t u a l forces for i l l or g o o d . C o n s e q u e n t l y , man

l i v e s o n f e a r of m e t a p h y s i c a l d a n g e r a n d c o n s t a n t l y n e e d s

t h e h e l p of s p i r i t u a l forces for s e c u r i t y . F o r him, t h e r e

i s n o a c c i d e n t , e v e r y h a p p e n i n g h a s a m e t a p h y s i c a l bas i s . 2

I n v i e w of t h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g , t h e i n d i g e n o u s A f r i c a n

C h u r c h e s e m p h a s i z e t h e a l l - s u f f i c i e n c y of C h r i s t , b a s e d

o n P a u l ' s l e t te rs t o E p h e s i a n s a n d C o l o s s i a n s a n d declare

t h a t members claim H i s a u t h o r i t y a n d d e s t r o y t h e forces

of w i t c h c r a f t a n d demon p o s s e s s i o n , or e v e n from t h e

fears of t h e s e , On t h i s , N e i l s a i d ,

U n l e s s t h e f i r s t d e l i v e r a n c e from f e a r h a s b e e n f u l l y a c c o m p l i s h e d , u n l e s s J e s u s h a s r e a l l y b e e n e n t h r o n e d a s C o n q u e r o r of t h e d e m o n s , t h e b e l i e v e r i s s t i l l l i v i n g h a l f i n t h e o l d n a t u r a l i s t i c w o r l d i n w h i c h t h e s p i r i t s h a v e p o w e r a n d t h e t i m e h a s n o t y e t come i n w h i c h h i s ears w i l l r e a l l y be o p e n e d t o h e a r t h e t e a c h i n g c o n c e r n i n g s i n , r i g h t e o u s n e s s , r e p e n t a n c e a n d f o r g i v e n e s s .

3

O n t h e r e l e v a n c e of p r e a c h i n g a s s e e n i n t h e

i n d i g e n o u s A f r i c a n C h u r c h e s , r e s e a r c h e r s f i n d i n g s a n d

c o n c l u s i o n s , Mbi t i h a s t h i s t o s a y ,

The A l a d u r a C h u r c h made u s e of t h e w h o l e b i b l e i n i t s p r e a c h i n g . . . t h e w h o l e b i b l e i s u s e d , a n d l i n e made b e t w e e n t h e b i b l i c a l w o r l d a n d A f r i c a n h e r i t a g e , a s w e l l a s c o n t e m p o r a r y l i f e.4

T h i s w o u l d a c c o u n t f o r t h e mass f o l l o w e r s h i p i n

t h e s e C h u r c h e s b e c a u s e . , t h e p r e a c h i n g i s r e l a t e d t o

p e o p l e ' s p r o b l e m s a n d n e e d s , a n d t h e i r a n x i e t i e s a n d

f e a r s l i f t e d a t t h e e n d . T h i s b r i n g s h e a l i n g a n d w h o l e -

n e s s , T h e r e f o r e , t h e idea of e m p h a s i z i n g h e a l i n g d u r i n g

e v a n g e l i s t i c o u t r e a c h or C h u r c h S e r v i c e i n t h e i n d i g e n o u s

A f r i c a n C h u r c h e s , i s t i e d u p w i t h t h e i d e a of s a l v a t i o n

of b o d y a n d s o u l w i t h i n t h e s o c i o l o g i c a l c o n t e x t of t h e

i n d i v i d u a l . 5

I n t h e M i s s i o n C h u r c h e s , t h e e m p h a s i s u s e d t o 5e more

o n t h e s a c r a m e n t s of B a p t i s m a n d E u c h a r i s t - v e h i c l e s of

h e a l i n g 2 n d w h o l e n e s s . B u t now w i t h t h e more c h a r i s m a t i c

g r o u p s s p r i n g i n g u p w i t h i n t h e C h u r c h , a r e n e w e d e m p h a s i s

on e v a n g e l i z a t i o n and h e a l i n g unsued , Many p e o p l e w h o

b e l o n g e d t o some secret c u l t s , and p r a c t i c e o c c u l t i s m

a r e s e e n to come o u t of t h e s e g r o u p s o r secret societ ies

and are j o i n i n g t h e Church and c o n f e s s i n g t h e i r demonic

c o n n e c t i o n s i n t h e p a s t and a s k i n g for p r a y e r s of

d e l i v e r a n c e .

C o n s i d e r t h i s example wh ich happened i n my own

m i n i s t r y i n S t , M i c h a e l ' s C a t h e d r a l , Aba. The c o n d u c t o r

of t h e Mid-Week F a s t i n g P r a y e r f o r t h e d a y g a v e a v e r y

i n s p d r i n g a n d moving a d d r e s s b a s e d o n t h e G o s p e l t e x t of

