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JAMES 5:14–18: HEALING THEN AND NOW
Author(s) -
Warrington Keith
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international review of mission
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.118
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 1758-6631
pISSN - 0020-8582
DOI - 10.1111/j.1758-6631.2004.tb00464.x
Subject(s) - prayer , compassion , faith , confession (law) , spirituality , christian ministry , identity (music) , relevance (law) , faith healing , sociology , exposition (narrative) , psychotherapist , environmental ethics , aesthetics , psychology , medicine , theology , law , philosophy , political science , alternative medicine , art , literature , pathology
Much exposition of James 5:14–18 has tended to polarize the teaching therein. Either the author is seen to be promulgating medical therapy or spiritual ministry, a restoration to physical health or spiritual wellbeing. Instead, it will be proposed that James is advocating the re‐estab‐lishment of wholeness of a comprehensive nature. The key aspect in the guidelines is prayer and, in particular, the prayer of faith, the latter to be equated with a prayer that is in accordance with the will of God. Other issues explored include the identity of the suffering, the significance of the use of oil, the identity of those who offer prayer, the relevance of the use of the name of the Lord, the place for confession and the value of the illustration concerning Elijah. James offers a path to wholeness and healing in their fullest sense, and encourages believers to participate in this ministry. This will necessitate actively righteous lifestyles on their part combined with compassion, wisdom and love; the whole will enable them to minister appropriately.