GOD PRESCRIBES THE METHOD TO HEAL HIS CHILDREN

English Standard Version Chapter 5

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 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. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 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.

These verses are included in the Book of James, which is in the later third of the New Testament. This book is an important - if not critical - addition to the entire Word of God. And, these specific verses are significant for Christians who are intent on abiding in Christ. This sermon will take make a more in-depth study of these three complex verses than you have ever heard before.

Heavenly Father, please bless us with the ability to understand clearly what James wrote 2000 years ago. In our daily walk with Jesus, we seek to know more about what pleases you, so that we may effectively demonstrate our love for you and others, while through our obedience we glorify you. We know you love us, and that every word in the Bible is truth and useful for the ultimate purpose of bringing those you love into your heavenly home for all eternity. Lord, also we ask that you give us the wisdom to apply these verses to our Christian living. In the Holy name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus we pray. Amen!

13a. Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.

In this first verse, we see how James uses a series of questions followed by commands as an effective way of exhorting the congregation to prayer and worship. The verses - written originally in the Greek language - have been interpreted and translated in different ways by many different authors. So for this verse and the others today, I will do proper expository teaching by looking very closely at the Greek word definitions as well as their usage elsewhere in the Bible.

Who is James writing and sending this book-long letter to? It was sent out to the 12 tribes of Jews that had been scattered among multiple nations, where they were now living among pagans. This is important to note as I will explain shortly. These are born and bred Jews who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, James is likewise writing to every Christian today because, like those Jews in the first century, we all must live among those who don’t love Jesus.

In this first verse, James has chosen those who are Suffering to address. Strong’s Concordance defines the Greek word Kakopatheo as: “to suffer evil.” Paul used the same word in 2 Timothy 2:9: “for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal.” To explain it more completely by this usage, both Paul and James are referring to an external applied affliction or hardship, usually of evil or malicious intent. Paul goes on to tell Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:5, using the same Greek word, to “endure afflictions” while doing God’s work.

Therefore, this suffering isn’t from disease or sickness. It is physical - and by definition, painful abuse. And most importantly, it seems to be a common condition when doing God’s work. Imagine working today as a missionary in China or a Muslim country. Persecution producing hardship is real. Paul tells Timothy to endure it. James isn’t saying anything different when he commands us to pray. The prayer should be for strength and courage to persevere. The messianic Jew is being commanded to pray personally. Jesus will hear that prayer and will likely provide the needed strength and courage.

As you will soon see, this command is different from verse 14 where James reveals another method to pray so our needs will be heard by Jesus. I will explain the difference a little later. For now, hold on to the truths that suffering hardship for the Lord is a righteous way to live as a Christian, and that our prayers will be heard by Jesus.

13b. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

While some translations use the word happy, that is a high bar for Christians who are living in tough times. Helps word studies breaks down the Greek word to be in good spirits or positive passion. Luke quoted Paul in Acts 27:22 when the men on the boat in the storm were fearful for their lives, telling them to “keep up their courage.” Again, living in the world among the pagans who don’t love Jesus it is sometimes difficult. If you have a positive attitude with Holy Spirit given strength and courage in such adversity, you should be exceedingly thankful to God. It is only through your faith in Him, graciously provided by Him, that you can weather storms.

So, cheerful and happy might be what we want from God’s grace, but a bright spirit and positive attitude - “courage in a storm” - are sufficient! They are worthy of our singing praises to our faithful Father in Heaven.

14a, Is anyone among you sick?

As I did in verse 13, I want to look at what James was saying 2000 years ago. While every modern translation uses the word sick, the first two English translations from 1526 and 1535 used “defeated” and “deseased” respectfully. The Greek word astheneó is defined as, “to be weak, feeble” in Strong’s Concordance.

I want to point out that the first English translation by Walter Tyndale was prohibited by English law. Ex 15:26, …for I am the Lorde thy surgione.” Not ‘physician’, ‘doctor’ or ‘healer’? The purpose of these translations was always to put it into into the current vernacular. It cost him his life as he was convicted as a heretic and burned at the stake in 1536. The word is based on the latin chirurgia, from Greek Kheirourgia ‘handiwork’ from kheir ‘hand’ + ergo ‘work’. He used Luther’s German translation as well as the Greek Bible translation by Erasmus. To put it bluntly, God did not use His hands to heal. Martin Luther translated the OT from the Hebrew. The first authorized English version, to avoid being burned at the stake, was by Myles Coverdale. As a Bishop he was wise to dedicate it to King Henry VIII.

