The anointing according to the scriptures.
1 John 2:20-27
We are living in a time when many Christians view the biblical doctrine of the "anointing" as if it were a highly charged exhilarating or some kind of high voltage energy source or force that flows through the atmosphere, our bodies, hands and out through ones finger tips and palms to produce healing and other types of physical and spiritual blessings in the lives of believers and those with whom they come into contact.
Hence we hear of different types of “anointing” that Christians can “feel” such as: activating anointing, anointing of the Christ, anointing of nations, apostolic anointing, breaker anointing, bringing forth anointing, catalytic anointing, corporate anointing, double-portion anointing, exponential anointing, family anointing, foundational anointing, generational anointing, new anointing, kingly anointing, and even a Rambo anointing etc.
If we are to correctly understand what the Bible says about the anointing, we need first to understand what is the root meaning(s) of the word “Anoint” as used in the Bible.
The Easton's Bible Dictionary says:
The act of anointing was significant of consecration to a holy or sacred use; hence the anointing of
(a) the high priest ( Exodus 29:29 ; Leviticus 4:3 )
(b) kings (1 Samuel 16:13 ; 2 Sam 2:40 and
(c)of the sacred vessels ( Exodus 30:26 ).
The high priest and the king are thus called "the anointed" ( Leviticus 4:3 Leviticus 4:5 Leviticus 4:16 ; 6:20 ; Psalms 132:10 ).
Anointing a king was equivalent to crowning him ( 1 Samuel 16:13 ; 2 Sam 2:4 , etc.).
Prophets were also anointed ( 1 Kings 19:16 ; 1 Chronicles 16:22 ; Psalms 105:15 ).
Anointing was also an act of hospitality ( Luke 7:38 Luke 7:46 ).
It was the custom of the Jews to anoint themselves with oil, as a means of refreshing or invigorating their bodies ( Deuteronomy 28:40 ; Ruth 3:3 ; 2 Sam 14:2 ; Psalms 104:15 , etc.).
The "anointing" was used also for medicinal purposes. It was applied to the sick, and also to wounds ( Psalms 109:18 ; Isaiah 1:6 ; Mark 6:13 ; James 5:14 ).
The bodies of the dead were sometimes anointed ( Mark 14:8 ; Luke 23:56 ).
The promised Deliverer is twice called the "Anointed" or Messiah ( Psalms 2:2 ; Daniel 9:25 Daniel 9:26 ), because he was anointed with the Holy Ghost ( Isaiah 61:1. Jesus of Nazareth is this anointed One ( John 1:41 ; Acts 9:22 ; Acts 17:2 Acts 17:3 ; Acts 18:5 Acts 18:28 ), the Messiah predicted in the Old Testament. ), figuratively styled the "oil of gladness" ( Psalms 45:7 ; Hebrews 1:9 )
In the Old Testament the anointing was also associated with the gift of His Spirit for carrying out some specific task (1 Samuel 16:13). Originally, such anointing was a physical ceremony, but because of this spiritual significance, people began to use the word ‘anoint’ solely in a spiritual sense. It symbolized the outpouring of God’s Spirit in equipping a person for God’s service (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38).
The New Testament expanded the practice further, so that the New Testament could speak of all who receive the Holy Spirit as being anointed (2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 1 John 2:20; 1 John 2:27).
In specific terms, the difference between anointing under the Old Testament and the New Testament can be itemized as follows:
(a) In the OT anointing dwelt upon a particular person for a particular situation, while in the NT dwelt on every believer (2 Cor., 1:21, 22; Eph. 4:30; 1 John 2:21-27)
(b) The anointed OT leaders were appointed by God for an office and the Holy Spirit who came with the office and could be removed at God's discretion. In the NT the Holy Spirit comes with salvation and is permanent; the anointing is part of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit..
(d) In the OT anointing was for a specific purpose or ministry, while in the NT anointing is with a broader purpose and brings out different functions for the gifts of the Holy Spirit and different positions.
(d) People were anointed to signify God’s call on that person’s life or God' s blessing - (Exodus 29:7; Exodus 40:9; 2 Kings 9:6; Ecclesiastes 9:8; James 5:14). A person was anointed for a special purpose—to be a king, to be a prophet, to be a priest, etc.
(e) In the OT anointing was external and was temporal, NT anointing is indwelt permanently (Eph. 1:30; 4:30;). All NT believers have an anointing that abides with them. They have an anointing; that represents the Holy Spirit sealing and filling them. (John 15:26, 16:13; Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 1:21–22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30.)
