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Bible question
Why don’t members of the church of Christ anoint people with oil and pray as commanded in James 5:14-15?
Todd Clippard
The thrust of this text, where the elders were told to anoint
with oil and pray, is instructing the brethren to pursue medicine
with prayer to God for its effective and desired result. Such is
the studied opinion of such men as Adam Clarke (his comments may
be found online at http://www.godrules.net/library/clarke/clarkejam5.htm
"anointing him with oil") and Albert Barnes.
Barnes, commenting on this text, wrote the following: "It is
evident that the cure to be hoped for (James 5:15) was not
miraculous, but was that to be expected in the use of appropriate
means accompanied by prayer." (from Barnes' Notes, Electronic
Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)
God expects the same today. He expects us to pursue whatever
medical options at our disposal, all the while praying His
blessing upon both those who administer the care and the care
that is given.