The Prayer of Faith

Comment is made on pp. 478, 480 and 481 on the two Greek words for “sick,” and the interpretation of the passage given in the article depends heavily on the distinction drawn between the two words. It is claimed that “sick” in James 5:15 “relates particularly to the mental state of the sick person” (p. 480), and a meaning is given to the passage which is not its obvious meaning on face value. Not of course that we should refrain from looking beneath the surface of words to ascertain the meaning accurately, but if this distinction is to be sustained against the more obvious meaning of the passage it must be clear and unequivocal in the original language.

The Logos [magazine] article says astheneo “signifies a state of weakness, feebleness, lacking strength” (p. 478). On p. 481 it is equated to “physical or moral weakness”. Liddell and Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th Edition, gives “to be weak, feeble, sickly,” and in the aorist “fall sick” among other meanings. Arndt and Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 4th Edition, gives “be sick, suffer (from diseases)” among other meanings. Hence whatever other meanings it may have had it was an ordinary Greek word for “to be sick” (literally). This is the word used in James 5:14.

It is then claimed that “kamno,” the word for “sick” in James 5:15 “relates particularly to the mental state of the sick person” (p. 480): because Strong renders it as “tire,” “faint” and it is elsewhere rendered as “wearied”. On p. 478 it is asserted that kamno “relates to a weariness of mind, a state of depression,” and similarly on p. 481. The purpose of the elders gathering around the sick one is then deduced to be “to induce in him a strengthening of faith which would result in such prayers as could save him out of his depression of mind”.

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Author: John Court

Keywords: prayer of faith, prayer, praying, pray, sickness, illness, sick, ill, effectual fervent prayer, effectual prayer, fervent prayer, healing, healing the sick

Bible reference(s): James 5:14-16

Source: The Believer, Nos. 5, 6, 7, 1972.

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