Anointing with Oil

A Believer's Question

I am looking for your interpretation of James 5:14, anointing of the sick by an elder.

Response from Believer.com

God Bless your beautiful heart, and thank you for your question. We at Believer.com believe the Scriptures:

2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

So all Scripture is God's Word and must interpret itself. To find the True meaning of a verse, one must be clear as to whom it is written, or many errors will result. Today, the greatest errors taught stem from a failure to find to whom a section of the Bible is addressed for what was true for one group or given calling of God would be inappropriate for another. As an example, if The Church today were practicing animal sacrifice, it would show they had no understanding of the ultimate sacrifice for sin, The Lord Jesus Christ, and would do harm to the Gospel.

The Epistle of James is addressed to the twelve tribes;

James 1:1  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

Therefore, James 5:14 cannot apply to the present dispensation of God. Those who say otherwise will have many difficulties to solve. Who are the elders? If they are ministers or church officials, how many of these can offer the prayer of faith? The whole atmosphere of the Epistle is Jewish in the period of the last days.

We hope this helps, and God Bless you,
The Believers

  • The Word of God makes known The Lord Jesus Christ; Who declares to the Believer our Heavenly Father that we might know Him. God has revealed Himself not according to religious viewpoints but reveals Himself by the written Word.  The Light that illuminates our path makes it possible for all who are willing to walk with Him and to see His clear instructions to live victorious lives in Christian Faith and Practice.
  • Believer.com is a Bible Study Center whose goal is to base all of our posted teachings on Scripture and not the traditions and commandments of men.