Methods of Healing In The New Testament

Methods of Healing In The New Testament

By Thomas Taylor

Full List of New Testament Healings

The following is an exhaustive look at the methods used and taught for every mention of healing in the New Testament. I do not draw any conclusions, I only list the Scripture and method. This is a great resource for anyone studying healing in the New Covenant. See the statistics on healing at the bottom of each section; I think you will be surprised at some of the results and you can draw your own conclusions..

**Note: Whenever you see capital letters listed under a particular method, that means more than one method was used simultaneously. For example, number one (1) under “Laying on of Hands” shows that both the laying on of hands and speaking the word over the person were used together for the healing**

Methods of Healing  Used  by Jesus in the Gospels

LAYING ON OF HANDS

(1) Matt 8:2,3; Mark 1:40,41; Luke 5:12,13 Leper healed  “if Thou wilt “, along with SPEAKING THE WORD OVER him  “be thou clean “.

(2) Matt 8:14,15; Mark 1:30,31;  Luke 4:38,39  Peter’s mother-in-law healed of fever by touching her hand and He REBUKED THE SICKNESS (no faith on her part)

(3) Matt 8:16,17; Mark 1:32-34;  Luke 4:40  (and CASTING OUT OF DEVILS)

(4) Matt 9:18,19, 23-26; Mark 5:22-24,35-43; Luke 8:41,42,49-55 Raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead; He commanded her to arise (and HEALING BY FAITH OF THE RECEIVER) (see COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACT)

(5) Matt 9:27-30 Jesus touched the eyes of two blind men (and HEALING BY FAITH OF THE RECEIVER)

(6) Matt 17:14-18;  Mark 9:17-27  ; Luke 9:38-42 (and CASTING OUT OF DEVILS) (and HEALING BY FAITH OF ANOTHER)

(7) Matt 20:30-34 Two more blind men cried out to Jesus to heal them and He touched their eyes and they were healed. (and HEALING BY FAITH OF THE RECEIVER)

(8) Mark 7:32-37 A man that was dumb and with a problem speaking was brought to Jesus; Jesus touches his ears, spits, touches his tongue, and speaks  “Be opened ” to heal him. (and SPEAKING THE WORD OVER THE PERSON)

(9) Mark 8:22-25 Jesus spit on blind man’s eyes then laid hands upon them, he did not see clear enough, so Jesus touched his eyes and made him look up and he was healed. (and COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACT)

(10) Luke 13:11-13 (and SPEAKING THE WORD OVER THE PERSON)

(11) Luke 22:51 Jesus touches the ear that was cut off by Peter and heals him.

(12) John 9:1-7 Man born blind; Jesus spat on the ground to make clay and anointed eyes of man and commanded him to go wash in the pool Siloam. When he did so he was healed. (and COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACT)

HEALING BY THE FAITH OF THE RECEIVER

(1) Matt 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10 Centurion’s Servant healed; Jesus Marveled at his faith; He had faith to believe that Jesus only needed to SPEAK THE WORD OVER the servant.

(2) Matt 9:18,19, 23-26; Mark 5:22-24,35-43; Luke 8:41,42,49-55 (and LAYING ON OF HANDS) (and COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACT)

(3) Matt 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48 Woman with issue of blood healed by touching His garment; Jesus said her faith made her whole, to go in peace, and to be healed of her plague.

(4) Matt 9:27-30 (and LAYING ON OF HANDS)

(5) Matt 20:30-34 (and LAYING ON OF HANDS) (and COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACT)

(6) Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35 43 Blind Bartimaeus healed as Jesus commanded him to go his way and receive his sight because his faith made him whole. (and COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACT) (and SPEAKING THE WORD OVER THE PERSON)

(7) Luke 17:11-19 (and COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACT)

 HEALING BY FAITH OF ANOTHER

(1) Matt 9:2-7; Mark 2:3-12; Luke 5:18-25 Friends let the man down through the roof because of the crowd; Jesus commanded him to arise and he did. (and COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACT)

(2) Matt 15:22-28; Mark 7:25-30 Gentile woman crying after Jesus to heal daughter possessed with devil (and CASTING OUT OF DEVILS)

(3) Matt 17:14-18; Mark 9:17-27; Luke 9:38-42 (and LAYING ON OF HANDS) (and CASTING OUT OF DEVILS)

