Problem: James writes, “Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” (Jas. 5:14). What is the point of anointing a sick person with oil?
Solution: This is the only time that this practice is commanded in the NT—though the practice is described in Mark 6:13. There, the disciples cast out demons and “were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.” Therefore, whatever this practice is, it is not a biblical emphasis—only being commanded one time.
Moreover, many healings occurred without the anointing of oil. There is nothing magical about anointing someone with oil, because God is able to heal without it and most often does. Thus Moo comments, “The fact that anointing a sick person is mentioned only here in the New Testament epistles, and that many healings were accomplished without anointing, shows that the practice is not a necessary accompaniment to the prayer for healing. Elders who pray for the sick may do it, and James clearly recommends the practice; but they do not have to do so.”[1]
Based on this, we feel that there are two likely reasons for James’ imperative to anoint with oil: (1) medical or (2) hygienic.
(1) Medical. Moo writes, “Oil was widely used in the ancient world as a medicine.”[2] He notes that the Good Samaritan “came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them” (Lk. 10:34). Burdick writes, “It is a well-documented fact that oil was one of the most common medicines of biblical times… Josephus (Antiq. XVII, 172 [vi. 5]) reports that during his last illness Herod the Great was given a bath in oil in hopes of effecting a cure. The papyri, Philo, Pliny, and the physician Galen all refer to the medicinal use of oil. Galen described it as “the best of all remedies for paralysis” (De Simplicium Medicamentorum Temperamentis 2.10ff). It is evident, then, that James is prescribing prayer and medicine.”[3] In this sense, James was telling the elders to come and meet both the spiritual and physical needs of the sick, coming both with medicine and with prayer.
(2) Hygienic. The Bible uses two words to describe “anointing.” Either chriō or aleiphō. In the LXX (the Greek translation of the OT), the first word (chriō) is used for symbolic or ceremonial purposes, while the second word (aleiphō) is used for hygienic purposes. Moo writes, “The word frequently refers to the rubbing of oil on the face or body with a beautifying or hygienic purpose.”[4] In the NT the first word (chriō) always refers to a symbolic or ceremonial anointing. Moo writes, “Chriō always has a metaphorical meaning, designating God’s special setting aside of Jesus for his ministry (Luke 4:18 [= Isa. 61:1]; Acts 4:27; 10:38; Heb. 1:9 [=Ps. 45:7]), or the consecration of Paul to his (2 Cor. 1:21).”[5] By contrast, the term James uses (aleiphō) “most often designates a cosmetic or hygienic anointing (Matt. 6:17; Mark 16:1; Luke 7:38, 46 [twice]; John 11:2; 12:3).”[6] If James had a ceremonial or symbolic anointing in mind, he would’ve more likely used chriō, but he didn’t. He used aleiphō which was the term used for cosmetic and hygienic purposes.
Finally, we should remember that oil is not the focus of this section of Scripture. In verses 13-18, prayer is mentioned in every single verse! Thus it would be a major mistake to focus on the oil, rather than the prayer of the believers involved.
[1] Moo, D. J. (1985). James: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 185). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[2] Moo, D. J. (1985). James: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 182). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[3] Burdick, D. W. (1981). James. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 204). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
[4] Moo, D. J. (1985). James: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 185). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[5] Moo, D. J. (1985). James: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 185). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[6] Moo, D. J. (1985). James: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 185). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
“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:
(James 5:14)”
