2007-03-19 00:58:12 · 2 answers · asked by Tommy D 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Oil represents the Holy Spirit. The rest is pretty much self explanitory.
2007-03-19 01:06:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Anointing with oil goes back to the early Old Testament, where it was used as a symbol of the calling and anointing of the Spirit in a person's life. It was used when priest were called to serve and also for kings when they were called.
It continues into the New Testament, where it was used by Jesus and his disciples during his ministry as a sign of anointing and healing. (See Mark 6:13).
This carried over to the first disciples, who continued to use oil as a sign of anointing and healing when they would pray for the sick and commission people into service. It would eventually evolve into the Catholic ritual of the Last Rite given to people who are dying.
In James, it is used as part of an act of faith which brings healing to Christians. If someone was sick, the person was to call for the elders of the church to come and pray for him. This was first an act of faith on the part of the sick person, because they had to have the faith to call for the elders. Then an act of faith on the elders part that they came, expecting to see the person healed. They added some oil as a symbol of the anointed power of the Holy Spirit. Together, the three acts of faith formed a "prayer of faith" which would heal the person.
2007-03-19 01:26:03 · answer #2 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