Review article

Biblical Anthropology of Health and Illness

Anđelo Maly orcid.org/0000-0001-6681-7230 ; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

An answer to the question who is the human being can be given from multiple perspectives. This article offers an answer from the point of view of Biblical anthropology by reflecting on the relation of the human being towards health and illness. According to the Holy Scriptures, a discourse on health and illness is not possible without the terminological background that points out the wholeness of the human being as a person. When the integral image of the human being as envisioned by the Scripture, whereby he/she is seen as the image of God (cf. Gen 1:27), is disturbed, the human being starts to disintegrate. This disintegration is brought about by sin and disturbance of the relation towards the Creator and the created world. Various illnesses that are mentioned in the Old Testament and the New Testament clearly manifest the consequences of aforementioned disturbed relations. A discourse on healers and healing, i.e., being brought back into wholeness, can also be found in Biblical texts. God is the healer par excellence and announces universal healing already in the Old Testament (Is 35:5-6a). Jesus’s word in the New Testament reveals that the assent of faith is enough for someone to be healed. Jesus is the giver of life, but in a different perspective. Physical care for the body is important, but spiritual care is more important (cf. 1 Tim 4,8b). Through his/her relation towards the Creator, towards the other, and the created world, the human being needs to strive to become the »new creation«.

Keywords

health; illness; human being; body; biblical anthropology.

Hrčak ID:

243110

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/243110

Publication date:

31.8.2020.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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