Health, Healing and the Church’s Mission: Biblical Perspectives and Moral Priorities

by Willard M. Swartley

Publisher:

IVP Academic

, 2012

Overview

Does the Christian community have the resources to develop a coherent response to health care challenges today?

Accounting for biblical, theological and church-historical streams, Willard Swartley divulges a long tradition of healing and health care inherited by Christians today. Beginning with in-depth studies of Old and New Testament understandings of healing, the book surveys three millennia of biblical and theological teaching and practice in congregational life and mission. Along the way Swartley uncovers how Christians have understood the role of the church and other institutions in providing health and healing.

The book concludes with an attempt to synthesize these biblical, historical and moral perspectives to help all Christians, including those in health care professions, respond to our current health care challenges.

Key Features

• Surveys three millennia of biblical and theological teaching and practice in congregational life and mission
• Examines Old and New Testament understandings of healing
• Synthesizs biblical, historical, and moral perspectives to help all Christians respond to current health care challenges

Contents

Part 1: Healing

• Seven Theses: From Scripture to Today
• Healing in the Old Testament
• Healing in the New Testament and the Church’s Practice
• Biblical and Theological Analysis of Healing
• The Church as Healing Community

Part 2: Health Care: Biblical, Moral and Theological Perspectives

• Health and Health Care in Biblical-Theological Perspective
• Biblical and Theological (Anabaptist) Foundations of Health Care Through Mutual Aid
• Health Care in Christian History and Mission
• Disability, God’s Two Hands of Love: Internal Care, External Witness

Part 3: Toward New Paradigms

• Health Care Reform: Evaluation and Prospects
• From High-Tech and Triage to Shalom and Service
• Living Toward Sustainable Health Care
• Summary and Concluding Reflections
• Appendix 1. Mennonites, Brethren and Related Groups in Health Care
• Appendix 2. Center for Healing and Hope: Its Mission and Contribution

Praise for the Print Edition

Swartley’s holistic approach to the issue of health gives fresh perspectives on both healing in the Christian tradition and current issues of health care reform. Readers who are looking for ways to integrate contemporary questions about health care with a biblical and theological perspective that moves from text to tradition will find many valuable resources in Swartley’s work.

—Mary Veeneman, Ph.D., assistant professor of biblical and theological studies, North Park University

With an eloquent, rational approach, Willard Swartley critiques the current health care industry and persuasively offers a substantive alternative insight into health and healing by incorporating insights from Scripture, varied cultures, historic and religious practices, and contemporary trends. Swartley advances and amplifies the concept of shalom that embodies holistic health and reflects the biblical view of health. This vital and important volume will be valued by health care workers who aspire to experience how Christian faith can meaningfully transform their understanding and practice. I look forward to using this resource as a textbook for students in our biomedicine program.

—Roman J. Miller, Ph.D., Daniel B. Suter Endowed Professor of Biology and director of the M.A. in Biomedicine Graduate Program at Eastern Mennonite University

Willard Swartley has done the Christian community a huge service by writing a comprehensive, thoughtful and lucid discussion on our biblical and moral responsibility to promote healing and to advocate for a just health care system. His argument goes beyond the usual economic, political and medical arenas by focusing on Christian healing, community and mission.

—Mary J. McDonough, author of Can A Health Care Market Be Moral? A Catholic Vision

Product Details

• Title: Health, Healing and the Church’s Mission: Biblical Perspectives and Moral Priorities
• Author: Willard M. Swartley
• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Print Publication Date: 2012
• Logos Release Date: 2018
• Pages: 268
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Health › Religious aspects--Christianity
• ISBNs: 9780830863303, 0830863303
• Resource ID: LLS:9780830863303
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-06T21:11:14Z

About Willard M. Swartley

Willard M. Swartley is director of the Institute of Mennonite Studies and professor of New Testament at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, Elkhart, Indiana. He teaches courses in biblical interpretation, New Testament theology and ethics, and war and peace in the Bible.

He holds a PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary and he has studied at Garrett Theological Seminary. He received his BD from Goshen Biblical Seminary and earned his BA at Eastern Mennonite College.

Swartley has published numerous articles, among them “The Biblical Basis of Stewardship” in The Earth Is the Lord’s (Paulist Press, 1978); “Politics and Peace (Eirene) in Luke’s Gospel” in The New Way of Jesus (Faith and Life Press, 1980); and a scholarly essay on Ignatius in Vigiliae Christianae (1973).

Swartley served on the Mennonite Publication Board from 1971 to 1980. He has taught at Goshen College, Eastern Mennonite College and Seminary, and Conrad Grebel College.