What Does the Bible Say About Healing?
The LORD that healeth thee — sickness, prayer, medicine, and miracles. What Scripture actually teaches about healing.
The Bible presents God as healer — “I am the LORD that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26) — shows Jesus healing “all manner of sickness,” and instructs the sick to pray and be prayed for (James 5:14–15). It also honours means and medicine, records faithful believers who remained ill, and promises a day when healing is total: no more death, sorrow, or pain (Revelation 21:4).
The God who heals
Healing runs the Bible’s whole length: the LORD “who healeth all thy diseases” in the Psalms; Jesus moved with compassion, healing crowds until evening; the apostles continuing the work. Healing in Jesus’ ministry was never a sideshow — it was the kingdom made visible: broken bodies mended as a preview of a mended world.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Pray, and call for help
James gives the church its standing instruction: is any sick? Let him call the elders, let them pray, anointing with oil. Prayer for healing is normal Christianity — Jesus told us to keep asking. And Scripture is at ease with means: Luke was “the beloved physician,” Paul prescribed wine for Timothy’s stomach, Hezekiah’s healing came with a fig poultice. Prayer and medicine are allies in the Bible, not rivals.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
When healing waits
The Bible is honest about unhealed believers: Paul’s thorn remained despite three seasons of pleading — answered instead with “my grace is sufficient for thee.” Trophimus was left sick at Miletum; Timothy had his infirmities. Ultimate healing is certain — the resurrection body, the tearless city — but its timing belongs to God, and his grace is promised for the meanwhile.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Quick answers
- Does God still heal today?
- Christians across traditions testify that he does — “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16) — while Scripture leaves the manner and timing in his hands. Asking is commanded; presuming is not.
- Is sickness caused by sin or lack of faith?
- Sometimes Scripture links them (Psalm 38), but Jesus explicitly broke the automatic connection: “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents” (John 9:3). Job’s comforters — who insisted suffering must be deserved — were the ones God rebuked.
- Should Christians use doctors and medicine?
- Yes — Scripture honours physicians (Colossians 4:14), records medical means used by the faithful (2 Kings 20:7; 1 Timothy 5:23), and nowhere opposes prayer to treatment. Wisdom uses both, trusting God through both.
