The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Question about passage

Might I ask the opinions of you learned people here? I am not a Greek scholar and it is obvious to me that you all are much more mature, learned, and knowledgeable than I. Any input would be appreciated.

The passage is James 5:13-15.

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Please pardon me if this subject has been discussed elsewhere here. I have not had time to go through all the previous threads. My questions are:

1)How does this passage relate to us practically, as believers today?
2)Is the anointing here to be done physically by elders today?
3)Does this speak of physical healing?
4)What is the "prayer of faith"?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

1. It is no less applicable today than it was in James' day
2. The word translated "anointing" is unfortunate and I think prone to much misunderstanding. The word in the original Greek is aleithantes, i.e., to rub or apply, more than likely with olive oil in a medicinal way which was quite common in biblical times. (cf. Lk 7:38, 46; Jh 11:2; 12:3; Mk 16:1) It eliminates any reference to some mystical or ritual exercise as practiced, e.g., by the Catholic church. The purpose of the rubbing with oil was for healing. (cf. Isa 1:6; Lk 10:34) Now, there is no reason why the Elders who are called could not apply oil or some other medicinal ointment if they had good reason to believe it would expedite healing. But again, the application of the oil isn't referring to some religious rite or spiritual formula of oil and prayer.
3. Yes, the focus, albeit secondary is for the physical healing of the one who called for the Elders. The main focus grammatically and exegetically is upon the prayers offered up for that healing.
4. There is surely a difference of thought on this phrase "prayer of faith". But I believe it is not referring to the faith of the one sick, although perhaps it might be applicable to the faith expressed in the calling of the Elders. What seems more logical and exegetically sound is the faith of the Elders who pray for the one ill, first and foremost and the faith of the one ill as evidenced in his asking for the Elders to come. Their office requires that they be mature in the faith and to be knowledgeable concerning the truth of God's Word and its application. What also needs to be emphasized here is that again this prayer as with the rubbing of oil has no magical power. What appears to be an unconditional promise that the one prayed for will be healed is to be rightly understood by what James wrote previously in 4:15 (cf. 1Jh 5:14).
   
   This text is NOT teaching "faith healing". Many reasons could be given but suffice it to say that even in the days of the Apostles there were some who were ill and were not healed, (cf. 2Tim 4:20).

In His grace,

Thank you for your thoughts, Pilgrim.

So if I understand you correctly, if one is sick and knows of an ointment that would heal their sickness, they should go to the elders to have them apply it? I'm curious as to how this plays out in a practical manner. Could this passage be taken metaphorically?

Does anyone know of churches that practice this today?

In the Assemblies of God church in which I grew up "anointing with oil" by elders was practiced. They had little vials of oil at the front of the sanctuary by the altar. At one point in the service the elders (male & female) would gather at the altar & anyone who was sick could approach them to be anointed with oil & prayed over. Not quite what James had in mind, I think.

I've heard of this happening but have never seen it. So what do you think James did have in mind?

Hi Jacy,

I'm not entirely sure what the purpose of anointing with oil was, although I'm inclined to agree with Pilgrim that the significance of the oil was more likely medicinal than ritual. It may also have been "cosmetic" in the way Jesus mentions: "But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face" (Matt. 6:17). Or, in the mode of Psalmist: "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness: Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows" (Ps. 45:7).

But what I'm sure James did NOT have in mind was that female "elders" would be involved, nor that the sick were to approach an altar in the midst of a worship service for the elders to anoint them. Rather, the sick person is to "call for the elders of the church," implying that they will come to the sick person.