Post #3 The Meaning Of Anointing With Oil In James 5:13-16 - How It Is To Be Practiced In The Church

 

Introduction:  

    We have in the last couple of posts considered introductory issues related to James 5:13-16 as well as God's concern for those who are physically ill. Today's post will consider the actual command of anointing with oil and track out how it is to operate from beginning to end. We will also deal directly with what manner of provision of healing is available or promised in the act of anointing with oil in the name of the Lord.

How the command to be anointed with oil in the name of the Lord is to be carried out in the church. James 5:14 

Commentary: 

James 5:14b The sick congregant must submit to the Elders and leadership of the church. To make such a request is an act of humility. Humility before the Lord can move God to act on behalf of that person and lift them up in due season (see 1 Peter 5:6). James then writes "let them offer a purposeful prayer". Quite literally, the Elders are being commanded to fulfill the request of the sick congregant and come to pray with and over that person.

James 5:14c As the Elders meet to pray with the sick congregant, there had to be an attending physical act, a sign corresponding to both their expression of faith and the God to whom they appeal. The sign mentioned here in James' text is that of anointing oil. 

    Standard word-study references explain the word translated "anointing" as referring to the application of oil by anointing with a household remedy. In addition to James 5:14, we see the following pattern set by Jesus and the disciples in Mark 6:13 - "And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them."

    The use of oil in the scriptures often signifies the Holy Spirit and the power and favor of God being bestowed on that individual (Exodus 30; 1 John 2:20,27). One reference work discusses how in ancient Greece, anointing oil was used for rubbing sore muscles in gymnasts or athletes. This background may partly inform James 5:14, suggesting the picture of Elders administering the oil to the person in a rubbing or topical application. They would accompany their anointing with the prayers.   

The manner of the provision of healing promised in the act of anointing with oil. James 5:15

Commentary: James 5:15a This particular verse is perhaps the most scrutinized and disagreed upon sentence in James 5:13-16. At issue is how much certainty of healing is promised in the passage. James 5:15a could be rendered: "and the prayer from faith will save the one who is severely ill and the Lord will raise Him up." 

    The phrase translated "severely ill" refers to somebody who is in a continual state of illness or hopeless sickness. The third edition "A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature" lists maladies caused by anxiety as well as pain. The illness can include what we would term today psychological difficulties that stem from the physical body. The Bible consistently presents us as embodied souls with the perception of eternity written on our hearts - i.e. a spirit or spiritual awareness that is exercised by the soul or seat of human personality. It is not surprising that physical diseases would follow from a soul under durress.

    In these verses, the prescription of anointing with oil is for those who are experiencing perhaps more common and non-terminal illnesses (James 5:14 i.e - "is anyone sick among you") all the way to those in the worst condition (James 5:15 "severely ill"). 

    The question before the reader is of course how much certainty of healing is promised in the verbs translated "will save" and "will raise"? Let's note three observations:

1. First of all, in terms of the definitions of "will save" and "will raise", some interpreters have tried to make "will save" a term referring to spiritual healing, since the verb is often used in contexts describing salvation. However, there are numerous passages referenced by others that show this verb as referring specifically to saving or freeing from disease (Mt 9:22a; Mk 5:34; 10:52; Lk 8:48; 17:19; 18:42 compared to James 5:15). One way of rendering this verb to bring out its meaning could be "restore". 

    The second verb translated "to raise" or "will raise" can also be legitimately translated "to restore to health" in James 5:15 (2nd edition, Bauer Ardnt Gingrich Greek Lexicon, page 214). Thus, when we consider that God is offering the opportunity for physical restoration, the provision promised within this setting is specified and made definite. As to whether there is an immediate restoration/healing or progressive restoration/healing at a later time cannot be determined from the passage.

2. Secondly, both verbs are in the future tense. As the name of the tense suggests, both verbs are referring to a state or reality that is not current in the writing of the speaker or the experience of the readers. 

3. Thirdly, James appears to be prescribing a remedy for those in the church who are suffering all kinds of diseases.

Closing thoughts for today

    In general terms, the outcome of healing should never be doubted. As was stated already, the only thing we are not told in the text is how long of time could pass between the administering of the anointing oil and the healing performed by the Lord. 

      The Lord can choose to heal right-then-and-there, later, or ultimately when the Christian goes to Heaven. Other purposes may be in view that the believer doesn't know. Whether spiritual, emotional, or physical strengthening, anointing with oil enables the church leadership to represent the church body and to remind the infirmed believer in Jesus Christ that they're not alone.