B l i n d B a r t i m a e u s ba ark 10 : 46-52 ), A lame boy was i n tt-e

m e e t i n g . When t h e c o n d u c t o r c a l l e d f o r p e o p l e w i t h

p r o b l e m s t o come f o r t h for p r a y e r s , t h i s boy w i t h a p a i r

of c r u t c h e s came o u t , Hymns and c h o r u s e s were s u n g w i t h

i n h e r s p e r e d s p e e c h e s of t h e h e a l i n g acts of J e s u s t h r o u g h

t h e hands of t h e d i s c i p l e s , Then t h e c o n d u c t o r a n d some

o t h e r s a t t h e t a b l e s e r v i n g f o r t h a t d a y a n d s e s s i o n l a i d

t h e i r hands on t h e boy a n d p r a y e d , I n a s t a t e of immense

e m o t i o n a l e x c i t e m e n t a s t h e p r a y e r was g o i n g o n , the boy

t h r e w down h i s c r u t c h e s a n d walked o f f from t h e h a l l and

w e n t oabi'de. There was s u c h t a n e x c f t e m e n t i r t h e h k l l ,

9 S h o u t s H a l l e l u j a h ahd ' p r a i s e Godt f i l l e d t h e w h o l e

i compound, .and a t t r a c t e d p a s s e r s - b y and s c h o o l c h i l d r e n

and s t a f f , The s t o r y w e n t o u t e v e r y w h e r e t h a t a iame-

b o y w a l k e d a f t e r p r a y e r s i n S t . M i c h a e l ' s C a t h e d r a l .

T h e f o l l o w i n g w e e k , t h e n u m b e r i n a t t e n d a n c e d o u b l e d ,

many o f t h e m s a i d t h e y h e a r d t h e s t o r y of t h e h e a l i n g of

t h e l ame-boy , T h i s h a p p e n e d i n 1 9 8 5 . By 1 9 8 8 , t h e l a r g e

C h u r c h h a l l w h i c h is t h e v e n u e of t h e p r a y e r - f a s t i n g

s e s s i o n i s p a c k e d f u l l w i t h p e o p l e , b o t h members a n d

non-members . R e g u l a r e x p o s i t i o n o f t h e s c r i p t u r e s a n d

p r a y e r s f o r h e a l i n g now g o h a n d i n hand a n d h a s become o n e

e v a n g e l i s t i c o u t r e a c h o f t h e C h u r c h . 6

I n h i s a r t i c l e , o n ' t h e Mutunwa C h u r c h e s o f Zambia l ,

D i l l i o n - M a l o n e n o t e d t h a t t h i s C h u r c h ( j u s t a s many o t h e r

i n d i g e n o u s A f r i c a n C h u r c h e s ) i s f u l f i l l i n g a ' n e e d w h i c h

n e i t h e r m o d e r n s c i e n t i f i c m e d i c a l s e r v i c e s n o r t h e more

e s t a b l i s h e d C h u r c h n o r t r a d i t i o n a l m e d i c o - r e l i g i o u s

s p e c i a l i s t s a r e a d e q u a t e l y r e s p o n d i n g to. I n t h e i r

service, t h e r e a r e two p a r t s - o n e o r t h e f i r s t p a r t i s

b i b l e service or e v a n g e l i s m a n d t h e s e c o n d p a r t i s

h e a l i n g service. T h e r e i s o n e h o u r b r e a k i n - b e t w e e n .

T h e service c b u l d l a s t b e t w e e n t h e h o u r s of 10.00 a.m. t a

2 - 0 0 p.m.; a n d s t i l l p 6 o p l e a re h a p p y t o s t a y o n w i t h

t e a m i n g p o p u l a t i o n . The l e a d e r s o f t h i s C h u r c h e m p h a s i z e s

t h e n e e d t o p r e a c h t h e G o s p e l , a n d w i t h i n t h a t c o n t e x t

t o h e a l . 7

E v a n g e l i s m is b r i n g i n g g o o d n e w s to p e o p l e i n

t h e i r v a r i o u s n e e d s a n d p r e d i c a m c n ts. W i t h i n t h e c o n t e x t

of t h e of t h e s p o k e n word of God, h e a l i n g does t a k e

e f fec t , Even t h e n , p r o c l a i m i n g g o o d n e w s is b r i n g i n g

w h o l e n e s s t o men i n a d i s e 2 s e d w o r l d .

L e t me a t t h i s p o i n t t u r n t o l o o k a t how t h i s

h e a l i n g c a n b r i n g a b c u t C h u r c h g r o w t h ,

NOTES - CHAPTER ELEVEN

L u k e 1 0 : 1-20.

E. M, P. E d e h , Loc , C i t . , pp. 109-110 ,

S. N e i l , C h r i s t i a n F a i t h a n d o t h e r F a i t h s : The C h r i s t i a n ~ i a a n : OUP, 1 9 G l ) , , p. 146,

J. S. Mbi t i , ' T h e B i b l i c a l B a s e f o r p r e s e n t T r e n d s i n A f r i c a n T h e o l o g y 1, A f r i c a n T h e o l o q y e n r o u t e , K o f i a n d S e r g i o , ( e d s . ) ( ~ e w York : O r b i s B o o k s , 1 9 8 3 1 , p. 8 7 , P r o f e s s o r Mbit i may h a v e e x a g g e r a t e d t h e p o i n t h e r e b y c l a i m i n g t h a t t h e w h o l e b ib le i s u s e d b y t h e A l a d u r a C h u r c h . V i s i t s t o a n d i n v e s t i - g a t i o n i n A l a d u r a C h u r c h e s , i n c o u r s e of c o l l e c t i n g f a c t s a n d mate r ia l f o r t h i s t h e s i s p r o v e d t h a t e m p h a s i s is p l a c e d more o n some O l d T e s t a m e n t B o o k s , s u c h as L e v i t i c u s , N u m b e r s , D e u t e r o n o m y a n d t h e p r o p h e t i c b o o k s , I n t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t , t h e h e a l i n g stories i n A c t s a n d t h e G o s p e l s a r e f r e q u e n t l y u s e d w i t h l i t t l e o r n o r e f e r e n c e t o t h e E p i s t l e s a n d P a u l i n e let ters. The f a c t i s t h a t t h e s e C h u r c h e s a r e s i m p l y ' h e a l i n g o r i e n t e d t i n t h e i r w o r s h i p a n d so a r e b o u n d t o be u n b a l a n c e d i n t h e i r u s e o f t h e b ib le ,

