A medical Hermeneutic reading of biblical and ancient faith texts.

WHILE it is normal to read biblical texts as containing history books, wisdom, poetry, parables and letters, nestled within also lies a fascinating, and often overlooked, thread concerning public health. We can read the bible, not only in through the religious lenses, but also as a practical guide for fostering individual and communal well-being, laying the groundwork for principles adopted by public health centuries later, or what I will call a medical hermeneutic.

This is a whistlestop introduction to reading biblical, and other ancient religious texts as containing medical directives, and instructions, woven throughout the fabric. It is not an in-depth study, but an invite to read biblical texts with a medical hermeneutic. Of course, there are limitations of the medical hermeneutic, which could be seen as reading sacred texts through a public health lens. With that in mind, care has been taken to try and avoid the practice of eisegesis, and reading what we want to find into the text. The text’s primary focus remains religious. Some teachings may not align with modern ethical and scientific understanding. For instance, certain dietary restrictions as outlined in Leviticus could have detrimental health consequences if interpreted literally. Therefore, approaching the text with critical awareness is essential. Here, the approach is to read for universal threads which weave throughout genres, such as ethical principles of compassion and care for the vulnerable while recognizing the historical and cultural context in which the text was written. As such, this is paper lays out overarching themes using examples, rather than in depth exegesis of one passage or style of writing.

* Full article available in printed copies.

Jonathan Heron

is a plastic surgeon working in London. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health, with an interest in the foundational roots of public health.