#276 The healing metanarrative in the Old Testament 🗓
With Dr Daniel O'Neill
God’s word is a meta-narrative, and threaded throughout the ancient text is a healing meta-narrative. Understanding the healing purposes of God’s redemptive story allows us to weave our individual micro-narratives into this greater story. The bible reveals a unique way to engage in purposeful, health-promoting, missional living wherever we are called to serve.
This first of a three-part series will present a comprehensive overview of the biblical healing meta-narrative in the Hebrew Old Testament. The Law, the Prophets and the Writings can enhance our understanding of the vital role of healthcare and global health engagement for the healing of all nations.
Further resources:
- All Creation Groans: Toward a Theology of Disease and Global Health. Daniel O'Neil and Beth Snodderly
- Litke, Andrew W. (2025) Psalms in Sickness and in Health (Eugene: Cascade Books)
- Hasel, Gerhard F. (1983) Health and Healing in the Old Testament. Andrews University Seminary Studies, Vol. 21, No. 3, 191-202.
- Ko, Stephen. (2021) "Public Health Approaches to Disease from Antiquity to the Present Day." in All Creation Groans: Toward a Theology of Disease and Global Health. Daniel O'Neil and Beth Snodderly, ed. (Eugene, OR, USA: Pickwick): pp 127-140.
- Landa, Apolos (2014). Shalom & eirene: The full framework for health care. Christian Journal for Global Health, 1(1):57-59
- Fully caring for the afflicted person. Christian Journal for Global Health, 1(2), 16-18.
- Savage, Joseph M. 2001. “Shalom and its Relationship to Health/Healing in the Hebrew Scriptures: A Contextual and Semantic Study of the Books of Psalms and Jeremiah.” PhD diss. Florida State University.
- Snodderly, Beth (2015) “Reflection: Health and Shalom.” WCIU Journal.
- Uhlmeyer, Emily. (2022) “The Effects of Mosaic Law Observance on Human Health.” Senior Thesis. Liberty University.
- O'Neill, Daniel. Transcending Medicine: an Applied Theology Regarding Disease and Global Health. in Re-visioning the Mission of Health A Global Invitation to Heal and Thrive in Crisis. Ed, Kirsteen Kim, Alexia Salvatierra, and David Nyansah Hayfron Theology and Mission in World Christianity, Volume: 39 (Leiden: Brill}, 2026.
Dr Daniel O'Neill
Daniel O’Neill, MD, MTh is a physician-theologian and managing editor of Christian Journal for Global Health, Assistant Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, and holds a master’s degree in biblical & theological studies from Bethel Seminary. He serves as pastor of missions in his local church. He is a co-founder and Interim Director of Health for All Nations Institute at William Carey International University and author and co-editor of the book All Creation Groans: Toward a Theology of Disease and Global Health.
