Communications media have made phenomenal strides in recent years. Now it is possible, through direct distance dialing, to talk to any number of people almost any where in the United States in a matter of a few seconds. (The monthly telephone bill, of course, is an effective deterrent to the abuse of this privilege.) Prayer is communication with God. Its scope is far greater than any telephone company could ever provide. Each believer has a private line to the Lord. He can reach heaven in an instant fraction of time. While there is no financial obligation it does cost a life of dedication, fellow ship and obedience. Verses 13 to 16 have aroused much controversy and differences of opinion. The Roman Catholic Bible substitutes the word "priests" for "elders" in verse 14. A footnote is provided endeavoring to prove their dogma. The Pentecostal peo ple believe this passage to teach that some men among us possess the extraordinary gift of divine healing. The basic thing that James is underscoring, however, is the need for prayer which follows in this Epistle the need for patience. The word "afflicted" comes from a term which signifies troubled or hardship. It can designate physical illness or mental depression. The word translated "sick" in James 5:15 clearly denotes the line of physical illness, while "afflicted" probably has primary reference to mental anguish. "Pray" in the Greek is in the present tense im perative. This indicates that it should be the continuous habit of a Christian's life. While prayer may not always solve our problems the way we
would like, it does often radically change our attitude toward diffi culties and adverse circumstances. This is the way by which we re ceive sufficient grace to shoulder the burdens we must bear accord ing to the will of God. The word "sick" suggests a very serious form of physical disability. In the context we may conclude that poor working conditions, ex treme poverty, and physical abuse contributed to the incapacitation of these believers in Jesus Christ. Whatever the cause James advises them to seek the help of the elders of the church. "Elder" and "bish op" are synonomous terms in the New Testament. Some believe they can refer to the pastor of the church. It is a fact that the elders were responsible for the work of spiritual oversight. The fact that the plural form "elders" is used does not necessarily mean that every lo cal church had more than one pas tor. It rather reveals that certain cities, such as Jerusalem, had sev eral congregations. Elders prayed for the sick and they anointed them with olive oil in the name of the Lord. Now, healing does not come in the use of the oil, except as it might be a means of lubricating and assuaging the hurt. James does not use the word "anoint" in a sacramental sense. The use always refers to rubbing with oil. This is often for medicinal purposes. The people of those days customarily used olive oil because of its therapeutic value to the body. Doctors were scarce and expensive. So the elders per formed both physical and spiritual ministries in the life of the early church. Now, what about the effects of Page 49
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