Fearful of death and disease, “doctors and officials traveled ahead of annual royal progresses around England to ensure nobody in his path was ill, and those suffering from communicable diseases were forced to leave his court after becoming sick. Henry also had a lifelong fascination with medicine, tinkering to make his own recuperative concoctions. He founded the Royal College of Physicians in 1518, which “regulated the licensing of doctors and surgeons. With a recent history of torturing those biblical translators who weren’t in his favor, who would tell him “forget the doctor, Jesus is your healer?” King Jame was no better.

Very important to the study of this verse, notice that Paul uses the same Greek word in 1 Corinthians 11:30.

“That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.”ESV

Here in 1 Corinthians, the same Greek word as James used, is translated as “weak” instead of “sick” by many Bible translators. Why is there two different translations for the same Greek word? Is one of them wrong?

To help explain God’s redemptive purpose behind James 5:14,and later verses 15 and 16, I will use Paul’s verses in 1 Corinthians 11:30.

The Lord’s Supper story starts with verse 17 of Chapter 11. The worship gatherings at Corinth are not good. Paul REBUKES them in 1 Corinthians 11:20-22, for how they conduct themselves during their observance of the Lord’s Supper, essentially saying they aren’t really observing it. Some are turning it into a social party while others do not partake of it at all. There is a right way and a proper attitude one should have when observing this Holy sacrament. Paul describes that in 1 Corinthians 11:23-34.

In light of their poor attitude and conduct, Paul finds it necessary to REBUKE the members of the church. Notice that Paul isn’t the only one rebuking them. In verse 30, the Holy Spirit, through Paul is essentially stating “that God has brought illness and even physical death on the community due to their lack of respect in observing the Lord’s Supper.”

Mangum, D. (Ed.). (2020). Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament (1 Co 11:27–34). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Notice, there are three distinct conditions in the Greek language. The first, translated as weak or sick, is

Lexham Theological Wordbook ἀσθενέω

(astheneō). vb. to be sick, be weak. Refers to the state of being weakened, usually due to illness.

This verb and related words are among the most common terms used by the NT authors to depict illnesses and disabilities. The verb astheneō sometimes simply means “to be weak,” without specifically implying illness. This meaning appears most often in the letters, where Paul describes those who are weak (astheneō) in faith (Rom 4:19; 14:1) or in conscience (1 Cor 8:11–12). Paul also says that the law could not justify believers because it was weak (astheneō) through the flesh (Rom 8:3). The term can also refer specifically to being ill (e.g., Matt 25:36; John 4:46; Phil 2:26). The Gospel writers frequently use the participle of astheneō as a noun to refer to people who are sick (e.g., Mark 6:56; John 5:7).

As noted, Paul sometimes uses the word for those who are weak in faith, conscience or other forms of physical, spiritual and emotional weakness. In this verse Paul also uses another term that is translated as ill. On the surface, weak, sick and ill seem to be the same. However, there is a difference that I will try to explain.

Yes, the second Greek word in 1 Corinthians 11:30 translated as ill is arróstos. As defined by Strong’s Concordance and HELP’s Word Studies,

“properly, a persisting illness – literally, one "that will not leave"; chronic ill-health.”

this Greek word is a worse condition than astheneó. So, Paul starts with a mild or early form of sickness, followed by a more debilitating disease or chronic physical condition, and finally to death. Why are they in these unhealthy condition?

Jesus, in Rev 3:19, Jesus tells us He will rebuke those He loves. Jesus was only repeating what Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 8:5. Now, in this verse to the Corinthians, Paul is confirming that God is true to His word. As Paul rebuked verbally, Jesus now rebukes physically with weakness, sickness, chronic disease and even death

So, Getting back to James 5:14, we can have a better understanding of who James is talking to when he refers to the “sick” among them. These are not the Messianic Jews James addressed in verse 13. They were in good standing in their relationship with Jesus and God the Father. These individuals are weak, either physically or spiritually, and require a totally different method to be made well than self-prayer.

Understanding that, we will now look at:

14b, “He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

James is giving a different command entirely. Why can’t a sick or weak Christian pray directly to Jesus or God? Why does a sick Messianic Jew or Christian need “elders of the church” to “pray over” them. Look at John 9:31

“We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.”

