Editing Epistle of James (section)

=== Anointing of the sick ===
The epistle is also the chief biblical text for the [[anointing of the sick]]. James wrote:

{{blockquote|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. 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.|source=''Epistle of James'' 5:14,15<ref>{{bibleverse|James|5:14–15}}</ref>}}

[[G. A. Wells]] suggested that the passage was evidence of late authorship of the epistle, on the grounds that the healing of the sick being done through an official body of [[presbyter]]s ([[elder (Christianity)|elders]]) indicated a considerable development of ecclesiastical organisation "whereas in Paul's day to heal and work miracles pertained to believers indiscriminately (I Corinthians, XII:9)."<ref name="Wells1971">{{cite book|last=Wells|first=George Albert|title=The Jesus of Early Christians|year=1971|publisher=Pemberton|location=London|isbn=0301710147|page=[https://archive.org/details/jesusofearlych00well/page/152 152]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/jesusofearlych00well/page/152}}</ref>