James 5:13-20

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible -  KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit:
    • Prayer
    • Repentance, Confession and Restitution
  • Chapter XLIX of The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Clement of Rome (ca. 96).
  • IV.18, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Chapter IX, Considering Repentance,  Tertullian (c. 203)
  • Epistle LXIX -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 255)
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "He shows the best remedy against all afflictions, that is, prayers which have their place both in sorrow and joy."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "It is no mark of a wise or holy man, to boast of being free from error, or to refuse to acknowledge an error."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Having anointed him with oil - This single conspicuous gift, which Christ committed to his apostles, Mark 6:13, remained in the church long after the other miraculous gifts were withdrawn. Indeed, it seems to have been designed to remain always; and St. James directs the elders, who were the most, if not the only, gifted men, to administer at. This was the whole process of physic in the Christian church, till it was lost through unbelief."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "Pr 10:12 refers to charity "covering" the sins of others before men; James to one's effecting by the conversion of another that that other's sins be covered before God, namely, with Christ's atonement. He effects this by making the convert partaker in the Christian covenant for the remission of all sins. Though this hiding of sins was included in the previous "shall save," James expresses it to mark in detail the greatness of the blessing conferred on the penitent through the converter's instrumentality, and to incite others to the same good deed."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "The sins of those forgiven are said to be covered or hidden. This passage means that all the sins of the restored sinner, though many, shall be blotted out."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "First Thoughts on Passages on Year B Epistle Passages in the Lectionary: Pentecost 17," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "...God does not need persuading to care; the language of prayer like the touch and the oil engages us in symbolism of compassionate outreach which is good for our health and for the health of others."
  • "Being Church," Mary Hinkle, Pilgrim Preaching: Keeping Company with biblical texts and the people who hear and preach them.
    • "Is there any congregation in the whole Christian church on earth that you don't have to leave when you are having a problem that you can't hide?"
  • "At Ground Zero," Stephen Paul Bouman, The Christian Century, 2003.
  • "Final Exhortation," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
• Articles & Background:
  • "When Suffering Continues," Robert V. Rakestraw, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2003.
    • "Here is a wise interpretation, born of much intellectual and experiential struggling, of the book of James’ teaching on health, healing, and faithful living in times of suffering."
      • "When Suffering Continues," study guide for adults, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Aging," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2003.
  • "Discipleship as a Craft; Church as a Disciplined Community," Stanley Hauerwas, at Religion OnLine.
    • "Any attempt to be a disciplined and disciplining community seems antithetical to being a community of care. As a result the care the church gives, while often quite impressive and compassionate, lacks the rationale to build the church as a community capable of standing against the powers we confront."
  • "Anointing," Dean M. Miller, Church of the Brethren.
    • "The olive branch has long been a symbol of peace and prosperity. Oil for anointing has also traditionally been made from the fruit of this Mediterranean tree, bringing reconciliation and wholeness of life..."
  • "Tell All or Go to Jail: A Dilemma for the Clergy," Dean M. Kelley, The Christian Century, 1974.
    • "The public (or at least congregational) admission of wrongdoing is characteristic of small, close-knit, high-demand, sectlike religious groups. As the congregation grows larger and more diverse and less like a family, such open confession becomes rarer and harder."
  • "Sin, Guilt and Mental Health: Confession and Restitution as Means of Therapy," Paul Martin, The Christian Century 1975.
    • "As more and more persons know all of our secrets and transgressions, we achieve freedom from the constant fear of being found out."
  • "The Mental Health Ministry of the Local Church," Howard J. Clinebell, Jr., 1972.
    • "Both the spiritual healing and the pastoral counseling approaches are useful in a local church's program. Both have the same goal -- the restoration of persons to greater wholeness."
• Articles in ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are subscribed and logged in to ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
  • Albl, Martin C., "'Are Any Among You Sick?' The Health Care System in the Letter of James," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2002.
  • Bouman, Stephen Paul, "At Ground Zero," The Christian Century, 2003.
  • Jones, L. Gregory, "Crafting Communities of Forgiveness," Interpretation, 2000.
  • Karris, Robert J., "Some New Angles on James 5:13-20," Review and Expositor, 2000.
  • Kelley, Dean M., "'Tell All' or go to Jail: A Dilemma for the Clergy," The Christian Century, 2002.
  • Omanson, Roger L., "The Certainty of Judgment and the Power of Prayer: James 5," Review and Expositor, 1986.
  • Talbert, Charles H., "James: Teaching Outlines and Selected Sermon Seeds," Review and Expositor, 2000. (See especially, "On Prayer," (p. 180.))
  • Thomas, John Christopher, "Health and Healing: A Pentecostal Contribution," Ex Auditu, 2005. "Response to Thomas," Rebekah Eklund.
  • Wakefield, Andrew H., "What Happens When We Pray?" Review & Expositor, 2007.
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  • Warrington, Keith, "James 5:14-18: Healing Then and Now," International Review of Mission, 2004.
  • Ziegler, John J., "Who Can Anoint the Sick?" Worship, 1987.
• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "Caring for the Sick and Suffering within the Congregation," Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
• With Children:
• Drama:
  • "Extreme Makeover," Melinda Cousins, dramatix.
  • "The Attic," Dave Marsh, Stage Right: Dramas for Today's Church.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
• Liturgy:
  • Prayer for the Broken, Mental Health & Disabilities Program, Mennonite Central Committee, Canada.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: James 5:16, 20. The Cyber Hymnal.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies Linked at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance, with the following themes:
  • Prayer
  • Truth/Truthfulness
  • Confession
  • Repentance
  • Reconciliation
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of James