(f) In the OT, the anointing was "on" someone. in the NT it is "indwelling in" them.
Seven passages in the New Testament refer to the anointing. Four of these seven passages refer to the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 4:18; Acts 4:27; 10:38; Heb. 1:9). We will not look into these passages . The other three passages speak of the anointing in the life of the believer:
(a) 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 says, “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
(b) 1 John 2:20 says, “But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.” and
(c) 1 John 2:27 says, “But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie – just as it has taught you, abide in him.” These three passages make several points about the place of the anointing in the New Testament church.
From these verses we note that the anointing is a sovereign act of God. God anoints people. People do not anoint other people. These biblical statements make it clear that God is source, Jesus Christ is the means, and the Holy Spirit is the agent through which believers receive the anointing. And it is non-transferable.
The anointing is universal in the New Testament. That is, all believers are anointed. There are not some believers who have the anointing and some who do not. If you are a believer, you have been anointed. Period. And, by the way, scripture gives no indication of different levels of anointing. So saying that someone is “so anointed,” is as uselessly redundant as saying that someone is “so Christian.” God perfectly and equally anoints every believer.
Anointing was also practiced by shepherds. Lice and other insects would often get into the wool of sheep, and when they got near the sheep's head, they could burrow into the sheep's ears and kill the sheep. So, ancient shepherds poured oil on the sheep's head. This made the wool slippery, making it impossible for insects to get near the sheep's ears because the insects would slide off. From this, anointing became symbolic of blessing, protection, and empowerment.
.Let's focus on the sacred anointing.
If we are to understand the Biblical doctrine of the anointing of the Holy Spirit, it is the sacred form of anointing to which we must pay attention.
The Hebrew word used for the sacred anointing with oil was “maschach.” This word was sometime also used in a non-sacred sense of anointing but when used in a sacred sense it meant that the individual or object anointed in this manner was consecrated, dedicated, sanctified or devoted to God and His service. (Lev. 16:32)
Under the Mosaic/Levitical economy, it was only after the sacred anointing with oil that the Holy Spirit would accompany the individual. (1 Sam. 16:13)
It is interesting to note that the oil used in this sacred ritual in the Mosaic/Levitical economy was not just plain olive oil. Rather the anointing oil was actually a compound substance made up of 12 ½ lbs of myrrh, 6 ¼ lbs of sweet smelling cinnamon, 6 ¼ lbs of sweet smelling cane, 12 ½ lbs of cassia and about 4 quarts of olive oil. (Exodus 30:22-23) And the command was that this mixture should not be duplicated and also no one other than the priest should be anointed with this special anointing oil. This sacred anointing oil was also used the anoint the sacred articles of furniture in the tabernacle.
This practice of anointing priests with this special anointing oil was an Old Testament ordinance that has not come forward into the New Testament. In the New Testament the anointing is solely the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. (1 John 2:20-27)
The New Testament Greek words for “anoint” are chrio, which means “to smear or rub with oil” and, by implication, “to consecrate for office or religious service”; and aleipho, which means “to anoint.”
Another meaning for the word anointed is "chosen one." The Bible says that Jesus Christ was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit to spread the Good News and free those who have been held captive by sin (Luke 4:18-19; Acts 10:38). After Christ left the earth, He gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). Now all Christians are anointed, chosen for a specific purpose in furthering God's Kingdom (1 John 2:20). "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee" (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
The Bible never says or even implies that the anointing is a supernatural power given to humans by which they are able to perform miracles. The Bible never says or implies that there is any such thing as a double or triple portion of the anointing as suggested by some teachers.
But didn’t Elisha in 2 Kings 2 request a double portion anointing? In 2 Kings 2:9 before Elijah was taken up to heaven, he asks Elisha what he can do for him. Then Elisha ask for “a double portion of (Elijah’s) spirit.” The Hebrew words used here do not indicate that Elisha received a “double portion anointing " (2 Kings 2:9). Elisha wanted to be Elijah's successor; he was requesting to be considered as a firstborn .
In Deuteronomy 21:17 tell us that "a double portion" was the right of the first born, therefore Elisha’s request was to be heir to Elijah’s office and gifts. The purpose was to affirm his ministry. Today the "anointing" is said to mean having more power or to have an immediate experience , but this is not what is presented in Scripture.
