The Reformed Case for Anointing with Oil

Anointing with oil is a sign to the sick, spiritually grieving, or dying person that enables him to be a true witness to the transforming health the gospel gives.

Is there a case for anointing with oil that applies to the first-century church? Should we view oil as medicinal? Was James addressing oil merely as symbolic of healing? Or is it to be taken literally? Further, is this related to the Roman Catholic doctrine of extreme unction applied to people as they near death? Is it sacramental? In this essay, I want to make a brief case for the practice of anointing with oil in the Church that avoids sacerdotal trajectories and commemorates the mercy of God in healing.

The text is quite direct in principle, and the methodology used for the practice:

¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.