Old Testament Foundations

The Old Testament shows us that anointing oil was used to make people and objects qodesh (קדשׁ), or holy — set apart for God’s special purposes. High priests were anointed with oil, and so was the tabernacle and its furnishings (Exodus 25:6; Leviticus 8:30; Numbers 4:16). This practice of consecration through anointing later included kings as well.

Did you know anointing oil was mentioned 20 times in scripture?

New Testament Applications

Healing and Prayer

The most prominent New Testament instruction about anointing oil comes from James 5:14-15: “Is anyone among you sick? 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. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.”

This passage establishes anointing with oil as a biblical practice for healing prayer, demonstrating that Jesus’ disciples continued this tradition as recorded in Mark 6:13.

Consecration and Devotion

Symbol of the Holy Spirit

The apostle John connects physical anointing to spiritual anointing when he writes: “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth” (1 John 2:20). This reminds us that our ultimate anointing comes from God’s Spirit dwelling within us.

Understanding the True Source of Power

It’s crucial to understand that the oil itself had no supernatural force; the power always came from God. 

James isn’t suggesting that the oil bears any magical or supernatural quality. The healing results from the elders praying “in the name of the Lord.” The oil is secondary in this passage, adorning the central act of prayer. The oil serves as a symbol and aid to our faith, not as a source of power itself.

Modern-Day Anointing Oil Use

At Swanson Christian Products, we’ve been blessed to serve the body of Christ for 90 years, and we’ve witnessed something beautiful in recent years.

We’ve noticed that the majority of our Oil of Joy anointing oil sales come from individuals looking for oil to use in their personal prayer time – often keeping some in their purse, car, or home.

Store owners have shared similar observations, telling us that their customers aren’t just buying anointing oil for special occasions, but as a regular part of their prayer life and spiritual discipline. This speaks to a hunger among believers to connect with God through biblical practices that have sustained the faith for thousands of years.

Embracing Biblical Tradition

Whether used for

• healing prayer according to James 5:14,
• as an act of consecration,
• or as a personal reminder of our anointing by the Holy Spirit,

anointing oil connects us to our biblical heritage. Oil was used to refresh and rejuvenate the body, providing comfort and relief, and it continues to serve as a tangible way to express our dependence on God in prayer.

In a world that can sometimes feel disconnected from our biblical history, anointing oil offers a simple way to make our prayers more tangible and let the fragrance of faith remind us of our savior Jesus Christ.

Looking for quality anointing oil for your prayer life or ministry? At Swanson Christian Products, we’ve been crafting meaningful faith-based products for 90 years, helping believers connect with God through time-honored biblical traditions.