There are no double portion today, we all share the same anointing equally as He is in us. (1 John 2:27) Nowhere in the New Testament teach such a thing. While we all need to be continually filled with the Spirit, it is dependent on us to yield ourselves, be humble so our life has Holy Spirit control.
It is impossible to have a clear biblical understanding of what anointing means if the word “anointing” is wrongly defined as the “power of God.” Simply reading through the Bible and noting its usage throughout the Old Testament and into the New Testament, demonstrates that anointing is not the “power of God” but the act of being consecrated or set apart for God.
What is the anointing that we hear so much about today? The anointing has become an experience that states that God is not confined to the Scripture alone. While there are shreds of truth in the statement that God is not limited, neither is He excessive. We don't put an experience before the word of God, nor a special revelation over the word of revealed revelation (Rev. 22:18-19). If there is to be any true experience it would be complimentary to the word and not contradict it.
Fundamental orthodoxy has been exchanged for this new theological thought. We are being told to learn of God by experience, through the experience, we gain our knowledge of Him. This view states that God cannot be explained except by ones own personal experience. We should not be ignorant of Satan's schemes - he wants us to have spiritual experiences and have us think we are in touch with the true God. He usually works through feelings because they are more difficult to judge as truth. These have become the current trend of mysticism. This does not mean there is no genuine experiences from God. But any experience with quick immediate results means we need to have our discernment "on" instead of "off". Everything needs to be tested against the Word of God especially when the supernatural is operating. The Bible commands this and it is not an option.
Scripturally the Old Testament regards as an abomination any attempt of someone giving the Lord's special anointing to another. Moses was told it was grave sin even to duplicate the ingredients of the sacred anointing oil in the same measure for another, and anyone who puts it on a person other than a priest was to be cut off (Exodus 30:33). The Hebrew text says that the oil is mekudesh lacha, literally 'set apart', or' sanctified specifically unto you.' This prohibition was evident when Elisha asked Elijah for his mantle and he told his protégé " You have asked a difficult thing, yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it is yours - otherwise not.". (2 Kings 2: 10) What do we see about the anointing in the Bible? When the anointing came on Jesus it rested on him it did not come and go as it does in the “modern anointing services,” it came only once. You will not find the apostles speaking of an anointing coming on them to do miracles.
Nowhere in the New Testament do we read of the anointing being transmitted from one person to another person by the laying on of hands. The apostles did not preach about receiving the anointing by their hands or ministry. Nor do we read of there being a “double-portion” anointing. Now coming back to Elisha's request- didn't he ask for a double portion of Elijah's spirit?
This request was not, as is commonly supposed, for the power of working miracles exceeding the magnitude and number of his master‘s, nor does it mean a higher endowment of the prophetic spirit. Like Solomon, Elisha asks for no worldly advantage, but for spiritual power to discharge his office aright. The “double portion” is that which denotes the proportion of a father‘s property which was the right of an eldest son - Deuteronomy 21:17. By making this request Elisha wanted to be acknowledged as Elijah‘s firstborn spiritual son - Deuteronomy 21:17 .
Now what is the meaning of the "laying on of hands ? "
Throughout the Bible, we find both positive and negative senses of “the laying on of hands,” as well as “general” (everyday) or “special” (ceremonial).
In the Old Testament, the general use is most often negative: to “lay hands” on someone is to
(a) inflict harm (Genesis 22:12; 37:22; Exodus 7:4; Nehemiah 13:21; Esther 2:21; 3:6; 6:2; 8:7), or
(b) in Leviticus 24:14 to visibly lay God’s curse on the person who will bear it. We also find a special use, especially in Leviticus (1:4; 3:2, 8, 13; 4:4, 15, 24, 29, 33; 16:21; also Exodus 29:10, 15, 19; Numbers 8:12), where the duly appointed priests “lay hands” on a sacrifice to ceremonially place God’s righteous curse on the animal, instead of on the sinful people. For instance, on the Day of Atonement, the climactic day of the Jewish year, the high priest “shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness.” (Leviticus 16:21)
This special (or ceremonial) laying on of hands is likely what Hebrews 6:1 refers to when mentioning six teachings, among others, in the first covenant (“the elementary doctrine of Christ”) that prepared God’s people for the new covenant: “repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:1–2).
