No, the word isn’t quite classic Greek. But “Sozo” is. It’s the root word used in the New Testament to describe both physical healing and spiritual salvation. Jesus used it when He said, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:48) And when the angel told Joseph, “you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21), that was “Sozo,” too.

But what about the “d” on the front? Well, truth be told, it’s just sort of window dressing, certainly nothing from the original language. But I kind of like to take the “d” in its Latin derivation, and make it “of” or “from.” Broadly speaking, then, d’Sozo would mean anything associated with Sozo.

What’s neat about the one word taking in both ideas is that it’s a perfect symbol of Jesus’ manner of work while He was here on earth. And that—coincidentally—is what His followers are supposed to be doing today.

Here are three quick quotes to put it into context:

“I want to tell you that when the gospel ministers and the medical missionary workers are not united, there is placed on our churches the worst evil that can be placed there.” –Medical Ministry, 241

“The union of Christlike work for the body and Christlike work for the soul is the true interpretation of the gospel.” –Review and Herald, March 4, 1902

“God's purpose in committing to men and women the mission that He committed to Christ is to disentangle His followers from all worldly policy and to give them a work identical with the work that Christ did.” –Medical Ministry, 24

The book is available online from Remnent Publications. If you want to contact the author, you can write to DFiedler@AdventistCityMissions.org. And while you wait for your book to come in the mail, you may want to check out the various resources available at the Adventist City Missions website. The address is—unsurprisingly— AdventistCityMissions.org. And if you'd like to take part in this kind of combined physical/spiritual work, check out NewstartGlobal.com.  God bless!