At first glance, James 5:13–16 seems to say that if a person is sick, the elders should pray over him while anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord and the sick person will definitely be healed. Upon a second reading, however, one should note the salvific language James uses in the same passage. Language such as “the prayer of faith will save” and “if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” suggest salvation from sin is the real issue, not healing from sickness. The presence of salvific language suggests James 5:13–16 is not about physical healing, but spiritual healing.
James 5:13–16 is about restoring the Christian who is weakening in his or her faith. The terms that are translated “sick” in James 5:14–15 can also be translated “weak in faith” and the terms translated “save” and “healed” 5:15–16 can be understood as salvation from sins and restoration.
Let’s look at each word group and then discover how James 5:13–16 is actually about restoring the Christian who is weakening in his or her faith, not about physical healing from physical ailments.
The Key and Controversial Terms in James 5:13–16
The four key and controversial terms in James 5:13–16 that need analyzing are:
- “sick” [ἀσθενέω] (James 5:14)
- “save” [σῴζω] (James 5:15)
- “sick” [κάμνω] (James 5:15)
- “healed” [ἰάομαι] (James 5:16)
An easier way to identify the terms is by highlighting them in the passage:
Reinterpreting the Term “Sick” in James 5:13–16
There are two different terms used for “sick” in James 5:14 & 15: ἀσθενέω (5:14) and κάμνω (5:15). Ἀσθενέω can refer to physical illness as seen in Matt 25:39, John 4:46; Phil 2:26. However, ἀσθενέω can also refer to someone who is weak or weakening in the Christian faith. Note the following clear examples:
- “He [Abraham] did not weaken [ἀσθενέω] in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb” (Rom 4:19).
- “As for the one who is weak [ἀσθενέω] in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak [ἀσθενέω] person eats only vegetables” (Rom 14:1–2).
- “And so by your knowledge this weak person [ἀσθενέω] is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak [ἀσθενέω], you sin against Christ” (1 Cor 8:11–12).
As seen from the above passages, ἀσθενέω can indeed refer to someone who is weak in faith. The form of ἀσθενέω in James 5:14 is in the present tense and indicates that the individual is not “weak” in faith, but is “weakening” in faith. Understanding ἀσθενέω as referring to someone who is weakening in their faith seems like the most logical interpretation according to the context of James 5:13–16 (see my comments below).
The second term for “sick” is κάμνω (James 5:15). Κάμνω is only used twice in the New Testament: Hebrews 12:3 and James 5:15. Hebrews 12:3 is quite telling because it does not refer to someone who is physically ill, but to someone who may grow weary in the Christian faith and give up: “Consider him [Jesus] who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary [κάμνω] or fainthearted” (Heb 12:3, ESV). I also like the NET translation, which says, “Think of him [Jesus] who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary [κάμνω] in your souls and give up” (Heb 12:3, NET).
Based on the usage of κάμνω in Hebrews 12:3, it is quite likely that κάμνω in James 5:15 also refers to someone who is weary in the faith. Also, just like ἀσθενέω in James 5:14, κάμνω is in the present tense, suggesting that κάμνω should be understood as someone who is growing weary. Understanding κάμνω as referring to someone who is growing weary in their faith seems like the most logical interpretation according to the context of James 5:13–16 (see my comments below).
Reinterpreting the Terms “Save” and “Healed” in James 5:13–16
The term “save” (σῴζω) in James 5:15 can refer to salvation from physical illness (Matt 9:21; Mk 5:23; Luke 8:36; Acts 4:9), but it is most naturally associated with salvation from sins or death in the New Testament. Note the following uses:
- “Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save [σῴζω] some of them” (Rom 11:13–14).
- “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save [σῴζω] those who believe” (1 Cor 1:21).
- “even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved [σῴζω]—” (Eph 2:5).
- “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved [σῴζω] us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (2 Tim 1:8–9).
- “he saved [σῴζω] us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Tit 3:5).
If κάμνω in James 5:15 is understood as one who is growing weary in his faith, then σῴζω as referring to salvation makes the most sense. Note the interpretation of James 5:15 in this light: the person who is growing weary in the Christian faith will be saved by the prayer of faith, and “if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
The final term we need to understand is “healed” (ἰάομαι) in James 5:16. Like σῴζω, ἰάομαι can refer to the healing of physical ailments (Matt 8:8; Luke 5:17; John 4:47). However, it can also refer to restoration, specifically the restoration from sin:
“For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal [ἰάομαι] them.”
MATTHEW 13:15; also see John 12:40; Acts 28:27; and Isaiah 6:10 in the Greek
Understanding ἰάομαι as referring to restoration from sins makes the most sense in light of the comment about confessing sins in the clause that immediately precedes it: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be restored [ἰάομαι].” (James 5:16a, emphasis added).
The Context of James 5:13–16
The purpose of James’ letter is to exhort Christians to remain steadfast and faithful in their faith while they are in the dispersion. Note the following two passage that emphasise this theme:
- “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2–4).
- “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast” (James 5:11).
The entire letter of James is littered with words and themes related to steadfastness and faithfulness. Thus, if the purpose is to exhort Christians to remain steadfast and faithful in their faith, then the main point of the letter is for all Christians (those in the dispersion) to remain steadfast and faithful in the Christian faith. The content of James’ letter tells Christians how to do this.
When we get to the end of the letter, James doesn’t change subjects to physical illness. Rather, he addresses those Christians who are suffering misfortune, are cheerful, and who may be weakening in the faith and growing weary (i.e., those who are not remaining steadfast and faithful).
James tells those who are weakening in the faith to call the elders of the church so that the elders can pray over them while anointing them with oil. The prayer of faith by the elders, coupled with the confession of sin by those who are weakening will restore and save the weakening Christian so that the “Lord will raise him up” at the resurrection. This interpretation makes the most sense within the letter of James and within James 5:13–16, as evidenced by the translation comparison below.
Traditional Translation and Interpretation of James 5:13–16 | Updated Translation and Interpretation of James 5:13–16 |
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 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. And the prayer of faith will savethe one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 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” (ESV). | “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you weakening in faith? 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. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is growing weary, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be restored. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” |