"Saving Health"

 

"Saving Health" 

"BELOVED, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health." 3 John 2. 

This is a wonderful wish; and there is a wonderful reason for it, though many Christians, even Seventh-day Adventists, seem to think that this wish is one of minor importance. Let us study it a little.  

The word "health" is an abstract noun, derived from the word "whole." The thought is expressed in the words of Jesus, "They that are whole need not a physician." Matt. 9:12. 

The word "whole" was formerly spelled hole, and comes from the original Anglo-Saxon hðl, same as present German heil, which means hale, hearty, sound, whole, saved; and saved because of being hearty, sound, and whole. 

This word hðl, through hole, holeth, is our present word "health," which, from its origin, signifies happiness, safety, salvation. This thought is also expressed in the Scriptural phrase, "thy saving health." 

To this original was hðl, there was added the expression ig, making the word hðlig, present German heilig, signifying salvation; from this, in descent, is our word "holy." 

To the word hðlig there was next added the suffix nes, or ness, expressive of quality, thus forming the word hðlig-ness, which, in descent, forms our word "holiness." This seems to be the surest descent of the word "holiness," though from the word hole (whole), with the qualitative ness,—hoeness,—the descent is easy to holiness.  

In any case, however, the root-word of "health" is actually the root-word of "holiness." This is positive, also, from the fact that the root-word of "health"—hðl—signifies saved, and saved because of hðli-ness, which is hole-ness, which is wholeness, which is hðlig-ness, which is HOLINESS.

Therefore when the Lord wishes "above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health," he wishes that "thou mayest prosper and be in holiness." And why should he not wish this "above all things"? Can any higher point be attained than holiness according to God's wish, which is perfect holiness? 

Men themselves know that perfect holiness is the highest possible attainment. This is the one thing "above all" that they wish. But this thing of perfect holiness can not be attained without health. This the Lord perfectly understands, though men do not; and therefore he has recorded this word, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health." 

Do you question the statement that perfect holiness can not be attained without health? How can you, when the very root idea of health is holiness? But if you are not ready to accept this from the words themselves, then read the same thing in the word of God: "Dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Cor. 7:1. 

This is also expressed in the full text cited at the beginning of this article: "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 

Perfect holiness embraces the flesh as well as the spirit; it includes the body as well as the soul. Therefore, as perfect holiness can not be attained without holiness of body, and as holiness of body is expressed in the word "health," so perfect holiness can not be attained without health.

And "without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Heb. 12:14. Since this is eternally so, and as perfect holiness includes the body, and holiness of body is expressed in the word "health," do you not see in this the whole philosophy of health reform? Do you not see by all this that in the principles of health for the body, and righteousness for the soul, both inwrought by the Holy Spirit of God, the Lord is preparing a people unto perfect holiness, so that they can meet the Lord in peace, and see him in holiness? 

Can you, then, despise or slight true health reform, and expect to see the Lord in peace, which means only to see him in holiness? 

God would make us acquainted with his great name,—Jehovah-tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness,—and also with his great name,—Jehovah-rophekha, the Lord our Healer. 

"God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health [thy perfect holiness] among all nations." Ps. 67:1, 2. {November 22, 1898 ATJ, ARSH 752.17}