Scripture does not give a single explanation for every illness. It includes a case where illness is not connected with personal sin (John 9:1–3), and a case where illness is connected with unworthy participation in the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:29–30). Believers in Scripture become ill and are not always healed; the body and creation remain subject to decay until the resurrection.
What Does the Bible Say About This?
- The man’s blindness from birth was not the result of his own sin or his parents’ sin (John 9:1–3).
- In Corinth, many were weak and sick, and quite a few had died; Paul connects this with unworthy participation in the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:29–30).
- Jesus told the man who had been healed to stop sinning, so that something worse would not happen to him (John 5:14).
- Believers became ill: Epaphroditus was sick and nearly died, but God had mercy on him (Phil. 2:25–27); Trophimus was left sick (2 Tim. 4:20); Timothy often suffered from ailments (1 Tim. 5:23).
- The outward man is wasting away, while the inward man is being renewed (2 Cor. 4:16–18); all creation groans, awaiting release from decay (Rom. 8:20–23).
This brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the Scripture texts are from the Father’s Blessing Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
8 Scripture passages · Father’s Blessing Bible
John 9:1–3
1 As He passed by, He saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked Him, “Teacher, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be revealed in him.”
1 Corinthians 11:29–30
29 For those who eat and drink [unworthily] eat and drink judgment on themselves, not discerning the body [of the Lord]. 30 This is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number have died.
Philippians 2:25–27
25 Yet I considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you—my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need—26 because he longed to see you all and was deeply distressed that you had heard he was ill. 27 Indeed, he was ill and nearly died; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.
2 Timothy 4:20
Erastus remained in Corinth, while I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.
1 Timothy 5:23
Stop drinking only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
John 5:14
After this, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you.”
Romans 8:20–23
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope, 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning and suffering the pains of childbirth together until now; 23 and not only it, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
2 Corinthians 4:16–18
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light, momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
