James continues his theme of prayer by asking, "is any among you sick"? Like his previous question about affliction, he has the same answer: pray. But this time he adds three additional qualifiers: call for the elders, anoint with oil and pray in the name of the Lord.
The sick person, who appears to be confined to their bed because of their illness, is encouraged to call for the elders to come pray. The elders are called because, as officers of the church, they are tasked with overseeing the flock. Acting as shepherds they are to comfort and aid the suffering.
Along with their prayers, James exhorts the elders to anoint the sick with oil. Three different practices and views of this unusual admonishment have developed in the church over the centuries: the Roman Catholic practice of the rite of Extreme Unction; some of the Reformers believed it was strictly an apostolic practice; and, the "everything needs anointing" view of Charismatics.
There are five possible interpretations of the text: 1) Medicinal, the oil itself helps the sick; 2) Pastoral, it is simply an act of kindness with the oil acting as a stimulus to faith; 3) Cultural Kindness, part of the New Testament world of hospitality and manners; 4) Sacrament, as seen in the Roman Catholic practice of Extreme Unction; and, 5) Symbolic. The symbolic view is the best approach, as it considers the word that James uses in verse 14 for the physical act of anointing, while acknowledging that the overwhelming use and purpose of anointing throughout the Bible is for consecration: that the sick person is being set apart for God's care and the object of special attention in prayer.
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Kurt Snow serves as a ruling elder at Covenant Reformed Church of Sacramento (RCUS). He served as a member of the Board of Governors of City Seminary of Sacramento from 2000 to 2020.