Now let us examine whether there is a scriptural precedent for the concept of "impartation" - where the Holy Spirit or the anointing is transferred from one person to another. Some people claim it is like a dead battery being charged by a live one. To reinforce this belief, it is observed that when hands are laid on people, some people jump, oscillate, vibrate, buckle, fall and roll. So they this confirms to them that something was transferred. Let's look at what the Bible teaches.
In Acts 13:3 Paul and Barnabas were commissioned by prophecy and the laying on of hands. Paul called it the right hand of fellowship (Gal. 2:9). It was a sanction of approval. There was no transfer of gifts from Paul to Timothy since God gives gifts as He pleases (1 Cor. 12:11). What most likely happened is that Timothy received his commission together with the prophecy and the laying on of Paul’s hands. This was very much how Paul received his calling. God gave him the gift, but through prophesy he came to know when it was time for him to fulfill his call, and through the laying on of hands, he received the sanction of the relevant authorities.
The Seventy Elders
Looking into Numbers 11:16-29 we find that God took of the spirit that was on Moses and placed some on the 70 elders. It does appear to signify some sort of transference. But it must be noted that in this instance, Moses laid hands on no one. It was purely an act of God to sanction and anoint these 70 men to help Moses. Secondly 2 elders who were not even invited to the Tent of Meeting also received of the Spirit. God freely gives His Spirit freely.
Joshua
Numbers 27:18-23
In Numbers 27:18-23 before the laying on of Moses' hands verse 18 states that Joshua had the Spirit. So the laying of hands did not transfer the Spirit from Moses to Joshua. The purpose of this is outlined in verse 20 - so the children of Israel would be obedient. See also Deut. 34:9. By the laying of hands Moses commissioned Joshua. This was God’s means of sanctioning him and letting the people know that God’s authority rested on him to lead them. There was no transference of anything, just a commissioning.
The Appointing of Deacons
Acts 6
5 ... and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
When the apostles had to appoint deacons to help with church affairs, they looked for people full of the Holy Spirit among other things. Then they laid hands on them. Did you note the order in which this happened? In this case, the laying on of hands was not for the purpose of transferring the anointing or the Holy Spirit. These men were already filled with the Spirit. The laying of hands was only for the purpose of commissioning them.
There is no doubt that God works through people. He worked through Moses to commission Joshua and the other elders. God worked through Paul to commission Timothy. When people claim that the spirit or the anointing can be transferred from them to others, they are usurping the place of God. No human being is a source of the anointing. No human has any control over God the Spirit. Any anointing comes directly from God. He uses human authority symbolically. For example when Paul laid hands on Timothy, he was merely commissioning him. Paul's authority would have made it clear to all that they should now recognize Timothy as a man of God. The same was true of Moses/Joshua. Laying of hands was more of a symbolic gesture than a means of tranference.
Laying of hands can still be used when praying for healing, praying for people and for commissioning of ministers. But the scriptures do not teach anything about transference of spirit or anointing, and laying of hands was never used for such purposes in the Bible
While the majority of Old-Testament mentions involve priests and first-covenant ceremonies (passing the curse to the substitute), two texts in particular (both in Numbers) anticipate how “the laying on of hands” would come to be used in the church age. In Numbers 8:10, God’s people lay their hands on the priests to officially commission them as their representatives before God, and in Numbers 27:18, God instructs Moses to lay his hands on Joshua to commission him formally as the new leader of the nation.
Now according to 1 John 2:20; 27; and 2 Cor. 1:21 all Christians are "anointed." John uses this fact as a reason that the teachings of false teachers can be rejected. He is referring to a supposed "Anointed One" who is claiming to have a special anointing that sets him apart from everyone else. Since all Christians have "an anointing" that they received as a gift from "the Anointed One" (Jesus Christ), the false teachers have nothing legitimate to offer them " Christians have the anointing of the Holy Spirit so should not be misled by false christs and spiritual teachers offering secrets that can only be learned from those elite teachers. All Christians are anointed with the same Holy Spirit so they are not lacking access to any truth which as been revealed by God. Thus John can say "you have no need for anyone to teach you."
The teaching of Scripture is not being forbidden here in 1John, but what is forbidden is the claim of an exclusive anointing that causes certain special teachers to have unique revelations unavailable to the rest of the congregation. These unique claims do not have the backing of the scriptures. John himself was teaching as he wrote his epistle
Yet there has been throughout the history of the church attempts by many to establish illegitimate priesthoods of persons claiming special prerogatives and special access to the mind of Christ. Sadly they often succeed in finding numerous followers. Many religious groups (some carrying the designation "Christian") have convinced their followers that they have priesthoods, prophets, or other leaders of various titles who have special mediatorial prerogatives, anointing, and authority to speak for Christ beyond the teachings of the Bible.
