The verse highlights that the sick person is to initiate contact by calling for the elders, not the other way around. This emphasizes their agency and responsibility in seeking spiritual and physical support for their condition, underscoring that the elders are available but not mind-readers who will proactively appear.
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. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
English Standard Version (ESV)
James has been addressing general suffering and hardship, urging patience and prayer. Now, he pivots to a specific instance: physical sickness. He instructs the afflicted to call for the church elders, who are to pray for them and anoint them with oil, emphasizing that this prayer, offered in faith, is the key to healing and restoration.
When sickness strikes, who do you turn to? James gives a specific instruction that points to the role of the church leaders.
James directs the sick person to call for the 'elders of the church.' This isn't just about calling friends or any believer; it's a call to specific individuals within the community who hold a leadership, spiritual role.
Why Elders?
The mention of anointing with oil might raise questions. What was its purpose, and how did it connect to prayer?
James pairs anointing with oil with prayer, but clearly states the power lies in the 'prayer of faith.' The oil itself wasn't magical, but likely served as a tangible, visible symbol of God's healing power and an aid to faith.
The Oil and the Prayer:
Ask a follow-up
James links sickness and sin. Does this mean all sickness is punishment? Let's look closer.
The verse includes a significant clause: 'and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.' This connection between sickness and sin is important, but requires careful understanding.
Understanding the Link:
Understand the original words
presbyteros · Greek Noun
Spiritual leaders or overseers within a local congregation who are tasked with pastoral care, teaching, and governing the church.
aleiphō · Greek Verb
The act of applying olive oil to a person, often symbolizing consecration, healing, or the invocation of the Holy Spirit's presence and power.
pistis · Greek Noun
A conviction or trust in God’s power and character. It is not a human effort but a reliance on the promises and will of God to accomplish His purpose.
sōzō · Greek Verb
To be made whole, rescued, or delivered from death or destruction. In a spiritual sense, it refers to salvation from sin, but it also carries the nuance of physical restoration.
hamartia · Greek Noun
A transgression against God's law or a failure to reach His standard of holiness. It creates a breach in the relationship between man and God.
aphiēmi · Greek Verb
The removal of guilt and the restoration of a relationship after an offense. It is a divine act based on the sacrifice of Christ, granting the believer freedom from the penalty of sin.
exomologeō · Greek Verb
The act of acknowledging or declaring faults, whether to God or fellow believers, as part of the process of repentance, accountability, and restoration in the community of faith.
hamartia · Greek Noun
An offense against God's law or moral character; a state of missing the mark of divine holiness, which requires repentance and forgiveness.
proseuchomai · Greek Verb
To make a request, intercession, or petition to God; a fundamental act of humble dependence upon divine intervention and communion.
iaomai · Greek Verb
Restoration to soundness, wholeness, or wellness, whether physical, spiritual, or relational, often associated with the grace of God and the ministry of the church.
dikaios · Greek Adjective
One who is in right standing with God through faith; a person whose life conforms to the character and requirements of God's law.
energeō · Greek Verb
The dynamic energy, effectiveness, or active capacity to produce a desired result, especially when describing the work of God or the operation of divine power in the believer.
The instruction in James to anoint the sick with oil was given within the context of the early church, where miraculous healing gifts were active and elders held a clear spiritual leadership role. This practice was distinct from later developments like the Roman Catholic sacrament of Extreme Unction, which shifted the focus from physical recovery to preparation for death.
c. 40s AD— this verse
Early Church Organization Takes Shape
During the mid-1st century AD, as the church spread, distinct leadership roles like 'elders' (presbyters) began to be recognized within local congregations. These elders were responsible for spiritual guidance and oversight.
c. 40s-50s AD
Apostles Perform Miraculous Healings
Following Jesus' commission, apostles like those mentioned in Mark 6:13 used various means, including anointing with oil, to facilitate miraculous healings, demonstrating the power of God to restore the sick.
c. 40s-60s AD
Discussions on Church Structure and Roles
Writings like 1 Timothy, Titus, and Hebrews discuss the functions and responsibilities of church leaders, underscoring the established role of elders in providing spiritual care and guidance to the community.
c. 100-200 AD
Early Christian Practices of Healing and Anointing
Writings from figures like Tertullian begin to mention anointing with oil in the context of healing, showing a continuation of the practice, though the precise understanding and administration evolved over time.
c. 200-400 AD
Interpretations of the Anointing Practice Shift
Later Christian thinkers like Origen and Chrysostom began to interpret the anointing less as a direct physical healing and more as a symbol for forgiveness of sins or priestly absolution, moving away from the immediate emphasis on bodily recovery.
c. 1100-1200s AD
Development of 'Extreme Unction'
By the Middle Ages, the practice of anointing the sick had developed into the sacrament of 'Extreme Unction' in the Western Church, typically administered only when death was imminent, a significant departure from the original context of James.
This passage describes the disciples anointing many sick people with oil and healing them, directly mirroring the action described in James and showing this was a practice of Jesus' followers.
Luke 10:34The parable of the Good Samaritan shows oil being used in conjunction with wine to treat wounds, highlighting oil's recognized therapeutic properties in the ancient world, which likely informed its use in spiritual healing.
1 Corinthians 12:28Paul lists 'gifts of healing' as one of the spiritual gifts given to the church, providing a theological framework for why elders, as appointed leaders, might be called upon for such a purpose.
Isaiah 1:6This Old Testament passage vividly describes wounds that are 'neither bound up nor treated with oil,' demonstrating the common use of oil as a medicinal agent for healing in ancient Near Eastern cultures.
Matthew 10:8Jesus instructs his disciples to 'heal the sick,' showing that healing was a core part of their ministry and a demonstration of God's power, which the elders in James are also called to exercise.
ellicottJames 5:14: "Is any sick among you? 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:"
(14) The elders of the church — i.e., literally, the presbyters. The identity of “bishop” ( episcopus ) and “presbyter” in the language of the apostolic age seems conclusive. Such is the opinion of Lightfoot ( Epistle to the Philippians, 93-97; see also his Dissertation on the Christian Ministry, ibid., 180-267), and few may hope to gainsay…
expositorsJames 5:14: "Is any sick among you? 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:"
Chapter 27 THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH-THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK AND EXTREME UNCTION. Jam 5:14-15 Two subjects stand out prominently in this interesting passage-the elders of the Church, and the anointing of the sick. The connection of the passage with what immediately precedes is close and obvious. After charging his readers in general terms t…
The verse highlights that the sick person is to initiate contact by calling for the elders, not the other way around. This emphasizes their agency and responsibility in seeking spiritual and physical support for their condition, underscoring that the elders are available but not mind-readers who will proactively appear.
James has been addressing general suffering and hardship, urging patience and prayer. Now, he pivots to a specific instance: physical sickness. He instructs the afflicted to call for the church elders, who are to pray for them and anoint them with oil, emphasizing that this prayer, offered in faith, is the key to healing and restoration.
James has been addressing general suffering and hardship, urging patience and prayer. Now, he pivots to a specific instance: physical sickness. He instructs the afflicted to call for the church elders, who are to pray for them and anoint them with oil, emphasizing that this prayer, offered in faith, is the key to healing and restoration.
"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. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if…" — The verse highlights that the sick person is to initiate contact by calling for the elders, not the other way around. This emphasizes their agency and responsibility in seeking spiritual and physical…
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Last reviewed October 2026
