James 5:16

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.

'Aleph (') A B, Vulgate, read 'Confess, THEREFORE,' etc.: not only in sickness, but universally.

Faults, [ ta (G3588) paraptomata (G3900)] - your falls, in relation to one another. 'Aleph (') A B, Vulgate, read [ hamartias (G266)] sins. Matthew 5:23; Luke 17:4 illustrate the precept.

One to another - not to the priest, as Rome insists. The Church of England recommends in certain cases. Rome compels confession in all cases. Confession is desirable in case of:

(1) wrong done to a neighbour;

(2) when, under a troubled conscience, we ask counsel of a godly minister or friend how to obtain God's forgiveness and strength to sin no more or when we desire their intercessory prayers ("pray one for another"): 'confession may be made to any who can pray' (Bengel);

(3) open confession of sin before the church, in token of penitence. Not auricular.

That ye may be healed - of bodily sicknesses: also that, if your sickness be the punishment of sin, the latter being forgiven on intercessory prayer, "ye may be healed" of the former: also, that ye may be healed spiritually. Effectual, [ energoumenee (G1754)] - intense: not "wavering" (James 1:6) (Beza). 'When energized' by the Spirit, as those were who performed miracles (Hammond). This suits the Greek collocation and the sense. A righteous man's prayer is always heard in some form; his particular request for another's healing will be granted when energized by a special charism of the Spirit. Alford, 'Availeth much in its working.' The "righteous" himself shuns "sins" or "faults," showing his faith by works (James 2:18).