One of the most recent developments in the study of illness and disease in the Bible is the shift from the study of biblical "medicine," which historically has emphasized diagnosing biblical illnesses, to the study of "health care" as reflected in biblical and related materials. This shift rests on the premise that healing practices should be treated as part of a healthcare system, which may be defined as a set of interacting resources, institutions, and strategies that are intended to maintain or restore health in a particular community. Such a system includes, but is not limited to, beliefs about the causes of illness, options available to patients, and the role of governments in health care.