Theology: New Testament and Related Literature: Jesus - The Healer

This book presents in readable, nontechnical language the findings of the latest biblical scholarship on one important aspect of "who Jesus was"--Jesus as healer. It guides readers through the New Testament's portraits of Jesus, setting the stage for these portraits by looking at sickness and its treatment in Jesus' day. The author concludes with a carefully weighed answer to the question "did Jesus really heal?", and offers topics for discussion and suggestions for further reading that allow the interested reader to explore the subject in more detail.

Stevan Davies offers a fascinating reading of the Gospels... -- Elaine Pagels

Lidija Novakovic offers an explanation of the remarkable link found in the Gospel of Matthew between the royal messianic title Son of David attributed to Jesus and his miracles of healing. There is no doubt that this represents a Christian development, because there is no extant early Jewish text that portrays the Davidic Messiah as a miracle worker. Yet, given the predominantly Jewish character of Matthew's Gospel, the origin of the concept of the healing Messiah should still be sought in the traditions of the Second Temple Judaism. The underlying principle of Matthew's portrayal of Jesus, however, cannot be found in the traditions about Solomon as an exorcist or healer, or about the eschatological prophet like Moses. Rather, the intelligibility of the healing Messiah is secured through Matthew's own skillful interpretation of selected biblical passages, especially from the Book of Isaiah.