Need help on Anointing with Oil

Scripture does not say anoint them with the sign of the cross.

Sounds Catholic to me.

Read back in the Old Testament. The anoint oil was poured over one's head until it dripped. (Ref. Psalm 133:2)

Best to anoint according to Scripture if you are going to anoint at all.

 

"The sign of the cross" has no healing power in itself. If you do that to remind you of Christ's sacrifice for us and His ultimate power over sin and death, fine. The mechanics takes second place to the heart's condition.

You sound like you are sincerely trying to follow God and submit to His will. If that is the case, God will be honored.

 

Great question into a difficult text. I view this passage in two ways: 1. Maybe the oil had medicinal value (Mark 6:13; Lk 10:34). 2. Or maybe it was done wholly for ceremonial purposes.

Leviticus 14:10-20 is a better background text than Psalm 133:2. Psalm 133 has nothing to do with the sick. Rather, it deals with "anointing" for ministry.

At any rate, it seems to be more culture now than anything. So if your church is going to do it, establish a tradition. Nothing is wrong with making a sign of the cross, keeping in mind it adds nothing to the healing. But if it is symbolic of the merits of the cross of Christ, then so be it.

The Greek word for "anointing" in James 5:14 is aleipho, which appears 9 times in the GNT, never in a ritualistic sense.

But we have another Greek word that is translated "anointing", or "anoint" in the GNT. It is the word chrio, which shares the same root as Christos, "the anointed One." Chrio as a verb is used only 5 times in the GNT, always in a ritualistic sense.

But Moulton and Milligan found in secular Greek where chrio is used of "a lotion for a sick horse" (see Vines on this).

It comes down to the culture of a local church, whether to use oil or not. However, one thing remains clear, the power to heal comes from the Lord.

 

The passage in Leviticus is a more accurate passage for anointing the sick than the passage in Psalm 133.

The anointing for the sick is not only the pouring of the oil on the head, but also the outward sprinkling seven times, the dab on the ear, thumb, and toe... all from the oil that has been poured out in the priest's left hand.

Good post, TC:wavey:

 

I use olive oil (extra virgin... lighter ). Normally I put a good thumbprint in the middle of the forehead. Since this isn't the OT, I'm not worried about it.

The main thing for someone who asks to be annointed is the symbolism of it. the oil is nothing... you could use 90 weight gear oil if you wanted. the main thing is the prayer being poured over the individual. The church I formally attended would have all the deacons, elders, and preachers come up to pray with and for the annointed, as well as any who felt led. We usually had thirty or more there praying.