James 5:15 NIV

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 5:14-16

2. The prescription for help 5:14-16It is not surprising to find that James dealt with sickness (Gr. asthenai, weakness) in this epistle. He referred to the fact that departure from the will of God sets the Christian on a course that, unless corrected, may result in his or her premature physical death (James 1:15; James 1:21; James 5:20). Spiritual weakness, and sometimes physical sickness, result from sinful living. James gave instructions about how to deal with these maladies in James 5:14-20. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 5:15

"Difficulties in deciding what exactly in the preceding verse is meant by anointing should not cause us to overlook the main point of James 5:13-18, which is prayer. It is prayer-not the anointing-which leads to the healing of the sick person." [Note: Martin, p. 209.] The elders’ prayers offered in faith will restore (lit. save, Gr. sosei, "make well"; cf. Matthew 9:21-22; Mark 6:56) the sick and arouse (Gr. egerei, raise up) him or her. Offered in faith means presented with confidence in God’s... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:1-20

Rebuke and Encouragement2. Are corrupted, etc.] prophetic tense, in which the future is spoken of as though it were already come to pass. 3. For the last days] RV ’in the last days.’ The warning was fulfilled during the siege of Jerusalem, when many rich Jews were slain by Zealots (Jos. ’Wars,’5. 10). 4. Lord of Sabaoth] an OT. phrase = ’Lord of Hosts.’ It is not found elsewhere in the NT., except once in a quotation (Romans 9:29). 5. As in a day of slaughter] omit ’as,’ and cp. Jeremiah 12:3;... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - James 5:14-15

(14, 15) Anointing him with oil.—Or, unction. The use of some precious and mysterious ointment, on solemn occasions, obtained in most of the ancient nations, specially the Eastern. The Jews themselves were by no means originators of the habit, although they carried it to its highest ceremonial and significance. Apart, too, from the regular performances of the rite, as upon the accession of a king, or the consecration of a high priest, it often occurred in private cases, and some striking... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - James 5:1-20

James 5:1 'I had an hour's baiting from Mrs. yesterday. She got upon political preaching abused it very heartily acknowledged that religion had to do with man's political life, but said a clergyman's duty is to preach obedience to the powers that be was rather puzzled when I asked her whether it were legitimate to preach from James 5:1 , "Go to, now, ye rich men, weep and howl," etc. asked whether it was possible for old women and orphans to understand such subjects; to which I replied, "No;... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - James 5:14-15

Chapter 27THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH-THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK AND EXTREME UNCTION.James 5:14-15Two subjects stand out prominently in this interesting passage-the elders of the Church, and the anointing of the sick. The connection of the passage with what immediately precedes is close and obvious. After charging his readers in general terms to resort to prayer when they are in trouble, St. James takes a particular and very common instance of trouble, viz., bodily sickness, and gives more detailed... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - James 5:1-20

V. THE COMING OF THE LORD AND THE LIFE OF FAITH CHAPTER 5 1. The oppression by the rich and their coming doom (James 5:1-6 ) 2. Be patient unto the coming of the Lord (James 5:7-12 ) 3. The prayers of faith and the life of faith (James 5:13-20 ) James 5:1-6 The two classes whom James addresses stand out very prominently in this final chapter of his Epistle. The rich oppressors certainly are not believers but the unbelieving rich; they are not addressed as “brethren”; but others are in... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - James 5:15

5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed {i} sins, they shall be forgiven him.(i) He has reason in making mention of sins, for diseases are often sent because of sins. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:1-20

Verses 1 Timothy 6:0 are addressed to rich men, and no doubt specially to those who make some claim of having the knowledge of God. They are bidden to weep and howl for the miseries that will take them, in contrast to their present living in luxury. How transient and empty are earthly richest God sees them as corrupted, decaying, and quickly at an end; and the garments of wealth as moth-eaten, not won from use, but from hanging, disused, in a closet. The language here is sharp and scathing.... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - James 5:1-20

WORLDLY MINDEDNESS Like other divisions of this epistle this is so connected with the last, and grows out of it so naturally, that it is difficult to say where the division occurs. The writer had been speaking of envying and strife in expression through the tongue, and now puts in his plow deeper to show their source in the antecedent condition of the heart. “Lust” is not to be taken in the limited sense of sensuality, but in the broader sense of worldly pleasure or gratification of any kind.... read more