In the Bible, physicians are mentioned in various contexts, reflecting both their roles in society and the perception of their abilities and limitations. The term "physician" in the biblical context often refers to those who practiced medicine or healing arts, which included a combination of practical remedies and spiritual or religious elements.

Old Testament References

The earliest mention of physicians is found in the account of Joseph. When Jacob died in Egypt, Joseph commanded the physicians to embalm his father. Genesis 50:2 states, "Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So they embalmed him." This indicates that physicians in ancient Egypt were skilled in the art of embalming, a practice that required knowledge of anatomy and preservation techniques.

In 2 Chronicles 16:12 , we read about King Asa, who, in his old age, suffered from a severe disease in his feet. "In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe. Yet even in his illness he did not seek the LORD, but only the physicians." This passage suggests a reliance on human expertise over divine intervention, which is portrayed negatively in this context.

Job and the Role of Physicians

The Book of Job provides a critical view of physicians through the words of Job himself. In Job 13:4 , Job accuses his friends of being "worthless physicians," implying that their counsel and attempts to diagnose his suffering were ineffective and misguided. This metaphorical use of "physicians" highlights the limitations of human wisdom in understanding divine purposes and the complexities of human suffering.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, physicians are mentioned in a more neutral or positive light. The Gospel of Mark records Jesus' words in Mark 2:17 : "On hearing this, Jesus told them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'" Here, Jesus uses the role of a physician as an analogy for His mission to heal and restore those who are spiritually sick.

Luke, the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, is identified as a physician. Colossians 4:14 refers to him as "Luke, the beloved physician." This acknowledgment of Luke's profession suggests a respect for the medical practice and its practitioners within the early Christian community.

Healing and Divine Intervention

Throughout the Bible, there is a recurring theme of divine healing, which often supersedes human medical intervention. The miraculous healings performed by Jesus and the apostles underscore the belief in God's ultimate authority over health and sickness. For instance, in Matthew 9:35 , it is recorded, "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness."

The Bible presents a balanced view of physicians, recognizing their role in society while emphasizing the importance of seeking God's guidance and intervention in matters of health. The integration of faith and medicine is a recurring theme, encouraging believers to trust in God's power while also valuing the skills and knowledge of medical practitioners.Physicians

The medical skill of the Egyptians was widely celebrated. Each physician confined his practice to diseases of a single class, and thus a large household would require the attendance of numerous physicians, Genesis 50:2. The Hebrews also had professional physicians, Exodus 21:19 Proverbs 17:22 Matthew 9:12 Luke 4:23 8:43. In the early ages they had little anatomical skill, partly on account of the ceremonial defilement caused by touching a corpse. They gave their attention to external rather than to internal injuries and diseases, Isaiah 1:6 Ezekiel 30:21; though they also prescribed for internal and mental disorders, 1 Samuel 16:16 2 Chronicles 16:12. They made use of sales, balms, and poultices, hyssop, oil baths, mineral baths, and river bathing, with many other remedies, Jeremiah 46:11. Many wickedly had recourse to amulets and enchantments.

2395. iatros -- a physician
... Word Origin from iaomai Definition a physician NASB Word Usage physician (5),
physicians (1). physician. From iaomai; a physician -- physician. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2395.htm - 6k7495. rapha -- to heal
... NASB Word Usage become fresh (3), completely healed (1), heal (24), healed (22),
healer (1), healing (2), heals (3), physician (1), physicians (4), purified (2 ...
/hebrew/7495.htm - 6k

'Physicians of no Value'
... HOSEA 'PHYSICIANS OF NO VALUE'. 'When Ephralm saw his sickness, and Judah
saw his wound, then went Ephraim to Assyria, and sent to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/physicians of no value.htm

But as He Afterwards Says that "The Teacher of Christianity Acts ...
... teacher of Christianity acts like a person who promises to restore patients to bodily
health, but who prevents them from consulting skilled physicians, by whom ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter lxxv but as he.htm

Chapter l
... And Joseph gave charge to servants of his, who were physicians, to embalm his
father. So the physicians embalmed Israel, being occupied ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter l.htm

American Board of Foreign Missions.
... in this department is seventeen; of stations, sixty-one; of ordained missionaries,
one hundred and eleven, five of whom are also physicians; of physicians ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/american board of foreign missions.htm

Chap. xxxiii. And Now, when Galerius was in the Eighteenth Year of ...
... parts, and spread by degrees. The physicians attempted to eradicate it, and
healed up the place affected. But the sore, after having ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xxxiii and now when.htm

The Reconnoitering of Greece.
... He is sent to Darius."Democedes is cast into prison."His wretched condition."Darius
sprains his ankle."The Egyptian physicians baffled."Sufferings of ...
/.../abbott/darius the great/chapter vi the reconnoitering of.htm

Temples Built by Constantine the Great; the City Called by his ...
... saw. Being attacked with a severe fever, arising from a yellowish bile,
the physicians gave him some foreign drug to drink. This ...
/.../chapter iii temples built by constantine.htm

"You Know Me, Moody. "
... Well, I go to my physician, and to the best physicians, and they all give me up.
They say I am incurable; I must die; I have not thirty days to live. ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/you know me moody.htm

Epistle xxxiii. To Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna.
... On this account we have caused enquiry to be made carefully and severally of those
here whom we know to be well-read physicians, and have sent in writing to ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xxxiii to marinianus bishop.htm

Powers of the Demons.
... It is false. But suppose it were true, this is no proof of Godhead; for
physicians also heal many, yet are not gods. But, says one ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xvi powers of the demons.htm

Physicians (5 Occurrences)
...Physicians (5 Occurrences). ... Genesis 50:2 Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians,
to embalm his father; and the physicians embalmed Israel. ...
/p/physicians.htm - 7k

Physician (6 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Asa, afflicted with some bodily malady, "sought
not to the Lord but to the physicians" (2 Chronicles 16:12). ...
/p/physician.htm - 14k

Embalm (4 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Genesis 50:2 Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm
his father; and the physicians embalmed Israel. (WEB ...
/e/embalm.htm - 8k

Embalmed (3 Occurrences)
... Embalmed (3 Occurrences). Genesis 50:2 Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians,
to embalm his father; and the physicians embalmed Israel. ...
/e/embalmed.htm - 7k

Commandeth (60 Occurrences)
... Genesis 50:2 and Joseph commandeth his servants, the physicians, to embalm
his father, and the physicians embalm Israel; (YLT). Exodus ...
/c/commandeth.htm - 25k

Spent (76 Occurrences)
... Mark 5:26 and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that
she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse, (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS ...
/s/spent.htm - 28k

Directed (75 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Genesis 50:2 Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm
his father; and the physicians embalmed Israel. (See NIV). ...
/d/directed.htm - 26k

Water (4571 Occurrences)
... Several distinguished physicians have accepted Dr. Stroud's argument, and some
have strengthened it by the observation of additional symptoms. ...
/w/water.htm - 23k

Leprosy (51 Occurrences)
... providential infliction). This name is from the Greek lepra, by which the Greek
physicians designated the disease from its scaliness. We ...
/l/leprosy.htm - 37k

Blood (435 Occurrences)
... Several distinguished physicians have accepted Dr. Stroud's argument, and some
have strengthened it by the observation of additional symptoms. ...
/b/blood.htm - 54k

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