Faith healing

====New Testament====
{{Religious text primary|section|date=September 2015}}
Parts of the four [[canonical gospel]]s in the [[New Testament]] say that [[Jesus]] cured physical ailments well outside the capacity of first-century medicine. Jesus' healing acts are considered miraculous and spectacular due to the results being impossible or statistically improbable.<ref>Ehrman, B. D. (2016). ''The New Testament: a historical introduction to the early Christian writings'' (6th ed.) New York: Oxford University Press. 251–253. {{ISBN?}}
</ref> One example is the case of "a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was not better but rather grew worse".<ref>{{bibleverse|Mark|5:26–27}}</ref> After healing her, Jesus tells her "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace! Be cured from your illness".<ref>{{bibleverse|Mark|5:34|GW}}</ref> At least two other times Jesus credited the sufferer's faith as the means of being healed: {{Bibleref2|Mark|10:52}} and {{bibleref2|Luke|19:10}}.

Jesus endorsed the use of the medical assistance of the time (medicines of oil and wine) when he told the parable of the [[Good Samaritan]] (Luke 10:25–37), who "bound up [an injured man's] wounds, pouring on oil and wine" (verse 34) as a physician would. Jesus then told the doubting teacher of the law (who had elicited this parable by his self-justifying question, "And who is my neighbor?" in verse 29) to "go, and do likewise" in loving others with whom he would never ordinarily associate (verse 37).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://thefaithfulword.org/faithhealing.html |title= Faith Healing – God's Compassion, God's Power, and God's Sovereignty: Is a Christian permitted to seek medical assistance and to use medicine? |date= December 16, 2003 |first= Craig W. |last= Booth |access-date= 2007-05-01 |work= thefaithfulword.org}}</ref>

The healing in the gospels is referred to as a "sign"<ref>{{bibleverse|John|6:2}}</ref> to prove Jesus' divinity and to foster belief in him as the Christ.<ref>{{bibleverse|John|4:48}}</ref> However, when asked for other types of miracles, Jesus refused some<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|12:38–42}}</ref> but granted others<ref>{{bibleverse|Luke|9:38–43}}</ref> in consideration of the motive of the request. Some theologians' understanding is that Jesus healed ''all'' who were present every single time.{{sfn|Bosworth|2001|p=61}} Sometimes he determines whether they had faith that he would heal them.{{sfn|Bosworth|2001|loc={{Page needed|date=January 2014}}}} Four of the seven miraculous signs performed in the [[Fourth Gospel]] that indicated he was sent from God were acts of healing or resurrection. He heals the Capernaum official's son, heals a paralytic by the pool in [[Bethsaida]], healing a man born blind, and resurrecting [[Lazarus of Bethany]].<ref>Ehrman, B. D. (2016). ''The New Testament: a historical introduction to the early Christian writings'' (6th ed.) New York: [[Oxford University Press]]. 171–172. {{ISBN|978-0199757534}}</ref>

Jesus told his followers to heal the sick<ref>Crossan, J. D. (1994). ''Jesus: a revolutionary biography''. New York: [[HarperOne]]. 119–123. {{ISBN|978-0061800351}}</ref> and stated that signs such as healing are evidence of faith. Jesus also told his followers to "cure sick people, raise up dead persons, make lepers clean, expel demons. You received free, give free".<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|10:8}}, {{bibleverse|Mark|16:17–18}}</ref>

Jesus sternly ordered many who received healing from him: "Do not tell anyone!"<ref>{{Bibleref2|Matthew|8:4}}; {{Bibleref2-nb|Matthew|9:30}}; {{Bibleref2|Mark|5:43}}, {{Bibleref2-nb|Mark|7:24}}, {{Bibleref2-nb|Mark|7:36}}, {{Bibleref2-nb|Mark|8:30}}, {{Bibleref2-nb|Mark|9:9}}; {{Bibleref2|Luke|5:14}}</ref> Jesus did not approve of anyone asking for a sign just for the spectacle of it, describing such as coming from a "wicked and adulterous generation".<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|12:38–39}}</ref>

The apostle Paul believed healing is one of the special gifts of the [[Holy Spirit]],<ref>{{bibleverse|1Cor|12:9||1 Corinthians 12:9}}</ref><ref>Harris, S. L. (2015). ''The New Testament: a student's introduction'' (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Education. 345. {{ISBN?}}</ref> and that the possibility exists that certain persons may possess this gift to an extraordinarily high degree.<ref>{{cite book |last= Price |first= Charles P. |chapter-url= http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761560864/Faith_Healing.html |chapter= Faith Healing |title= [[Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia|Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia.]] |year= 2009 |archive-url= https://www.webcitation.org/5kwpJ3YJj?url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761560864/Faith_Healing.html |archive-date= 2009-11-01}}</ref>

In the New Testament [[Epistle of James]],<ref>{{bibleverse|James|5:14||5:14}}</ref> the faithful are told that to be healed, those who are sick should call upon the elders of the church to pray over [them] and anoint [them] with oil in the name of the Lord.

The New Testament says that during Jesus' [[Ministry of Jesus|ministry]] and after his [[Resurrection of Jesus|Resurrection]], the [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]] healed the sick and cast out demons, made lame men walk, raised the dead and performed other miracles. Apostles were holy men who had direct access to God and could channel his power to help and heal people.<ref>Pilch, J. J. (2004). ''Visions and healing in the Acts of the Apostles: how the early believers experienced God''. Collegeville, MN: [[Liturgical Press]]. 40. {{ISBN|978-0814627976}}</ref> For example, [[Saint Peter]] healed a disabled man.<ref>Harris, S. L. (2015). The New Testament: a student's introduction (8th ed.). New York: [[McGraw-Hill Education]]. 292–293. {{ISBN|978-0078119132}}</ref><ref>{{bibleverse|Luke|3:1–10}}</ref>

Jesus used miracles to convince people that he was inaugurating the [[Messianic Age]], as in Mt 12.28. Scholars have described Jesus' miracles as establishing the kingdom during his lifetime.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The New Jerome Biblical Commentary|last=Brown|display-authors=etal|first=Raymond E.|publisher=Prentice Hall|year=1990|isbn=978-0136149347|location=Englewood Cliffs, NJ |chapter=78:20; 81:106, 112–113, 117}}</ref>