C. I. E j i z u , ' H e a l i n g a n d W h o l e n e s s : The I g b o E x p e r i e n c e ' , - ATJ, 1 6 . 2 , ( 1 9 8 7 ) , p. 164,

S i n c e t h i s miracle, e v e r y a t t e m p t to f i n d o u t t h e name o f t h e b o y a n d some o t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t m i g h t b e r e l e v a n t h a v e n o t y i e l d e d a n y f r u i t , T h c c r o w d f s j o y , e x c i t e m e n t , s u r p r i s e a n d a m a z e m e n t s u r r o u n d i n g t h e h e a l i n g miracle made many who were t h e r c n o t to remember e v e n t o f i n d o u t t h e b o y f s name a n d r e s i d e n t i a l a d d r e s s . S u f f i c e i t t o s a y t h a t many more h e a l i n g s h a v e t a k e n a n d d o t a k e p l a c e h e r e . W e are u n d e r p r e s s u r e l h $ rom o u r members a t t h e momen t t o g e t a n o t h e r d a y i n week f o r s u c h s p i r i t u a l e x e r c i s e s . A

C. D i l l o n - M a l o n e , ' T h e Mutunwa C h u r c h e s of Zambia ', J o u r n a l o f R e l i g i o n i n A f r i c a , X I V ( 1 9 8 3 1 , p. 204,

CHAPTER TWELVE

HEALING AND CHURCH GROWTH

A s o n e s t u d i e s case h i s t o r i e s of g r o w i n g C h u r c h e s ,

t h e r e i s o n e r e c u r r i n g f a c t o r - t h e y a re a l l p r a y i n g

C h u r c h e s , The P e n t e c o s t a l Movement i n C h i l e was b o r n i n

a p r a y e r m e e t i n g , o u t of a v i s i ~ n t h r o u g h a n i g h t - w a t c h m a n .

T h a t w a s i n 1910. Now i n C h i l e , t h e y n u m b e r over o n e

m i l l i o n . 1

G r o w i n s C h u r c h e s w i t h i n t h e ~ i s s i o n ' C h u r c h e s i n

N i g e r i a t e s t i f y t o t h e f a c t t h a t i t b e g a n as t h e y m e t

w i t h t h o s e i n t h e i r C h u r c h e s b u r d e n e d b y God t o c o n f e s s

t h e i r s p i r i t u a l a p a t h y or i m p o t e n c e a n d s e e k h i s p o w e r

t o h e a l t h e i r p r i d e , s i c k n e s s a n d d i v i s i o n s . I n [such .

m e e t i n g s , m i r a c u l o u s h e a l i n g s b e i n g e x p e c t e d , do t a k e

p l a c e ; a n d t h e n e w s w o u l d s p r e a d v e r y q u i c k l y a n d t h e

result is o b v i o u s l y i n c r e a s e d m e m bers h i p ,

U n t i l r e c e n t l y i n t h e h i s t o r y of t h e M i s s i o n C h u r c h

i n N i g e r i a , i t seemed as i f n o p h y s i c a l o r p s y c h o l o g i c a l

d isorder c o u l d n o t be c u r e d o n e d a y t h r o u g h t r e a t m e n t ;

a n d so t h e C h u r c h g e n e r a l l y s u r r e n d e r e d much of t h e

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ' f o r t h i s m i n i s t r y t o t h e medical p r o f e s s i o n .

T h e s i c k w e r e s i m p l y pra 'yed f o r b y name, V i s i t e d , g i v e n

Communion a n d e n c o u r a g e d . N o t many P a s t o r s or members of

t h e i r c o n g r e g a t i o n e n v i s a g e d a more d i rec t m i n i s t r y t h a t

i n c l u d e d i n v o c a t i o n s f o r h e a l i n g w i t h a n o i n t i n g , a n d t h e

l a y i n g o n of h a n d s , a n d e x p e c t i n g i n s t a n t h e a l i n g . What

h a p p e n e d w a s h e r e h e r e a n d t h e r e , l i t t l e g r o u p s of

i n d i g e n o u s A f r i c a n C h u r c h e s , l a u n c h e d o u t i n t o a more

direct h e a l i n g m i n i s t r y . T h e A l a d u r a C h u r c h , t h e

C h e r u b i m a n d S e r a p h i m , t h e C h r i s t A p o s t o l i c C h u r c h , t h e

C h u r c h of t h e H o l y C h a p e l of Israel, a n d o t h e r s h a d

r e m a r k a b l e s u c c e s s i n h e a l i n g m i n i s t r y a n d a t t r a c t e d t h e

a t t e n t i o n of t h e masses, G r a d u a l l y t h e M i s s i o n C h u r c h e s

b e g a n t o r e c o g n i z e o f f i c i a l l y t h a t t h i s m i n i s t r y m e a n t

more t h a n a f e w p r a y e r s f o r t h e s i c k d u r i n g w o r s h i p - T h i s

does n o t i n a n y way n u l l i f y t h e p l a c e of i n t e r c e s s i o n i n

d i v i n e w o r s h i p , b u t p r a y i n g a n d e x p e c t i n g God t o a c t w i t h

observable r e s u l t s .

