Anointing with Oil

James 5:14 is probably refering to medicine (imho) since oils were considered good medicine in the first century. So, if you look at the entire passage I think you find that if someone is sick...

1. Have the elders of the church annoint with oil (use medicine)

2. Have the elders of the church pray for the person (seek God's intervention)

3. Have the person examine themselves for unrepentant sin...not listed here but it is in the next few verses (the person seeks God's forgiveness of sins)

Sickness does not always result from unrepentant sin, but there are some that do result from unrepentant sin.

So, I don't think James 5 is telling us there is something special in annointing with oil, but rather that we should use the best medicine available (in the name of the Lord) and then cover all the bases, if you will, with prayer and confession of sins.

peace to youraying:

 

:thumbsup::thumbsup::wavey::applause:

 

Our Founding Pastor (he's still one of our elders, but he for the most part has relinquished his pastoral responsibilities so as to follow the Lord's leading into other directions: www.compassionatehope.org ) occasionally used to anoint very sick people with oil at some of our corporate services.

I can't say for sure that his anointing them with oil had any particular effect such that all who were anointed subsequently were healed though.

 

The oil was medicine is an interesting idea. What biblical support do you have for that? I can't find any. I do find salve in Rev 3:18. It's a different word though. Ointment is also different words, one of which is associated with perfume (like the Nard used by mary).

I find oil to be used in worship (anointing sacred objects, anointing God's chosen leaders) and for lamps.

Help me out. What did I miss?

 

Luke 10:33,34?

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

 

Thanks!

That is olive oil. The Complete Word Study Dictionary connects the oil to the verb. The author discusses the difference between pouring and anointing. Essentially he says pouring is the medicinal application while anointing is a holy act. Pouring is also the verb used in James.


Good little study. Thanks.

 

I am a big believer in anointing w/ oil, but the ORBs as a whole do not. In fact, I know of none that do use oil. They do lay hands on people in prayer, but do so w/o anointing w/ oil. Personally, I wish we did.

 

When y'all do your anointing ritual, do you actually pour the oil on them, or just dab on a bit with your finger?

 

I dab. I think it is anointing, not pouring, when done as a worship act.


I spent some time thinking about this last night. If James is talking about pouring oil as a medicinal act it assumes that the illness is something to be treated by an oil, or ointment. However, James makes no such comment. The instruction is not to those who have an ailment that is treatable in that way, which leads me back to where I started. The application of the oil then must be an act of worship and intercession.

We should also note that the instruction is to those who are sick to seek the care of the elders, not a command to elders to hold a special healing service.

Also, James does not specify that the elders have to be particularly gifted by the Holy Spirit with the gift of healing.


sick in James 5:14
G770
ἀσθενέω
astheneō
as-then-eh'-o
From G772; to be feeble (in any sense): - be diseased, impotent folk (man), (be) sick, (be, be made) weak.


I made a mistake last night in defining anoint in James 5:14. It is:
G218
ἀλείφω
aleiphō
al-i'-fo
From G1 (as a particle of union) and the base of G3045; to oil (with perfume): - anoint.



Incidentally the word sick in verse 15 is a different word.
G2577
κάμνω
kamnō
kam'-no
Apparently a primary verb; properly to toil, that is, (by implication) to tire (figuratively faint, sicken): - faint, sicken, be wearied.

 

Leviticus 8:12
And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him.

Psalm 133:2
It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.

I Samuel 10:1
Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: " Is it not because the LORD has anointed you commander over His inheritance?

Matthew 26:12
For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.

etc.

 

excellent! Thanks!


Back to James.
If it was medicinal the instruction would have been, "apply treatment that is appropriate for the specific ailment". Oil is not, as we see wine prescribed for a stomach issue. It is appropriate in some cases for injuries, but injuries are not illnesses. T