Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him 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. (James 5:14â15)This passage has been a battleground for interpreters over the centuries as various groups have used it as a proof text for their particular beliefs. At first glance it appears to be teaching that sick believers can expect physical healing through the prayers of the elders. But such an interpretation is out of harmony with the context. The suffering James has in view is evil treatment, not physical illness. . . .