I n t h e I n d i g e n o u s C h u r c h e s , t h e h e a l i n g m e s s a g e i s

t h e p i v o t of t h e a c t i v i t i e s a n d t h e e m p a s i s i s o n ' f a i t h ' ,

A c c o r d i n g to N . I. N d i o k w e r e ,

t h e c o n c e r n , f o r h e a l i n g i n most of t h e p r o p h e t - h e a l i n g C h u r c h e s c e r t a i n l y ref lects t h e p r o b l e m , u n r e s o l v e d f o r much of t h e p o p u l a t i o n of Afr ica , of s e c u r i n g a h e a l t h y e x i s t e n c e , . T h e c o m p l e x c a u s e s of s i c k n e s s e s i n c l u d e t h e a c t i v i t i e s of e n e m i e s , s o r c e k e r s , w i t c h e s , a n d e v i l s p i ~ r i t s - Thi:; raises t h e i m p o r t a n t q u e s t i o n of ' A f r i c a n ' v e r s u s l ~ u r o p e a n ' w o r l d v i ew.2

I t i s o n l y o b v i o u s t o t h i n k t h a t A f r i c a n s w o u l d n o t

f i n d E u r o p e a n s c i e n t i f i c a p p r o a c h t o i l l n e s s s a t i s f a c t o r y

a n d s e c u r e e n o u g h , On t h i s Iwuagwu s a y s ,

Some of t h e believers t r u s t i n God a n d e n t e r t a i n n o fear w h a t s o e v e r , O t k s U s e c e r t a i n m i x e d r e l i g i o u s m e a n s t o s u p p o r t w h a t t h e y g a i n from C h r i s t i a n i t y , T h e r e a r e y e t o t h e r s g r o u p s of C h r i s t i a n s who bel ieve t h a t s e c u r i t y w i l l come from a r e l i g i o u s movement , And y e t a n o t h e r g r o u p g e t s i n t o o t h e r o c c u l t societies a n d some t r a d i t i o n a l secret societies. I n t h e s e p l a c e s , t h e y a re l o o k i n g f o r p r o t e c t i o n a n d f o r o c c u l t s e c r e t s - 3

W i t h s u c h a phenomenon i n A f r i c a n C h r i s t i a n i t y ,

p e o p l e b u r d e n e d w i t h p r o b l e m s f l o c k e d t o t h e C h u r c h e s ,

a n d so t h e i n d i g e n o u s C h u r c h e s a n d p r a y e r h o u s e s g r e w

a n d c o n t i n u e s t o g r o w a t s u c h a t r e m e n d o u s ra te .

The M i s s i o n C h u r c h e s a l s o s h a r e i n t h i s , t h e i r

m e m b e r s h i p h a s s i n c e g r e a t l y i m p r o v e d . T h e Rev, Fr, Edeh

a n d Rev-. Canon K w u l u n e b e m e n t i o n e d a b o v e , t e s t i f y t o t h e

f a c t of mass r e t u r n of p e o p l e to M i s s i o n C h u r c h e s w h e r e

h e a l i n g S e r v i c e s a re h e l d ,

T h e e m p h a s i s o n p r a y e r a n d h e a l i n g ; r e v i v e s t h e

C h u r c h , a n d a t t r a c t s l a r g e m e m b e r s h i p , a n d t h i s g o e s t o

c o n f i r m t h e close l i n k b e t w e e n d i v i n e h e a l i n g , e v a n g e l i s m

a n d C h u r c h g r o w t h . N d i o k w e r e d i s c o v e r e d t h i s a n d s a y s ,

embers h i p i n t h e i n d e p e n d e n t c h u r c h e s c o m p r i s e s a c o n s i d e r a b l e n u m b e r of y o u n g women who c l a i m t h a t t h e y owe t h e c o n c e p t i o n of t h e i r c h i l d r e n t o t h e C h u r c h , Many men a n d women c l a i m t o h a v e r e c e i v e d t h e i r h e a l i n g h e r e , a f t e r t r y i n g o t h e r m e t h o d s of of h e a l i n g i n c l u d i n g s c i e n t i f i c m e a n s ,

A s a r e s u l t , members of famil ies and e x t e n d e d f a m i l i e s becomes g r a t e f u l t o God by j o i n i n g a s members of t h i s churches .4

The r e s u l t i s e x p l o s i o n i n membership, an a s p e c t of C h u r c h

g r o w t h ; and . deepened s p i r i t u a l l y , i s t h e o the r a s p e c t .

I Tak ing i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n my f i nd i r -g l in t h i s r e g a r d ,

c e r t a i n p o i n t s a r e n o t e d a s a i d i n g Church g r o w t h a n d

t h e y i n c l u d e :

( i The I n d i g e n o u s Churches are s t r o n g l y fundamen-

t a l i s t s i n b i b l i c a l t e x t s t h a t a p p e a l t o them. They

e x e r c i s e l i t e r a l , u n c r i t i c a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h e ~ i b l e ,