This verse, and numerous others in the OT, tell us that those who are sinners - who neither worship God or obey commands - need someone who is righteous to pray for them. James knows this because he knows the Old Testament verses that also explain to him why there are sick people among the messianic Jews. Ex 23:25 explains why a believer who isn’t worshipping properly or at all (as above in 1 Corinthians) is sick. God promised to remove sickness from “among” them. SAME WORD! Both Exodus 13:26 and Dt 7:12-15 provides biblical support for why disobedient children of God might become sick.

Can you now understand how God, in His loving and redemptive plan, mercifully provides a method for Christians to be healed and saved when they are physically or spiritually weak, or perhaps afflicted because of God’s loving discipline. They cannot do it on their own. In fact, they can’t accomplish this through social media requests for intercessory prayer. They need to get right again with Jesus. God’s word gives them the only way that is acceptable to Him.

Carnal Man Sees Sickness as the Problem

Famous scientists like Louis Pasteur and Gerhardt Hansen spent much of their professional lives trying to discover the cause of sickness and disease in humans. Not believing that Jesus has authority over disease, they, like many before and after, sought things in nature that could explain sickness. In fact, before the 1800’s medical science was referred to as “Natural Philosophy.” So, the carnal world believes sickness must come from something in nature because Jesus is just a myth.

However, to Christians, Jesus is God. Jesus has authority over everything in Heaven and on the earth. Bacteria and viruses - all living organisms - are under His control. Just like Satan, they can do nothing to God’s children while abiding in Christ Jesus - unless He wills it. We all were designed to live in harmony with these tiny life forms. In fact, made from simple dirt, our bodies naturally contain and sustain trillions of these life forms. Seeing them through a microscope as they live in or on our cells doesn’t mean anything. According to His perfect design we must have a co-dependent relationship with these so-called germs.

The issue isn’t bacteria or viruses. The issue isn’t sickness or disease. That is what medical scientists and carnal humans want us to believe. The issue is sin! God hates sin! All sin is directly related to disobedience to the commands of God as written in the Old Testament, and Jesus as written in the New Testament. God agrees that sickness and disease are awful, but He knows eternal damnation is far worse. From the moment of the first sin by Adam and Eve, God has used His authority over bacteria and viruses, disease and death, as a means to influence human behavior. More specifically, He has made health and longevity a reward (blessing) for trying our best to live a sin free life. At the same time, He threatened to use His power to cause sickness, wounding, disease and death, whether as punishment or loving chastisement, whenever we depart the narrow path. In other words, we abiding Christians are promised health and longevity if we behave as He commands, or we face the consequences of sickness, early death and possibly eternal damnation.

It is true that God doesn’t want His children to suffer. But what parent withholds loving correction in order to keep their children safe? God has used, and will continue to use, sickness and death as discipline to save our souls. Thank the Lord … for His loving rebuke is far better than His wrath. Like the wooden spoon my grandmother used to discipline me when I misbehaved, Jesus now uses sickness, and even death, to “rebuke and discipline those He loves.”

Understanding this truth is crucial to our salvation. Pagans believe the medical science practitioners who blame bacteria, fungus, and viruses for much of man’s suffering and death. They turn to those practitioners for remedies and cures to fight and kill the offending organisms (germ warfare). Pagans and Christians also turn to physicians for treatment of diseases directly caused by sinful behaviors. Liver disease, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, liver and bladder and gastrointestinal cancers from alcohol and drug abuse. Sexually transmitted infections like HIV, syphilis, Do God’s children do what the pagans do? That would be committing another sin - if indeed the sickness is from Jesus. God calls such behavior “adding sin to sin.”

So, what does the Bible say we should do when we are sick? Most Christians want to believe God works through modern medical science and its best practitioners. That might work if the sickness wasn’t the will of Jesus. Please tell me if I am wrong, but that would be impossible to know for certain. I mean, none of us is perfect. Therefore, it is most wise to follow God’s written word rather than do what every pagan does. For me and my house, we trust in the Lord as He taught or inspired the words in the Book of James.

Healing the Sick Through Confession of Sins

Could it be that some verses in the Book of James were misinterpreted due to translation problems? Or, perhaps the bias of Martin Luther against James, placing it at the lowest level of reliability in his opinion, kept many early translators and commentators away from the truth. Perhaps, this was God’s plan all along. Whichever the reason, verses 13 - 18 in Chapter 5 have rarely been accurately applied to Christian living.

The Book of James is powerful as it serves to teach Christians what to do to be acceptable in God’s eyes. As all writers of the Bible are assumed to have been inspired by the Holy Spirit, we will now look at these verses as commands from God - not just optional suggestions for living a good life. My objective will be to reveal why a misinterpretation of these verses has been catastrophic for Christians and Catholics over the past 2000 years.

