Did God bestow the power to heal to all who follow Him?
Mark 16:1 - 20
ESV - 1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.
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Asked December 09 2021
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Peggy Johnson
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Tim Maas
The power to supernaturally heal others is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit enumerated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12. Although Jesus mentioned this healing ability specifically in the cited passage from Mark, and although God has the power to bestow this gift (as with the other gifts of the Spirit) at His discretion, it would appear from the passage in 1 Corinthians that it is not an ability or characteristic that any Christian (or all Christians) would routinely possess, but that it is something granted by God to specific people for His purposes. (I would also note in passing that most Bible texts indicate that the verses in Mark discussing this (Mark 16:9-20) are not included in the earliest manuscripts of Mark's gospel, nor are they universally mentioned by ancient Biblical witnesses or authorities.)
Jack Gutknecht
Great question, Peggy! I can think of at least one clear example of a non-healing of a believer: The Bible says of him in Acts 20:4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. And in Acts 21:29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 2 Tim 4:20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. Of him Herbert Lockyer writes: "Trophimus [Trŏph'ĭmŭs]—nourishing or well educated. A believer living in Ephesus, who with others accompanied Paul to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4; 21:29; 2 Tim. 4:20). Trophimus was falsely accused by the Jewish leaders who, seeing him with Paul, hastily concluded that he had brought his missionary companion into the inner court of the Temple which non-Jews were not allowed to enter. The last glimpse we have of Trophimus was when Paul left him at Miletus sick. The apostle who had the gift of healing could do nothing for his sick friend—a fact quack faith healers should note."
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