Even t h e v i s i o n s and d reams t a k e p a t t e r n s from and a r e

b a s e d upon t h e s c r i p t u r e s ,

( i i ) Some of t h e p r a c t i c e f o u n d i n t h e s e C h u r c h e s , are

l s y n c r i t i c * i n n a t u r e . Some Miss ion Church p r a c t i c e s ,

s u c h as c h a n t i n g of Psa lms , a r e mixed u p w ' i t h p r a y i n g

a n d i n v o c a t i o n w i t h some Psalms, Some t r a d i t i o n a 1 herbs

a r e recommended i n d reams and v i s i o n s a n d are used. The

u s e of water, o i l and some h o l y * p l a c e s a r e p a r t of

r e g u l a r f e a t u r e s i n w o r s h i p . T h i s h a s much to d o w i t h a n

a t t e m p t t o i n t e g r a t e r e l i g i o n w i t h e v e r y d a y l i f e a n d

n e e d s ,

S i n c e t h e mode of w o r s h i p and h e a l i n g i n t h e s e

Churches a re i n l i n e w i t h o u r p e o p l e s * t r a d i t i o n a l

t h o u g h t p a t t e r n s , t h e y win many to t h e i r Church , and so

m u l t i p l y t h e i r g r o u p s i n c i t i es and towns a n d v i l l a g e s .

T h i s Church-Growth phenomenon i n A f r i c a n C h r i s t i a n i t y

c o n t i n u e s t o a t t r a c t i n t e r n a t i o n a l a t t e n t i o n , N, E.

Thomas w r i t e s :

I n 1979, David B a r r e t t , t h e p r e - e m i n e n t r e s e a r c h e r of C h u r c h t r e n d s i n A f r i c a s t a r t l e d M i s s i o n s c h o l a r s by p r e d i c t i n g t h a t by t h e t u r n o f t h e c e n t u r y AD 2,000, t h e r e would be 351 m i l l i o n C h r i s t i a n s i n Afr ica , T w e l v e y e a r s l a te r , B a r r e t t r e v i s e d h i s estimate i n h i s magnum o p u s , t h e World C h r i s t i a n E n c y c l o p e d i a , hf ter c o m p i l i n g v o l u m n o u s d a t a f r o m a c o m p r e h e n s i v e c o u n t r y - b y - c o u n t r y s u r v e y , h e a n n o u n c e d t h a t h i s e a r l i e r p r e d i c t i o n was i n e r r o r . I n s t e a d o f 3 5 1 m i l l i o n a d h e r e n t s t o C h r i s t i a n i t y i n AD 2 , 0 0 0 , h e now p r e d i c k e d t h a t t h e r e would be more t h a n 393 m i l l i b n i n t h e f i f ty - -n ine c o u n t r i e s o f ~f r i ca .5 '

I A h e a l i n g C h u r c h i s a g r o w i n g , a n e v a n g e l i c a l , a

I

b i b l e - b a s e d t e a c h i n g Church . E v e r y p e r s o n i n t e r e s t e d

i n C h u r c h g r o w t h and m i s s i o n w i l l d o well t o P P n d e r

t h e s e m a t t e r s i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e l i f e a n d g r o < t h ' o f t h e

C h u r c h i n ( N i g e r i a ) . ~ f r i c a , T h e s e C h u r c h e s h a v e t h e i r

p r o b l e m , b u t w e a l s o h a v e t o r e c o g n i z e t h e c o n t r i b u -

t i o n s t h e y a r e m a k i n g t o C h r i s t i a n i t y i n ~ f r i c a .

C O N C L U S I O N

The h e a l i n g m i r a c l e s o f J e s u s a s r e c o r d e d i n t h e

s y n o p t i c G o s p e l s c o n t i n u e t o be a c h a l l e n g e t o t h e

C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h a t any a g e , It is n e c e s s a r y t o

re -examine t h e G o s p e l s a n d l a t e r d o c u m e n t s of t h e Church., 9

- . .

s t u d y i n g t h e h e a l i n g s a n d o t h e r miracles of J e s u s

C h r i s t a n d h i s f o l l o w e r s . Then t h e C h u r c h may t r y t o

see how t h i s c a n become a m e a s u r i n g rod f o r C h r i s t i a n i t y ,

when s h e i s on t h e r i g h t p a t h o f b e i n g a m e s s e n g e r a n d

bearer of s a l v a t i o n t o t h e t o t a l man a n d h i s e n v i r o n m e n t

a n d when s h e i s n o t ,

W e i n A f r i c a s h o u l d e m p h a s i z e t h e n e e d t o d i s t i n -

g u i s h t h e e t e r n a l t r u t h of r e l i g i o n ( w h i c h is w h o l e n e s s

of man - s a l v a t i o n ) , f r o m t h e a c c i d e n t a l s t h r o u g h which

t h o s e t r u t h s a r e e x p r e s s e d <. T h e a c c i d e n t a l s b e i n g s u c h

t h i n g s a s C h u r c h b u i l d i n g s ( t e m p l e s 1, s a c r i f i c e s ,

b a p t i s m , c o n f i r m a t i o n e tc , T h e s e a c c i d e n t a l s a r e s y m b o l s

which p o i n t b e y o n d t h e m s e l v e s t o t h e b a s i c human

s p i r i t u a l n e e d s which c r y f o r f u l f i l l m e n t .

