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:
What does James 5:14 mean?
The sin of swearing is condemned; but how many make light of common profane swearing! Such swearing expressly throws contempt upon God's name and authority.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside James 5:14-16 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on James 5:14
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: Is any sick among you? - In the previous verse the reference was to affliction in general, and the duty there urged was one that was applicable to all forms of trial. The subject of sickness, however, is so important, since it so often occurs, that a specific direction was desirable.
Key words
- the prayers of ancient men
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the prayers of ancient men. It is a saying of R.
Context in James 5
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James 5 belongs to the closing movement of the book, especially the section often described as patience, prayer, and restoration. James is a wisdom-shaped epistle about testing, speech, wealth, impartiality, works, prayer, and practical holiness. Read this chapter with the wider themes of works, wisdom, and speech in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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