(4) John 4:46-54 Man besought Jesus to come heal his son at the point of death; Jesus spoke the Word over him, the man believed the Word spoken and went back as Jesus commanded and the boy was healed. (and SPEAKING THE WORD OVER THE PERSON) (and COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACTS

SPEAKING THE WORD OVER THE PERSON

(1) Matt 8:2,3; Mark 1:40,41; Luke 5:12,13 (and LAYING ON OF HANDS)

(2) Matt 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10 (and HEALING BY FAITH OF THE RECEIVER)

(3) Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35 43 (and HEALING BY FAITH OF THE RECEIVER) (and COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACT)

(4) Mark 7:32-37 (and LAYING ON OF HANDS)

(5) Luke 13:11-13 Woman bowed down for 18 years, Jesus said  “Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity ” then laid hands on her and she was healed (and LAYING ON OF HANDS)

(6) John 4:46-54 (and HEALING BY FAITH OF ANOTHER) (and COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACT)

(7) John 5:1-9 Jesus said to a man at the pool of Bethesda  “Rise, take up thy bed and walk “ and  immediately he was whole  and walked. He was whole before he walked therefore it does not fall into the category of Commanding the Person to Act as a method of healing.

(8) John 11:43,44 Jesus spoke  “Lazarus, come forth. “

REBUKING THE SICKNESS

(1) Luke 4:38,39 (Matt 8:14,15; Mark 1:30,31) (and LAYING ON OF HANDS)

CASTING OUT OF DEVILS

(1) Matt 8:16,17  ; Mark 1:32-34  ; Luke 4:40,41 (and LAYING ON OF HANDS) Healing the sick at evening; He laid hands on all of them. A comparison of the texts shows Matt & Luke agree that  “all ” were healed. Mark says  “many ” were healed. The only conclusion to draw is that the casting out of devils caused  “healings ” for some but  Mark emphasizes the casting out of devils rather than the fact they were healed  . While others were healed and did not require the casting out of devils- for these Mark says  “And He healed many that were sick of divers diseases ” ” then says  “and cast out many devils “. In other words, all were healed.

(2) Matt 9:32,33 When the dumb man had the devil cast out, he could speak.

(3) Matt 12:22; Luke 11:14 Man healed of blindness and dumbness when devil cast out.

(4) Matt 15:22-28; Mark 7:25-30 (and HEALING BY FAITH OF ANOTHER)

(5) Matt 17:14-18; Mark 9:17-27; Luke 9:38-42 Man asking Jesus to heal son that was dumb and possessed with devil; disciples could not cast out the devil; after devil cast out, Jesus touched him when he appeared dead and he arose. (and HEALING BY FAITH OF ANOTHER) (and LAYING ON OF HANDS)

COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACT

(1) Matt 12:9-13; Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:6-10 Jesus commanded the man to stretch forth his withe .

(2) Matt 9:2-7; Mark 2:3-12; Luke 5:18-25 (and HEALING BY FAITH OF ANOTHER)

(3) Matt 9:18,19, 23-26; Mark 5:22-24,35-43; Luke 8:41,42,49-55 (and LAYING ON OF HANDS) (and HEALING BY FAITH OF THE RECEIVER)

(4) Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35 43 (and HEALING BY FAITH OF THE RECEIVER) (and SPEAKING THE WORD OVER THE PERSON)

(5) Mark 8:22-25 (and LAYING ON OF HANDS)

(6) Luke 7:12-15 Dead man in casket commanded to arise and he did.

(7) Luke 17:11-19 Ten lepers cleansed when commanded to show themselves to priest; one came back to give thanks and he was  “made whole” by his own faith. (and HEALING BY FAITH OF THE RECEIVER)

(8) John 4:46-54 (and HEALING BY FAITH OF ANOTHER) (and SPEAKING THE WORD OVER THE PERSON)

(9) John 9:1-7 (and LAYING ON OF HANDS)

**NOTE: Method of healing unknown for man in the Gospels healed by Jesus of dropsy, Luke 14:1-4**

STATISTICS:

The most common method used by Jesus was the laying on of hands (12 times), followed by commanding the person to act (8 times), then healing by the faith of the receiver (7 times) and speaking the Word over the person (7 times), then healing by the faith of another (4 times) and the casting out of devils (4 times). The least common method used by Jesus was rebuking the sickness (used once). Not once did Jesus pray to God for someone to be healed. The most common combination of methods used would be the laying on of hands plus speaking the Word over the person (3 times) and laying on of hands plus healing by the faith of the receiver (3 times) and commanding the person to act plus healing by the faith of another (3 times).