T h i s may be t h e s i n g u l a r q u a l i t y t h e i n d i g e n o u s

A f r i c a n C h u r c h l e a d e r s p o s s e s s t h a t make many of t h e i r

members fee l t h e i r r e l i g i o n a n d w o r s h i p h e l p them t o

c o p e w i t h l i f e ' s p r o b l e m s .

heir' mode o f w o r s h i p and i t s c o n t e n t p o i : ~ t them

t o e t e r n a l w h o l e n e s s and h e a l i n g i n t h e Kingdom o f God,

w h i l e t h e y l a b o u r , a s s e r v a n t s of C h r i s t h e r & on earth,

w i t h c h a r i s m a t i c g i f t s , t o c o n t i n u e t h e b a t t l e w i t h

s a t a n a n d h i s a g e n t s i n t h e h e a l i n g m i n i s t r y of t h e

Ch u r c h ,

T h e t h r e e - f o l d m i n i s t r y o f J e s u s f o u n d i n t h e

s y n o p t i c s is: P r e a c h i n g , T e a c h i n g a n d H e a l i n g , I t i s

my - w i s h t h a t C h r i s t i a n i t y for a n y a g e a n d t i m e w i l l u s e

t h i s as a m e a s u r i n g r o d , t o see how s h e is f a r i n g .

H e a l i n g , t o u c h e s t h e core o f human p e r s o n a l i t y , a n d

t h a t i s why e v e n a f t e r s c i e n t i f i c and m e d i c a l h e a l i n g ,

t h e d i v i n e a s p e c t o u g h t t o c o m p l e m e n t t h e e n t i r e

e n d e a v o u r f o r w h o l e n e s s of man, And i n a s o c i e t y w h e r e

t h e c o n c e p t s of h e a l t h w i t h i n i t s c u l t u r e are f a r more

s o c i a l t h a n b i o l o g i c a l , t h e r e i s t o be a g r e a t e r c o n c e r n

o f C h r i s t i a n s i n Af r i ca n o t o n l y i n d i v i n e h e a l i n g , b u t

a l so h e a l i n g of soc ia l i l l s , The f a l s e n o t i o n of commerce

and e c o n o m i c i g n o r a n c e n e e d h e a l i n g , S e r i o u s e f f o r t s

s h o u l d be made a t p r o v i d i n g job o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r a l l ,

T h i s w i l l t a k e care o f t h e a l l c o m p r e h e n s i v e

c o n c e p t of w h o l e n e s s , w h i c h M. W i l s o n d e f i n e s t h u s :

H e a l t h i s a c o n c e p t l i k e t r u t h w h i c h c a n n o t b e d e f i n e d , To d e f i n e i t i s t o k i l l i t a Nor c a n i t be p o s s e s s e d . I t c a n o n l y be S h a r e d , T h e r e is n o h e a l t h fo r m e w i t h o u t my b r o t h e r . T h e r e i s n o h e a l t h f o r ' N i g e r i a ' w i t h o u t ' S o u t h Afr ica t , . .Manls v i s i o n o f h i s w h o l e n e s s c o n s t a n t l y b r e a k s t h e s h e l l of h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g , d i s t u r b s h i s comp1ac:ency and t e m p t s h im t o new a d v e n t u r e s beyond t h e n e x t r i d g e , , . . H e a l t h comes as a s u r p r i s e ...a g i f t , a g r a c e , , .. H e a l t h i s a f o r e t a s t e of w h o l e n e s s t o come,, . . H e a l t h i s now S e i n g re -born a s a n e x p l o s i v e v i s i o n w i t h d i s t u r b i n g c o n s e q u e n c e s f o r o u r a f f l u e n t a n d r i c h l i f e

s t y l e , H e a l t h i s an i d e a w h o s e t i m e h a s come, H e a l t h i s f o r God, who i s a t t h e h e a r t of a l l t h a t is , i n whom w e l i v e a n d move a n d h a v e o u r b e i n g . The e x p e r i e n c e o f h e a l t h , b e c a u s e i t i s a f o r e t a s t e of w h o l e n e s s t o come, c o n t a i n s , l i k e b e a u t y , l o v e a n d j o y , t h e a n s w e r i n i t s e l f ,

I h a v e q u o t e d a t l e n g t h b e c a u s e I f i n d h i s r e f l e c t i o n s

l e a d i n g m e t o h a v e w i d e r v i s i o n s of w h a t h e a l i n g a n d

h e a l t h i s a l l a b o u t . I t h a s t o d o w i t h t o t a l i t y of

c r e a t i o n ,

The Church i n A f r i c a d o e s w e l l i n s t r e s s i n g d i v i n e

o r s p i r i t u a l h e a l i n g w i t h i n C h u r c h I s m i n i s try. The

e f f o r t of t h e medical p r o f e s s i o n i s a l so r e c o g n i z e d i n

r e s t o r i n g h e a l t h , What w e u r g e n t l y n e e d is c o - o p e r a t i o n

a m o n g s t medical a n d r e l i g i o u s p r o f e s s i o n s , K n o w l e d g e a b l e

men who h a v e t h e f e a r 02 G x l i n them a n d are b l e s s e d w i t h

t h e s p i r i t of wisdom are t o be g i v e n t h e o p p o r t u n i t y

s e r v e i n t h i s f i e l d , Such men w i l l be able t o s t r i k e a

b a l a n c e b e t w e e n s o c l a l , m e d i c a l a n d s p i r i t u a l h e a l i n g ,

It i s now necessa,-y t o m o b i l i se, ~ s y c h o l o g i c a l ,

m e d t c a l : s o c i a l a n d s p i r i t u a l f o r c e s t o work t c g e t h e r t o

b r i n g a b o u t r e s t o r a ' t i o n a n d p e a c e , W h e r e v e r t h e Word

of God i s p r o c l a i m e d w i t h power a n d c o n v i c t i m , i t n e e d s

p h y s i c a l o r material a p p l i c a t i o n as w e l l a s t h e s p i r i t u a l

a s p e c t .

