James 5:16
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James 5:16 encourages believers to confess their sins to one another and pray for each other so that healing—both spiritual and physical—may occur. The verse highlights the power of prayer, especially when offered fervently by a person who strives for righteousness. This Bible verse is central to Christian teachings on mutual accountability, intercessory prayer, and the transformative effect of God's grace within Christian community.
Summary
Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16 instructs Christians to 'confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.' In the original Greek, 'confess' (ἐξομολογεῖσθε, exomologeisthe) carries the idea of open acknowledgment of wrongs, fostering genuine repentance and reconciliation (cf. Matthew 5:23–24, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A23-24). Prayer (προσεύχεσθε, proseuchesthe) here is presented as communal intercession, a powerful channel for God’s redemptive work. The phrase 'effectual fervent prayer' (ἰσχύει πολλὰ δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη) points to the energetic, persistent prayer of a believer whose status as 'righteous' is based not on self-merit but on the imputed righteousness of Christ (Romans 5:1, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A1). This passage aligns with historic Christian practice—especially in the Reformed tradition—of mutual confession as covenant people, the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A9), and corporate prayer as means of grace.
There’s a quiet power in honest confession. James 5:16 isn’t about parading our failures; it’s about freeing ourselves from shame’s prison and stepping into grace’s healing light. Genuine confession with a trusted brother or sister opens our hearts to the Spirit’s cleansing, while their prayers become a lifeline that draws us nearer to Christ. If you’re struggling today—discouraged, weighed down, or stuck in sin—reach out for prayer. God delights to answer the persistent prayers of His people, and healing often begins when we lay down our masks, admit our need, and come together in Christ’s name. This is a living reminder that you do not walk alone and that real spiritual change happens in gospel-shaped community.