James 5:15 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - James 5:14-15

Directions in ease of sickness. Let him call for the elders of the Church. Of the original creation of the presbyterate no account is given, but elders appear as already existing in Judaea in Acts 11:30 ; and from Acts 14:23 we find that St. Paul and St. Barnabas "appointed elders in every Church" which they had founded on their first missionary journey. Nothing, therefore, can be concluded with regard to the date of the Epistle from this notice of elders. The elders were to be summoned... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 5:14-18

The power and value of intercessory prayer I. THE POWER AND VALUE OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER , enforced by the instance of the effect of Elijah's prayers—the petitions of a man who was of like passions with us , and therefore one from whose ease it is fair to argue to our own. Intercessory prayer may be viewed as a privilege and work in which all can have their share. While Joshua is down in the valley fighting with Amalek, Moses in the mount must lift up holy hands to God in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 5:15

And the prayer of faith - The prayer offered in faith, or in the exercise of confidence in God. It is not said that the particular form of the faith exercised shall be that the sick man will certainly recover; but there is to be unwavering confidence in God, a belief that he will do what is best, and a cheerful committing of the cause into his hands. We express our earnest wish, and leave the case with him. The prayer of faith is to accompany the use of means, for all means would be ineffectual... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 5:14-15

James 5:14-15. Is any sick? let him call for the elders of the church Those ministers of Christ whose office it is to oversee and feed the flock; and let them pray over him For his recovery, persuaded that what two or three of the Lord’s true disciples shall agree to ask, it shall be done for them; anointing him with oil “This single conspicuous gift, (healing the sick by anointing them with oil,) which Christ committed to his apostles, (Mark 6:13,) remained in the church long after the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - James 5:7-20

5:7-20 THE NEED FOR PATIENCE AND PRAYERMany Christians were poor and oppressed, some of them no doubt farmers who suffered because of the rich landowners. James encourages them to wait patiently for the Lord’s return (which will bring them victory in the end), just as the farmer waits patiently for the rain that will bring his crops to final harvest (7-8). God is using these trials to teach them patience, so they must not fight against his purposes by grumbling. Some Old Testament examples show... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - James 5:15

prayer . App-134 . faith . App-150 . sick . Greek. kamno. See Hebrews 12:3 . Not the same word as James 5:14 . raise . . . up . App-178 . and if . Greek. kan ( kai, with App-118 . b). sins . App-128 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 5:15

James 5:15. The prayer of faith shall save, &c.— By the prayer of faith must here be understood, a prayer proceeding from a firm persuasion of mind, that God would assist them miraculously to cure the diseased person. Neither the apostles, elders, nor any other of the Christians, could work miracles, but when the Spirit saw proper, and by an impulse intimated as much to them. For that reason we find strangers were sometimes healed, while some of the Christians continued to labour under... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 5:15

15. prayer—He does not say the oil shall save: it is but the symbol. save—plainly not as Rome says, "save" the soul. but heal "the sick": as the words, "the Lord shall raise him up," prove. So the same Greek is translated, "made (thee) whole," Matthew 9:21; Matthew 9:22. and if . . . sins—for not all who are sick are so because of some special sins. Here a case is supposed of one visited with sickness for special sins. have committed—literally, "be in a state of having committed sins," that is,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 5:1-18

VI. MONEY AND PATIENT ENDURANCE 5:1-18The final practical problem James addressed involves money. He wrote these instructions to warn his readers of a danger, to inform them of the ramifications of the problem, and to exhort them to deal with the situation appropriately. This is his third reference to the rich and the poor (cf. James 1:9-11; James 2:1-12). We might also consider James 4:13-17, as well as James 5:1-6, as dealing with the rich. [Note: For some helpful insights on the way... read more