I b e l i e v e t h a t when t h e C h u r c h i n ( ~ i g e r i a )

~f rica b e g i n s t o p r o d u c e men o f f a i t h a n d i n t e g r i t y of

l i f e , c o u p l e d w i t h s p i r i t u a l g i f t s of h e a l i n g , a n d

a d d r e s s e s i t se l f t o t h e p r o b l e m s of t h e i n d i v i d u a l a n d

t h e communi ty , t h e n we would be on o u r way t o f o l l o w i n g

i n t h e f o o t s t e p s o f C h r i s t i n p r a y i n g a n d l i v i n g o u t

t h e p r a y e r , ' y o u r Kingdom come . . ,your w i l l be d o n e on

ear th as i t is i n heaven. ' ( M a t t h e w 6:10).

NOTES - CHAPTER TWELVE

1, E , G i b b s , - I believe i n C h u r c h Growth, (London: H o d d e r and S t o u g h t o n , l 9 8 1 ! , p, 188,

2, N . I. N d i o k w e r e , P r o n h e c y a n d R e v o l u t i o n ? ondo don: SPCK, 1981), p. 117-

3, A, 0. Iwuaqwu, v T h e R e l i g i o u s Movement: T h e i r Synarn ics a n d P s y c h o - ~ n a l ~ s i s . 2 i n J o u r n a l of t h e S o c i a l S c i e n c e p A l v a n I k o k u C o l l e g e of ducati ion, - C'? O w e r r i .

4, N d i o k w e r e , - L c c , C i t , , p- 119.

5, . N . E , Thomas, 8 E v a n g e l i z a t i o n a n d C h u r c h Growth: che C a s e of A f r i c a x i n I n t e r n a t i o n a l B u l l e t i n e o f M i s s i o n a r y R e s e a r c h , 1 1 n Q ( O c t o b e r , 1 9 8 7 1 , p, 165. -

6 , " " , W i l s o n , H e a l t h i s f o r --? P e o p l e (London: DLT, 1 9 7 3 1 , p, 1 1 7 ,

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Malone, C, D., "The Mutunwa C h u r c h e s of Zambia: An I n d i g e n o u s A f r i c a n R e l i g i o u s Movementu i n J o u r n a l of R e l i q i o n i n Africa, V o l , X I V , No, 3, (1983)

Obeng, E. O, , WIn-roads of A f r i c a n ~ e l i g i o n i n C h r i s t i a n i t y : T h e Case o f t h e S p i r i t u a l Churches" h e i c a n T h e o l o q i c a l J o u r n a l , Vol, 16, No. 1, (1987) .

Onwu, N,, " M i r a c l e s , M e d i c i n e and H e a l i n g : A ~ h e o l o g i c a l P e r s p e c t i v e v , TCNN R e s e a r c h B u l l e t i n . (Bukuru: N i g e r i a , 19881, f o r t h c o m i n g ,

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Wrigh t,

W y l l i e ,

U , , "The B i b l i c a l B a s i s f o r Some H e a l i n g Methods i n A f r i c a n T r a d i t i o n a l S o c i e t y O w ~ f . r i c a n T h e o l o g i c a l J o u r n a l , Vol. 1 5 , ~ 0 . m 8 6 ) .

J, B., ltDernonol.ogy, Demons1', A, New D i c t i o n a r y of C h r i s t i a n Theo loqy , R i c h a r d s o n and Bowden ( e d s . ) (London: SCM, 1983).

N , E,. w E v a n a e l i z a t i o n and Church Growth, The C a s e bf ~f ric;." I n t e r n a t i o n a l ~ u l l e t i n ' 0f M i s s i o n a r y R e s e a r c h , V O ~ . 11, No. 4,

S o So. "Wichcraf t and H e a l i n s i n an ~ f r i c a n ~ h r i s k i a n Church," J o u r n a l of R e l i q i o n i n A f r i c a . V o l , ,X, No, 2 , ( 1 9 7 0 ) .

R - M., 17Mark11 P e a c k s Commen t a t y on t h k s ~ i b l e . Black, & Powley ( e d s , ) (London: Nelso, 1975 > - J - S., "Magic #and S o r c e r y v , New B i b l e

Douglas et, a l , ( e d s , ) (London:

R , W-, " ~ h a n a n i a n S p i r i t u a l and T r a d i t i o n a l H e a l e r s E x p l a n a t i o n of I l l n e s s : A P r e l i m i n a r y Survey , J o u r n a l of ~ e l i g i o n i n ~ f r i c a . V o l e X I V , No, 1, (1983) .

The man w i t h an u n c l e a n s p i r i t 1: 21-28 (Luke 4: 32-37).

O f v a r i o u s d i s e a s e s

O f P e t e r t s Mothe r In - law J

O f a leper

O f a p a r a l y t i c

O f a man w i t h w i t h e r e d hand

O f a G e r a s e n e Demoniac

O f J a i r u s ' d a u g h t e r ( r a i s e d t o l i f e )

(MaGthew 8: 14-17; Luke 4: 38-41),

1: 40-45 (Mat thew 8: 1-4; Luke 5: 12-162-

2: 1-12 att thew 9: 1-8; L u k e 5: 17-262, .

3: 1-6 at thew 12: 9-14; Luke 8: 26-39) ,'

5: 1-20 (Ma t thew 8: 28-34; Luke 8: 26-39).

