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The Historic Faith
Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About Anointing With Oil

Early Christians did talk about anointing with oil as part of baptism and church life, and they also tied it to holiness, sealing, healing, and the Holy Spirit. The clearest direct witnesses are the Apostolic Constitutions, Cyprian, and Tertullian, with Irenaeus, Clement, Justin, Origen, Hippolytus, Theophilus, and Lactantius adding broad support. The evidence is strongest for baptismal anointing and for seeing oil as a sign of consecration and the Spirit;

it is thinner for any one single universal ceremony, since some texts are about baptism, some about Christ as the Anointed One, and some about healing or symbolic language. James 5:14 and Mark 6:13 also fit the practice of anointing with oil for the sick. A few later or weaker cards are more indirect, but the main teaching is clear and early.

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How to Study Anointing With Oil

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19 references

Foundation Texts

James 5:14 primary

Is any sick among you? 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:

Direct apostolic command for the sick

And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

Direct statement that disciples anointed the sick with oil

And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.

Direct passage on consecrating the tabernacle with oil.

And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.

Direct passage on consecrating Aaron and his sons with oil and blood.

Supporting Passages

Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.

Direct consecration anointing of Aaron.

And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.

Direct consecration anointing of Aaron.

And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.

Defines holy anointing oil.

And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.

Holy anointing oil in Torah.

Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

Royal anointing precedent.

And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD.

Priestly cleansing oil.

And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.

Tabernacle anointed and consecrated.

Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

David anointed and Spirit came upon him.

And the priest shall put of the oil that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the trespass offering:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And the priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.