Sincerely James: Reconsidering Frederick Francis's Proposed Health Wish Formula. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bowden, Andrew M.
• Is Part Of: Journal for the study of the New Testament. Volume 38:Number 2(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 241
• Page End: 257
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Epistle of James -- epistolary conclusions -- Frederick Francis -- health wish formula -- James 5.13-18; 225.605
• DOI: 10.1177/0142064X15609207
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-064X

Abstract

This article interacts with Frederick Francis's well-known suggestion that Jas 5 contains a health wish formula. Based on more recent findings of epistolography, this article argues that the references to healing in Jas 5 contrast sharply with the first-century CE health wish formula(s). In addition to current research on Hellenistic epistolography, this article offers three further pieces of evidence which suggest that the letter of James does not conclude with a health wish formula, but rather with a promise of restoration from spiritual sickness.