5 : 21-24, 3 5 4 3 (Mat thew 9 t 18-26; Luke 8: 40-565,

Of t h e women w i t h i s s u e of b l o o d - 5: 2 5 3 4 ( L u k e 8: 40-563,

O f v a r i o u s d i s e a s e s - 6: 53-54 (Mat thew 14: 34-36).

O f a s y r o p h e e n i c i a n ' s daugh ter - 7: 24-30 atth thew. ( p o s s e s s e d of demon) 15: 21-28).

* O f a d e a f a n d dumb - 7: 31-37, '

*Of a b l i n d man a t B e t h s a i d a - 8: 22-26,

O f a boy w i t h u n c l e a t l s p i r i t - 9: 14-29 atth thew 17: 14-20 Luke 9: 37-4Sa i ,

O f b l i n d B a r t i m a e u s - 10: 46-42 (Mat thew 20: 29-34; Luke 18: 35-43),

NOTE: T h o s e p e c u l i a r to Mark z r e marked w i t h a s t e r i s k s , -

HEALING STORIES I N MAT?HEW

I n t r o d u c t i o n - 4: 23-24,

Of a l e p e r - 8: 1-4 ark 1: 40-45; Luke 5: 1 2 - 161 ,

I:' Of a C e n t u r i o n ' s s e r v a n t - 8: 5-13 ( L u k e 7: ( p a l s y ) 1-10).

Of P e t e r ' s Mo the r In - law - 8: 14-15 (Mark 1: (fever) 29-31; Luke 4: 38-40).

Of G a d a r e n e Demon i a c s - 8: 28-34 (Mark 5: 1-20; ' ~ u k e 8: 26-39),

Of P a r a l y t i c - 9: 1-8 ark 2: 1-12; Luke 5: 17-26).

Of a r u l e r s t d a u g h t e r - (raised from d e a d )

Of a woman w i t h i s s u e o f b lood . - *Of t w o b l i n d men - *Of a dumb - Of a man w i t h w i t h e r e d h a n d -

05 a demon iac , d e a f and dumb -

O f v a r i o u s d i s e a s e s - Of a C a n a a n i t e woman's d a u g h t e r

( v e x e d w i t h a d e v i l ) - Of v a r i o u s d i s e a s e s - Of a boy w i t h demon o f e p i l e p s y -

9: 18, 22-26 (Mark 5: 2 1 f f ; Luke 8: 40-56)-

9: 20-22 ark 5: 2 1 f f ; Luke 8: 4 0 f f ) .

12: 9-14 ark 3: 1-6; Luke 6: 6-11),

12: 22-37 a ark 3: 20-30; Luke l l : 1 4 f f ) ,

14: 34-36 (Mark 6: 53-56).

15: 21-28 (Mark 7: 24-30) ,

17: 14-21 ark 9: 14-29; Luke 9: 37-43).

Of two b l i n d men - 20: 29-34 (Mark 10 : 46-5 2;' ~ u k e 18: 35-43 1.

NOTE: Those p e c u l i a r t o Mat thew are marked w i t h - a s t e r i s k s ,

APPENDIX II,I

HEALING STORIES I N LUKE

Of a man w i t h an e v i l s p i r i t - 4: 31-37 ark 1: 21-28;).

Of Simon ts mother-in-law - 4 : 38-39 (Matthew 8: ( f e v e r ) 14-17; Mark 1: 29-34).

Of v a r i o u s d i s e a s e s

Of a l e p e r

O f . a p a r a l y z e d man

- 5: 12-16 (Matthew 8: 1 - 4 ; Mark 1: 40-45)-

- 5: 17-26, ( M a t t h e w g : 1-8; Mark 2: 1-12).

Of a man w i t h c r i p p l e d h a n d , - 6: 6-11 att thew 12 : 9-14; Mark 3 : 1-6).

Of v a r i o u s d i s e a s e s - 6: 17-19 ( M a t t h e w 4: 23-25)

*Of a Roman Officer's s e r v a n t - 7: I r l O -

Of a widowrs son ( r a i s e d from - 7: 11-17. -lead )

Of a man w i t h demons - 8: 26-39 (Matthew 8: 28-34; Mark 5: 1-20).

Of J a i r u s t d a u g h t e r - 8: 43-44, 49-56 ( r a i s e d from d e a d ) (Matthew 9: 18-26;

Mark 5 r 21-43).

Of t h e woman w i t h i s s u e o f - 8: 43-48 ark 5: b lood - 21-43).

0f a boy w i t h an e v i l s p i r i t - 9: 37-43 atth thew 17: 14-18; Mark 9: 14-27)

Of a man b l i n d and w i t h demon - 11: 14-23' (Matthew 1 2 : ( Bee l z e b u l c o n t r o v e r s y ) 22-30; Mark 3: 20-27).

*Of a c r i p p l e woman (hunch - 12: 10-17. back ) ,

*Of a stck man ( e l e p h a n t i a s i s ) - 14: 1-6 *Of t e n l e p e r s - 17: 11-19

Of a b l i n d b e g g e r - 18: 35-43 (Matthew 20: 29-34; Mark 10 :46-52 1,

*Of t h e ea ) o f t h e h i g h P r i e s t ' s s l a v e - 22: 50-51.

NOTE: Thbse p e c u l i a r t o Luke are marked w i t h - a s k e r i s k s ,

9