James 5:14 (aleifw)

Maurice A. O'Sullivan mauros at iol.ie
Sun Nov 24 14:45:18 EST 2002


At 18:36 24/11/2002, Ronald L. Geib wrote:

>or whether there may be a medicinal effect of the oil insinuated.

What about Lk 10:34  >> He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having 
poured oil and wine on them. <<

And, of course, the most obvious parallel with James is Mk. 6:13  >> They 
cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured 
them. <<   " KAI HLEIFON ELAIWi "

Josephus, in Jewish Wars Bk. 1. 657 tells us:
 >>Yet did he struggle with his numerous disorders, and still had a desire 
to live, and hoped for recovery, and considered of several methods of cure. 
Accordingly, he went over Jordan, and made use of those hot baths at 
Callirrhoe, which run into the lake Asphaltitis, but are themselves sweet 
enough to be drank. And here the physicians thought proper to bathe his 
whole body in warm oil, by letting it down into a large vessel full of oil; 
whereupon his eyes failed him, and he came and went as if he were dying, 
(658) and as a tumult was then made by his servants, at their voice he 
revived again. <<

Then, there were other uses for olive oil:
 >> On the contrary a modest style of dressing, more in conformity with 
modern ideas, was first adopted by the Lacedaemonians, the rich doing their 
best to assimilate their way of life to that of the common people. 
[5]  They also set the example of contending naked, publicly stripping and 
anointing themselves with oil in their gymnastic exercises.<<  Thuc. Pel. 
War 1.6.5



Maurice A. O'Sullivan  [ Bray, Ireland ]
mauros at iol.ie







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