Miracle Healing in Christianity
Miracle Healing in Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic Abrahamic religion with a worldwide following of over 2.38 billion people. It is based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
During the apostolic era, the apostles had the power to heal the sick. They also had the authority to cast out demons. However, these gifts were only limited in scope.
There are several healing miracles recorded in the Gospels. For example, Christ healed a paralyzed man and raised a widow’s son from the dead. He also performed other miracles, such as the resurrection of Jesus and a stilling of a storm.
Despite the incredible power of the risen Savior, many church leaders restricted prayer for the sick. The early Christians incorporated Neoplatonic beliefs about the body as a prison for the soul. This led to the development of harsh penances, which discouraged medieval Christians from going to confession before dying.
In the fifth century, a group of serious Christians fled urban corruption. These saints had exceptional faith. Throughout the centuries, Christianity grew, adding a half-million new converts every generation.
One way to prove the validity of the gospel was to demonstrate it through miracles. Some Christians believed that the healings they witnessed were a proof that Jesus was the Son of God. Others argued that these healings were simply a sign of their faith.
In the twelfth century, the anointing of the sick with oil became a sacrament. Church leaders considered this a spiritual preparation for heaven.