The Anointing According To The Scriptures

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.