James 5:14

A Believer's Question

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

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 on to whom it is written or many errors will enter. 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 people or given calling of God would be inappropriate for another. As an example if the church today was practising animal sacrifice it would show they had no understanding of the ultimate sacrifice for sin our 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.

and therefore chapter 5:14 cannot apply to the present administration of God. Those who say otherwise have many difficulties to solve. Who are the elders? If they be 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

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