Methods of Healing  Used  By the Church

THE NAME OF JESUS

(1) Acts 3:1-8 Man at gate Beautiful, lame from mother’s womb, commanded by Peter and John  “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. “; Note: this is the first-mention of the Church healing anyone! (and COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACT)

COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACT

(1) Acts3:1-8 (and THE NAME OF JESUS)

(2) Acts 9:32-34 Eneas was a paralyzed man for 8 years and Peter said to him  “Jesus Christ maketh thee whole, arise, and make thy bed. ” (and SPEAKING THE WORD OVER THEM)

(3) Acts 9:36-43 Tabitha died, Peter only says  “Tabitha, arise ” and she is raised from the dead.

(4) Acts. 14:8-10 Man unable to walk since birth heard Paul speak; Paul perceived he had faith and told him to stand and walk. (and HEALING BY FAITH OF THE RECEIVER)

SPEAKING THE WORD OVER THEM

(1) Acts 9:32-34 (and COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACT)

(2) Acts 20:9-12 (and HEALING BY LAYING ON OF HANDS OR TOUCH) (and HEALING BY THE ANOINTING)

HEALING BY FAITH OF THE RECEIVER

(1) Acts. 14:8-10 (and COMMANDING THE PERSON TO ACT)

HEALING BY THE ANOINTING

(1) Acts 19:11,12 God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul; when Paul’s handkerchiefs or aprons touched people, the diseases or devils would leave. (note a disease leaves just like a devil)

(2) Acts 20:9-12 (and SPEAKING THE WORD OVER THEM) (SEE LAYING ON OF HANDS OR TOUCH)

HEALING BY LAYING ON OF HANDS OR TOUCH

(1) Acts 20:9-12 Young man fell from window while Paul preached and died; Paul laid on him and said  “trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. ” (and HEALING BY THE ANOINTING) (and HEALING BY SPEAKING THE WORD OVER THEM)

(2) Acts 28:8 (and HEALING BY PRAYER)

HEALING BY PRAYER

1.) Acts 28:8 Publius’ father sick with fever and dysentery; Paul  “prayed and laid his hands on him ” (see HEALING BY LAYING ON OF HANDS)

**NOTE: Method unknown when Paul raised from the dead after his stoning, Acts 14:19,20; possibly categorized as HEALING BY THE ANOINTING**

**NOTE; Methods of healing unknown when Paul healed many of diseases brought unto him after healing Publius’ father Acst 28:9**

STATISTICS:

The most common method of healing used by the Church is commanding the person to act (4 times). The next most common methods would be speaking the Word over the person (2 times), healing by the anointing (2 times), and healing by the laying on of hands (2 times). The least common methods of healing by the Church were using the name of Jesus (used once), healing by the faith of the receiver (used once), and healing by prayer (used once). There were no combinations of methods used any more or less than the others.

Methods of Healing  Taught  in the New Covenant

THE NAME OF JESUS

Acts 3:1-8, 12- 16

SPIRITUAL GIFT OF SPECIAL FAITH

I Cor 12:9

Example: Acts 9:32-34 Eneas was a paralyzed man for 8 years and Peter said to him  “Jesus Christ maketh thee whole, arise, and make thy bed. “

Example: Acts 9:36-43 Tabitha died, Peter only says  “Tabitha, arise” and she is raised from the dead.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS OF HEALINGS

I Cor. 12:9, 28

Example: Acts 9:36-43

Example: Acts 19:11,12 God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul; when Paul’s handkerchiefs or aprons touched people, the diseases or devils would leave. (note a disease leaves just like a devil.)

SPIRITUAL GIFT OF WORKING OF MIRACLES

I Cor 12:10, 28

Example: Acts 9:36-43

Example: Acts 19:11,12

PRAYER OF FAITH

James 5:15

Mark 11:24

Example: Acts 14:8-10

ELDERS PRAY OVER SICK AND ANOINTING WITH OIL

James 5:14

CONFESSION OF FAULTS AND PRAYER FOR ONE ANOTHER

James 5:16

SPEAKING IN FAITH

Mark 11:23

Example: Matt. 8:8

LAYING ON OF HANDS/TOUCH

Mark 16:18

PRAYER OF AGREEMENT

Matt. 18:19,20