THE SPIRIT, HEALING AND MISSION: AN OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLICAL CANON *

This article examines the relationship in the biblical canon between healing, the Spirit, and the mission of the church. The piece begins with a section devoted to the author's Pentecostal context, and his theological and ministerial interest in this topic. Relying primarily upon a literary reading of the relevant texts, this study seeks to hear the distinctive voices in the biblical canon, from the torah to the book of Revelation, before assembling the biblical choir in order to hear its rich, textured and dissonant sound on this topic. This careful reading of the biblical texts suggests that the healing ministry of Jesus and the church does not simply “confirm” the proclamation of the gospel, but is itself gospel proclamation. The preponderance of the evidence indicates that there is an intricate and significant connection between the ministry of healing and the mission of the church.