Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

CHAPTER 12

James ’ Instruction to the Sick

“Let him callfor the elders of the church, and let them pray.” James 5:14a

(Gal. 1:19). This is the same James mentioned in Acts 21:18. Along with Peter and John, James was one of the most prominent and highly respected leaders of the church in Jerusalem (Gal. 129). James, a master teacher like his brother, addresses his epistle “to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad” (James 1:1). It seems best to understand this statement to mean that James was writing to Chris tian Jews who lived outside Palestine. These Jewish Christians were scattered abroad possibly because of persecution (see Acts 11:19) and had formed local Christian congregations (James 222; 5214). What is of special interest to us is the fact that these early Jewish Christian churches had elders. If we are correct in assuming that the Epistle of James was written between A.D. 45-48, then James provides the earli est recorded mention of Christian elders.l According to James, the elders were to be called upon in times of sickness for prayer and anointing with oil. Writing in a bold, sermonic style, James states: The author of the Epistle of James is James “the Lord’s brother”

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Let

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