James 5:14-16

[Pamelasv]

It says, 'Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him who is sick, and they are to pray over him, annointing with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.  Therefore, confess your sins to one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.'

I heard someone explaining that the sick person isn't physically sick, but spiritually sick.  Is there a Greek word that shows this?  It would fit in with the whole three verses together.  Having to do with a sinning type of sick.  

[missmuffet]

I think it is a command for Christians to pray for one another in times of tribulation.

[Ezra]

I heard someone explaining that the sick person isn't physically sick, but spiritually sick.  Is there a Greek word that shows this?  It would fit in with the whole three verses together.  Having to do with a sinning type of sick.  

There are always some who will explain away Scriptures rather than simply expound them with proper exegesis. Sickness and diseases are caused by sin in two ways: (1) when Adam sinned, sickness, disease, death, and decay came into existence and all humanity is subject to these and (2) when a Christian sins and does not repent, then he will be judged through sickness, diseases, debilitation, weakness, and premature death. So this passage is dealing with both sins and sickness, since they are connected. See 1 Cor 11:23-34.

[Leonardo Von]

On 8/20/2015 at 7:48 PM, Pamelasv said:

It says, 'Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him who is sick, and they are to pray over him, annointing with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.  Therefore, confess your sins to one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.'

I heard someone explaining that the sick person isn't physically sick, but spiritually sick.  Is there a Greek word that shows this?  It would fit in with the whole three verses together.  Having to do with a sinning type of sick.  

Dear sister Pamelasv,

 

Grace and mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

I heard someone explaining that the sick person isn't physically sick, but spiritually sick.  Is there a Greek word that shows this?  It would fit in with the whole three verses together.  Having to do with a sinning type of sick. 

 

There is no need to know theology to interpret the Holy Scripture. It is enough to ask wisdom from the Eternal (who gives it to all liberally - James 1:5-8) and analyze the context of the passage in order to understand the true meaning of it.

In the case in question, disease can be either of the body, of the soul or of the spirit. After all, any disease is a consequence of sin. Look at the relationship between sin and sickness in these verses:

 

·        “And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.” (Isaiah 33.24).

·        “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53.4-6).

·        “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” (1Peter 2.21-25).

 

May Jesus help us to take possession of this promise and conquest of Jesus to us so that we do not have to depend on the health service of this world.