Verses often taken out of context or misused: James 5:15
James 5:15 [15] And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (ESV)
This verse is a difficult one. Doesn’t the text seem to imply that if we call the elders of the church to pray over us and anoint us with oil, we have a guarantee that the sick person will be made well? This verse is particularly harmful when taken out of context because people can use it to suggest that if you are not better, then you must not have enough faith. Yet sickness is part of this world and, though miracles happen, God does not make everyone better.
What is it about? This verse requires careful study of the immediate context, the context of the book of James, and the context of the Bible.
The “prayer of faith” is made by the elders of a church visiting a sick person under their spiritual care. The prayer, accompanied by an anointing with oil, is offered “in the name of the Lord”; that is, in the Lord’s authority and subject to His will. Prayer is made in full confidence in God’s power to heal. If the particular illness is the result of personal sin, then confession and repentance of that sin is also called for. The “raising up” of James 5:15 is not necessarily physical—if it were, then no believer should ever die! Many Christians do die from disease or injury every year, but this doesn’t mean they are lacking faith or that those praying for them lack faith. It simply means that it was not the Lord’s will to heal in that particular instance (see 1 John 5:14). The prayer of faith is offered in faith, and part of faith is trusting that God knows best. Those who pray should be unwavering in their confidence that God will always do what is right. Having prayed the prayer of faith, we can cheerfully commit our lives into God’s hands. The restoration of the sick one that James 5:15 guarantees as a result of the prayer of faith includes emotional and spiritual restoration that comes in the form of God’s comfort and peace.
Look at the context:
James 5:13–20 [13] Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. [14] Is anyone among you sick? 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. [15] And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.[16] Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. [17] Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. [18] Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. [19] My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, [20] let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (ESV)
There are two different Greek words that James uses in the text that are translated into the word sick. Looking elsewhere in the New Testament, these words can also communicate the idea of someone who is emotionally weary or spiritually weak due to persecution or suffering. This would fit the context of the book of James well. The immediate surrounding context also suggests that James has more spiritual issues in mind here rather than physical ones. This is due to the fact that he talks about the confession of sin and the subsequent forgiveness that is sure to follow. As soon as James mentions the prayer of faith that will make the sick person well, he says, “And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” (5:15). Leading us to know he is talking about a promise of spiritual restoration and spiritual healing that comes as a result of confession and faith-filled prayer. And that’s why James continues: Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (5:16) So the only kind of healing that is absolutely guaranteed in this life is the spiritual healing and restoration that comes as a result of repentance and faith. God promises to spiritually restore and make us whole again. Sin has acted as a barrier and may have even caused us to be physically weak (see 1 Corinthians 11:29–30). But spiritual healing comes to those who confess and turn from sin.
