Q: “By His Stripes, We Are Healed”?
Q: Dr. Mike; can you explain to my Bible study group what the Bible means in Isaiah 53:5, when it says, “By His stripes, we are healed,” and does it mean physical healing, since we hear so many ministers use it that way?
A: Praise the Lord to you and your Bible study friends! That is indeed a good question, and the debate from various denominations over this verse, rages on. I’ve given it a serious theological overview, in relationship, to 1 Peter 2:24 and other similar passages, and have sided with the “School of Thought” that includes Dr. Charles H. Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards, and John Calvin.
We all acknowledge that the passages mentioned above are central to the topic of healing, but the question remains, is it spiritual or physical healing, since the word “healed” can be translated from the Old and New Testaments as either spiritual or physical healing. However, the contexts of Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 2 make it clear that they are referring to spiritual healing, not physical. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). The verse is referring to sin and righteousness, being forgiven and saved not sickness and disease. Therefore, if we would teach believers to ‘STOP’ eiseteting (reading into the text something that’s not there, by only reading the one verse) and more exegeting (reading the entire text for its meaning), I believe we will unify the Body of Christ, even more, before Christ returns. [Let me go on record to say that healing is available to the believer, but it’s as the Lord Wills, for His divine purpose and glory.]