Biblical Foundations for the Role of Healing in Evangelization

by Mary Healy (Foreword), Mathias D. Thelen

It's almost undeniable that God is working miracles of healing in evangelization today. For theologians, pastors, and evangelists some questions arise: What is the relationship between physical healing and the message of salvation? Should the church really expect God to do healings in evangelization today? Father Thelen answers these questions by examining the relationship between the preaching of the gospel and physical healing in the New Testament. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not simply a message of fact; it is a message of power that is often expressed through the working of deeds that serve as signs of the reality preached: salvation. As signs of the kingdom, healings that accompany the preaching of the gospel play an indispensable role in bringing people to faith throughout the New Testament. The result of this biblical study is a clarion call for the church to renew its faith in God's desire and power to confirm his word through healing. As healing becomes more accepted and frequent in evangelization, a Catholic biblical and theological approach to healing as it relates to evangelization--an approach that can be different from its Protestant counterpart--is necessary. This modest book fits this need.

114 pages, Paperback

Published December 7, 2017

About the author

Mary Healy is associate professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. She is the author of Men and Women Are from Eden: A Study Guide to John Paul II's Theology of the Body and co-editor of three books on biblical interpretation: 'Behind' the Text: History and Biblical Interpretation; Out of Egypt: Biblical Theology and Biblical Interpretation; and The Bible and Epistemology. She is general editor, with Dr. Peter Williamson, of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, a new series of commentaries that interpret Scripture from the heart of the Church, and is author of the first volume, The Gospel of Mark.

Dr. Healy has previously taught at the Institute for Pastoral Theology at Ave Maria University and the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College, and served for several years as Coordinator of Mother of God Community, a lay Catholic community in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She currently serves as chair of the Doctrinal Commission of International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services in Rome. She speaks at retreats and conferences nationally and internationally on topics related to Scripture, the theology of the body, and the spiritual life.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first thought while reading this book was "Wow! Fr. Mathias is SMART!" I enjoyed learning the biblical passages I can reflect on and how all of us can be used by the Holy Spirit, as long as we're open to Him. The book has a textbook feel, but I found it enlightening. Thank you Fr. for sharing your gifts, I'm asking for MORE! Come Holy Spirit, come!

[Joseph Serwach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing young priest gaining national recognition

In his first book, Father Mathias Thelen explores the Biblical foundations for healing in bringing people back to the Father and His Church. The founder of Encounter Ministries is quickly gaining a global reputation as a leading voice of Catholicism.