Jesus the Village Psychiatrist

Donald Capps is Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. He has written many books, including The Decades of Life and Jesus the Village Psychiatrist.

“New Testament scholars have dabbled in psychological analysis of Jesus before, but their acquaintance has usually been superficial. By contrast, Capps, who is a pastoral theologian, is clearly well read and deeply reflective in the history and theory of psychotherapy. He uses his knowledge of Freud and Erikson and significant case studies to bring new insights to the stories of Jesus’ healings. The opposite of modern psychological reductionism, Capps’s approach is broad and relational. He discerns how social factors, such as political and cultural changes, become factors in psychosomatic illness and how supportive social relationships as well as the charismatic figure of Jesus become significant factors in healing.” —Richard A. Horsley, Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts and the Study of Religion, University of Massachusetts, Boston

“This book takes a fresh look at one of the most important and yet misunderstood aspects of Jesus’ ministry. With an original reading of various gospel stories, Capps demonstrates that most of the persons that Jesus healed suffered primarily from mental illness relating to various forms of anxiety. His healing power lay in an ability to recognize both the cause and effects of mental illness and to employ methods that helped to prevent and alleviate it. Anyone wanting a deeper understanding of Jesus’ healing acts, and of how these may serve to heal us today, will benefit from reading this fascinating book. This is Donald Capps at his brilliant best.” —Allan Hugh Cole Jr., Nancy Taylor Williamson Associate Professor of Pastoral Care, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Austin, Texas

All of the Gospels and the whole of Christian tradition depict Jesus as a miraculous healer who could cure blindness, leprosy, hemorrhages, and a host of other maladies. But how did Jesus actually heal? Donald Capps argues that Jesus was keenly attuned to the psychological causes of illness and through his ministry brought healing to body and soul alike. Furthermore, according to Capps one of Jesus’ main purposes was alleviating mental illnesses, which people in the ancient world would have seen manifested in physical ailments such as blindness, paralysis, or other symptoms. Fully engaged in historical Jesus scholarship, Capps carefully examines Jesus’ deep concern for both physical and emotional health and shows how his proclamation of the kingdom of God envisioned a world without mental illness.