Medicine, Miracle and Magic in New Testament Times

Written by Howard Clark Kee Reviewed By Paul Beasley-Murray

In 1983 Howard Clark Kee published Miracle in the Early Christian World (New Haven: Yale University Press). In this latest book he follows up his interest in the phenomenon of healing in the NT by investigating the interrelationship of medicine, miracle and magic. Thus, after an introductory chapter on definitions and contexts for healing, in four successive chapters he examines in detail healing in the OT and post-biblical traditions; medicine in the Greek and Roman traditions; miracles; and magic. This leads him to the following observations:

First, the phenomenon of healing in the gospels and elsewhere in the NT is a central factor in primitive Christianity; secondly, that the role of Jesus as healer was by no means an accommodation of an itinerant preacher-prophet to Hellenistic culture, but was in direct continuity with the OT prophetic understanding of what God was going to do in the New Age; thirdly, the healing works of Jesus are means to spiritual transformation rather than ends in themselves; fourthly, the portrayal of healing in the NT stands on the whole in contrast to magic.

For the evangelical scholar, this contribution to NT studies is a real tonic to the soul. In a clear and decisive manner Howard Clark Kee deals with the arguments of more radical scholars and establishes the basic trustworthiness of the gospel record. Although, no doubt, there will be differences of interpretation on a number of minor points, we warmly welcome this detailed investigation of NT healings within the context of their day.


Paul Beasley-Murray

Spurgeon’s College