Open AccessRevisiting the Healing Narrative of the Gospel in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author(s) -
Yahya Wijaya
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
theology today
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.12
H-Index - 9
eISSN - 2044-2556
pISSN - 0040-5736
DOI - 10.1177/00405736221091915
Subject(s) - narrative , gospel , pandemic , covid-19 , relevance (law) , theology , philosophy , sociology , medicine , political science , virology , linguistics , law , disease , pathology , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty)
In terms of health issues, Christians often refer to the stories of Jesus' healings in the Gospels as an important spiritual resource. However, theological interpretations vary, depending on the hermeneutical method employed and the contextual factors considered. This article explores such approaches to the Gospels' healing narrative and relates them to the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. From the platform of practical theology, five theological approaches to the healing narrative are identified and then analyzed. The results of this study suggest that each approach has a degree of relevance that is worth developing to produce a theological contribution to ongoing mitigation and healing efforts.