What is the Gift of Healing?

Both the words “gifts” and “healing” (1 Corinthians 12:9) are in the plural in the Greek. Some take this to mean that there are a variety of forms of this gift. Some of these take it that certain individuals are gifted to heal one sort of disease or sickness, some another sort. Philip, for example, was used especially in the healing of the paralyzed and the lame (Acts 8:7). Others take it that God gives one a gift of a supply of healings at a particular time, and another supply is given at another time, perhaps to someone else, most probably in the ministry of the evangelist. The healing of the lame man at the Gate Beautiful is taken as an example (3:6, 7)

Still, others take it that every healing is a special gift—that is, the gift is for the sick person who has the need. Thus, in this view, the Spirit does not make men healers. Instead, He provides a new ministry of healing for each need as it arises in the Church. For example, the power that flowed into the body of the woman with the issue of blood brought her a gracious gift of healing (Luke 8:43–48). Acts 3:6 literally states, “What I have, this thing I give to you.” “This thing” is singular and indicates a specific gift given to Peter to give to the lame man. It does not seem to mean he had a reservoir of healing gifts in himself, but he had to look to the Lord and receive from the Spirit a new gift for each sick person to whom he ministered.

There is no evidence that the apostles were able to heal whenever they felt like it by some resident power of healing. Nor did they consider healing their chief ministry. We read of “extraordinary miracles through Paul” at Ephesus (Acts 19:11). This implies that in connection with the establishing of the seven churches in Asia through Paul’s ministry at Ephesus, unusual miracles were done that did not take place everywhere.

Thus, Paul did not have any automatic gift in himself that made him a healer. Actually, in Ephesus God used handkerchiefs (sweat cloths) and work aprons taken from Paul while he was working at his tentmaking. Miracles were done as these things became a means of helping sick people express their faith. It is not easy for a person who is sick to express faith, and Jesus often did or had them do various things to encourage the active expression of faith. At one time even Peter’s shadow became such a means (5:15, 16). But the means used were always varied and never allowed to become form or ceremony. Their faith was to be in the Lord, not in the means used to help them.


These things have nothing directly to do with the gifts of healings, however. The emphasis in 1 Corinthians 12:9 is on the expression of this gift through the various individual members of the Body. We do not need to find an evangelist. (His work is primarily for sinners.) It may not always be possible to call the elders of the church (James 5:14, 15). But gifts of healings are available to every member of the Body to minister to the sick.


Horton, S. M. (2005). What the Bible Says about the Holy Spirit (pp. 274–275). Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House.