Jesus taught us "Then if anyone says to you, `Behold, here is the Christ, or There He is,' do not believe him." (Matthew 24:23). As we have seen, "Christ" ("Christos" from the Greek) means "anointed one." In the New Testament there is only one who is anointed above his companions, Christ.
The truths of the uniqueness of Christ, the authority of Scripture and the priesthood of every believer are revealed and given to the body of Christ for our protection and our spiritual benefit. They protect us from false teachers and false "anointed ones" (christs). They reveal our blessed access to the throne of grace through our High Priest, Jesus Christ. We do not have to be subject to the whims, fickleness or possible abuse of fallen, human mediators.
Consider the Lord's prophecy recorded in Matthew 24:5: "For many will come in My name, saying, `I am the Christ,' and will mislead many." False "christs" will come in His name. Invoking the name of Christ indicates two persons: the one making the claim and Christ whose authority is called upon. Some have claimed to be reincarnations of the "Christ Spirit" who supposedly appears as different persons in different ages (with Jesus of the Bible being one of them). Others have claimed that Christ has given them a unique privilege to be the "anointed one" for their age or people.
All three of the New Testament verses (2Corinthians. 1:21; 1John 2:20 & 27) that use the terms "anointed" or "have an anointing" concerning others than Christ Himself are referring to all believers. All New Testament verses that speak of one who is especially anointed by God refer to Christ. Jesus and the writers of the New Testament make it clear that we should refuse to listen to anyone claiming a special anointing that sets himself apart from the rest of us.
1Corinthians 12:12,13 - "For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slave or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."
As 1Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4 teach, there are different giftings and callings. Yet it is the same Spirit who empowers every believer. The anointing of the Spirit produces various gifts, callings and manifestations in different members; but no member can boast of a "special anointing." It is the same Spirit who anoints all the ministers of the gospel, all the workers in the local congregation, and all the members of the body of Christ whatever description, gifting or calling they may have. "However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him." (Romans 8:9).
Christians may be particularly gifted in certain areas or called to ministries that others are not; but each of them is anointed by the same Spirit for the work of the ministry. The message of the New Testament is: different gifts, different callings, but one Spirit and one anointing. All Christians have the Holy Spirit, are anointed, and are a part of God's royal priesthood.
"If anyone says to you `Look, here is the anointed one, or here' do not believe him." - Jesus (Matthew 24:23 literal translation from the Greek).
These things have I written unto you concerning them that deceive you. But the anointing which you have received of him abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in him.
(1Jn 2:26-27)
Paul instructs Timothy ‘And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.’ (2 Timothy 2.2) True spiri-tual growth comes through the testing of our faith, by our consistent reading, understanding and applying the Word in our lives. Not by an impartation or a experience at a special meeting. Those who promise a quick transformation from a touch or impartation, are not delivering the truth that is taught in the Bible.
Many today are taught to get an impartation from the anointed preacher. There is no need when Scripture states we all have the same standing before God; all believers have the same Holy Spirit and Christ as our mediator. We can all receive from Jesus, who is the one we should all be seeking. Going to a certain person or meeting to seek an anointing by impartation is not biblical. No other person is to be our mediator to receive the Holy Spirit. Whenever men become mediators, Christ’s teachings diminish and men’s teachings increase. We are then giving them, not the Lord control over our lives.
Laying hands on the sick to pray is not the same as imparting the spirit and watching them buckle.
A ‘transferable anointing’ is not seen nor practiced anywhere in Scripture. We also find that the Apostles did not rush around laying hands on people to impart an experience of ‘fire’ or power. They did not chant words over and over and expect a immediate response. The impartations done today that come through certain men are not the true anointing.
The “error” in having a wrong idea about the anointing is not so simple as correcting an error in school work. For example, if you’re helping your child in study, and you point out any errors and correct them, it’s straightforward. Not so in spiritual or Kingdom matters, because it’s not merely a matter of having ones facts wrong, its a matter of a deceitful heart which causes one to believe wrong. If one’s heart is set on "self" then that’s the filter thru which one reads scripture and bases ones beliefs upon and ones ‘ministry’ – upon themselves, their own desires, whether they are good or bad desires.
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Tim.4:3-4 niv.
