Ben Sira’s Idea on the Role and Tasks of the Physician in the Process of Healing the Sick (Sir 38:12–15)

dc.contributor.authorPiwowar, Andrzej
dc.date.accessioned2024-11-24T14:35:29Z
dc.date.available2024-11-24T14:35:29Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.descriptionArtykuł w języku angielskim.
dc.description.abstractThe last part of Ben Sira’s reflections on the activities of his contemporary physicians and the medicine of the time contained in Sir 38:1–15 is devoted to the attitude of the medical practitioner when healing the sick person (38:12–15). The pericope has aconcentric structure with the attitude of the physicians towards God at its centre (38:13–14). The frame verses are devoted to the attitude of the sick person (38:12) and the sinner (38:15) towards the physician. According to the sage, it is not enough for asuffering person to turn to God alone asking to restore their health (Sir 38:9–11), but they should call on a doctor to help them recover (38:12a). The sick person needs a doctor’s help (38:12b). The Greek text emphasises that one should not be afraid of a doctor because God created them (the Hebrew version omits this argument; see 38:12a). Therefore, physicians are desired by the Lord and, like all creatures, God has also assigned them aspecific task. However, physicians cannot rely solely on their knowledge and skills while healing asick person. They should ask (pray to) God to allow them first to make the correct diagnosis (as explicitly stated in the Hebrew version), and then to heal their patient. The last verse of the pericope (38:15) poses many difficulties, which are reflected in numerous interpretations of its content. According to the analysis made in the article, it does not contain a negative image of a medical practitioner because its main message is the link between the cause of illness and sin (traditional perception of illness expressed in the Old Testament based on the principle of retribution). In Sir 38:12–15, as well as in the entire reflection on the contemporary medicine (38:1–15), Ben Sira made an excellent synthesis between this field of science and Israel’s faith in the divine Physician.
dc.identifier.citationThe Biblical Annals, 2024, T. 14, nr 1, s. 47-76.
dc.identifier.issn2451-2168
dc.identifier.issn2083-2222
dc.identifier.urihttps://theo-logos.pl/handle/123456789/24174
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherKatolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II
dc.rightsCC-BY - Uznanie autorstwa
dc.subjectBook of Sirach
dc.subjectphysiciane
dc.subjectprayer
dc.subjecthealing the sick
dc.subjectSir 38:12-15
dc.subjectSir 38:1-15
dc.subjectBen Sira
dc.subjectSirach
dc.subjectSyrach
dc.subjectBible
dc.subjectOld Testament
dc.subjectbiblical studies
dc.subjectexegesis
dc.subjectbiblical exegesis
dc.subjecthealing
dc.subjectsick
dc.subjectKsięga Syracha
dc.subjectlekarze
dc.subjectmodlitwa
dc.subjectuzdrawianie chorych
dc.subjectSyr 38
dc.subjectBiblia
dc.subjectPismo Święte
dc.subjectStary Testament
dc.subjectbiblistyka
dc.subjectegzegeza
dc.subjectegzegeza biblijna
dc.subjectuzdrowienie
dc.subjectchorzy
dc.titleBen Sira’s Idea on the Role and Tasks of the Physician in the Process of Healing the Sick (Sir 38:12–15)
dc.typeArticle

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