Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary James 5:14

"Is any 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:" — James 5:14 (ASV)

Sickness is another circumstance where prayer is needed, and concerning such prayer James gives detailed instructions. The sick person “should call for the elders of the church” (cf. Titus 1:5, 7; Acts 20:17, 28). In Ac 20:28 the elders are instructed to shepherd the church of God, i.e., to do the work of a pastor (cf. also 1 Peter 5:1–4). Thus, the sick person is to call the pastors of the church “to pray over him and anoint him with oil.” Prayer is the more significant of the two ministries performed by the elders, for the overall emphasis of the paragraph belongs on prayer. There are a number of reasons for understanding the application of oil as medicinal rather than sacramental. The word “anoint” (GK 230) is not the usual word for sacramental or ritualistic anointing. Furthermore, it is a well-documented fact that oil was one of the most common medicines of biblical times . Josephus reports that during his last illness Herod the Great was given a bath in oil in hopes of effecting a cure. It is evident, then, that James is prescribing prayer and medicine.