The Lord Gives Detailed Instructions

A close look at Old Testament scripture frequently reveals minutely detailed instructions regarding how to accomplish something God wants. My view of this extra detailed instructions as being absolutely necessary is based on the significant difficulty and effort it took to write it all down. Seriously, can you imagine the scribe using a quill or some other writing instrument to write - then rewrite the Bible on paper that has an extremely rough surface? No shorthand. No word processor. For this reason, I believe Paul when he tells Timothy “every word” is useful. I believe Jesus when He said “not a jot or tittle (Mt 5:18).

Not only that, but translations by their very nature change the meaning somewhat so that every effort should be made to obtain meanings from the original language. I would emphasize here that the accuracy and completeness of scripture applies only to the original manuscripts - the original language. My approach to teaching from scripture frequently relies on the use of the Greek and Hebrew words that the original authors used.

So, when Naaman wanted his leprosy healed by our Lord’s prophet Elisha, he was provided a remedy from God. There were no medical texts detailing treatments for Leprosy. I love this Biblical example of healing because the story reveals the absolute truth about what disease is - and God’s role has always been in it.

Naaman was given a simple prescription. It was easy to accomplish, painless, non-toxic and available to both rich and poor alike. So easy in fact that Naaman thought there couldn’t be any value in it. But notice the command. Seven times. Not 6. Not 8. Really?

Do you understand that neither Naaman nor Elisha new that the lesions contained a particular bacteria that is currently resistant to most antibiotics? But Naaman questioned - just as everyone of us would today - how can bathing in the River Jordan cure Leprosy? He mistakenly thought the treatment had to be more involved than that. What ingredient is in the water that cured Naaman’s Leprosy? There is no active disease curing chemical in the Jordan river.

The Placebo Effect is Real

Science has documented clearly that belief in something - positive thoughts or expectations - can produce what would otherwise be called a miracle. “Doctor, I am healed, but now you tell me you only gave me a sugar pill. That is a miracle!” The doctor would normally respond, “No, that is the placebo effect.”

Statistically, this effect is expected, even with worthless treatment, about 35% of the time. Medical science researchers rationalize that this positive effect is due to a positive attitude. To the medical scientist, it isn’t a miracle, it is how mother nature evolved us and medical providers are trained to take advantage of that spiritual/emotional healing power God (not Darwin or Mother Nature) created in Adam.

That is how medical science sees it. How did Naaman see it? How did Elisha see it? Placebo effect, or God? How do you see it?

Let me quote a writer who did a paper on the Greek healing temples of Asclepius where the sick would spend the night among snakes to obtain healing:

“ According to Nicholas Humphrey in his book “Great Expectations,” humans can form certain beliefs which can further inspire hope based on their own previous experiences, the rational arguments deriving from learning associations which connect certain features of the applied treatments with recovery, and the assurance offered by some external authority that this treatment is going to be effective. Particularly the latter is one of the most operative ways of planting an idea in the people’s minds which may loosen patients’ anxiety and move them to activate their own self-healing processes.”

This placebo effect works on all humans - pagan and Christian alike. Therefore, God placed into Adam and his descendents this means of receiving healing based on “certain beliefs” and “the assurance of some external authority.” Plato wrote on this placebo effect in the 4th century Before Christ. Mere observation has confirmed this truth centuries ago. The placebo effect work as much as 60% of the time. God made it so.

God vs Medical Science Practitioners

We can easily see from the above that the sick are being duped into spending a lot of money for healing that can come from Jesus at least one third of the time - and up to two thirds of the time. Doctors know this but are restricted from applying it to their patients. So, for a fee you can obtain the same healing that the pagans do because God, in His mercy, created us to heal whether we believe in Him, Jesus or any other gods or idols of gold, silver or wood. Satan knows this.

Fasting is sometimes required

Jesus laid out what to do if prayer doesn’t seem to work. Mk 9:29. Not in all translations, this verse added “fasting” to prayer for driving out a demon producing seizures in a young boy. It is apparent that demons can cause some illnesses and neither preachers or medical practitioners are able to determine whether a demon is the cause. This event also recorded by Mathew, reveals that faith the size of a mustard seed is sufficient except in cases where a stubborn and powerful demon might be the cause. Fasting for even a limited period of time is a practical (and scriptural) means of focusing one’s attention more fully on God for a specific purpose. After all, it is only God that can truly heal in most cases.