Anointing in African Christianity
Anointing with Oil in African
Christianity: An Evaluation of
Contemporary Practices
By Sampson M. Nwaomah
One New Testament practice that seems to have appealed to many contemporary African
Christians in their quest to appropriate the providences of God in their lives, endeavors, and in order to protect their possessions is the practice of anointing with oil. To anoint, as popularly understood, means “to smear, pour oil or other unctuous substance upon” (Horn 1979:48). Historically, the practice of anointing either with oil or other substances was widespread, and it was used for various purposes—religious or secular (Richards 1985:54).
In the New Testament, “anoint,”
“anointing,” and “anointed” are
Sampson M.
Nwaomah is Associate Professor of New Testament and Mission Studies at Babcock
University in Nigeria.
50
usually a translation of four different word groups (aleiphō, murizō, chrisma, and chriō). Generally, these words according to
Richards (1985:54) express “the same basic idea of rubbing or spreading oil or perfume or ointment” or the bequest of the Holy
Spirit on an individual or community. At least four patterns may be observed.
First, there is anointing as a divine commission; and this is related to chriō which appears five times in the New Testament
(Luke 4:18; Acts 4:27; 10:38; 2
Cor 1:21 and Heb 1:9). Chriō is used figuratively and always in the sense of being specially appointed or commissioned by God
(Heb 1:9; Luke 4:18; cf. Luke
1:9) (Richards 1985:54). Of the five occurrences, it is used only once (2 Cor 1:21) to refer to the church. Significantly, the other four refer to the empowerment of Christ by the special bequest of the Holy Spirit for his earthly assignment. In those instances, therefore, the use of oil or any external substance as the instrument of anointing is excluded. In the case of Christ, the anointing may have taken place at the baptism when God overtly endorsed
Journal of
Christianity: An Evaluation of
Contemporary Practices
By Sampson M. Nwaomah
One New Testament practice that seems to have appealed to many contemporary African
Christians in their quest to appropriate the providences of God in their lives, endeavors, and in order to protect their possessions is the practice of anointing with oil. To anoint, as popularly understood, means “to smear, pour oil or other unctuous substance upon” (Horn 1979:48). Historically, the practice of anointing either with oil or other substances was widespread, and it was used for various purposes—religious or secular (Richards 1985:54).
In the New Testament, “anoint,”
“anointing,” and “anointed” are
Sampson M.
Nwaomah is Associate Professor of New Testament and Mission Studies at Babcock
University in Nigeria.
50
usually a translation of four different word groups (aleiphō, murizō, chrisma, and chriō). Generally, these words according to
Richards (1985:54) express “the same basic idea of rubbing or spreading oil or perfume or ointment” or the bequest of the Holy
Spirit on an individual or community. At least four patterns may be observed.
First, there is anointing as a divine commission; and this is related to chriō which appears five times in the New Testament
(Luke 4:18; Acts 4:27; 10:38; 2
Cor 1:21 and Heb 1:9). Chriō is used figuratively and always in the sense of being specially appointed or commissioned by God
(Heb 1:9; Luke 4:18; cf. Luke
1:9) (Richards 1985:54). Of the five occurrences, it is used only once (2 Cor 1:21) to refer to the church. Significantly, the other four refer to the empowerment of Christ by the special bequest of the Holy Spirit for his earthly assignment. In those instances, therefore, the use of oil or any external substance as the instrument of anointing is excluded. In the case of Christ, the anointing may have taken place at the baptism when God overtly endorsed
Journal of
Cited: Burdick, Donald W. 1981. James. Easton, Burton S. 1985. The Epistle of James Engelhard, D. H. 1979. Anoint, Anointing France, R. T. 1986. Oil. The new international dictionary of the Grundmann, Walter. 1964. χριω. Gundry, Robert H. 1981. A survey of the New Testament Kiesler, Herbert. 2008. The anointing service. http://www .adventistbiblicalresearch .org/documents/ anointingservice.htm (accessed 18 May 2008). Moulton, Harold K. 1956. Analytical lexicon of the New Testament Greek. Grand Rapids, MI: Regency. Nwogwugwu, Ngozi Abiodun. 2003. Oyedepo, David O. 1996. The healing balm. Ota-Lagos, Nigeria: Dominion Publishing House. Richards, Lawrence O., ed. 1985. Seventh-day Adventist Bible commentary. 1980. Ed. Francis D Seventh-day Adventist Bible dictionary. 1979. Ed. Siegfried H. Stählin, Gustave. 1964. άσθένεια.