Early Christian Anointing with Oil
Early Christian writings treat anointing with oil as a real church practice tied to baptism, sealing, and sometimes healing. The Apostolic Constitutions and Cyprian give the clearest direct statements, while Tertullian, Irenaeus, Clement, Justin, Origen, Hippolytus, Theophilus, and Lactantius add wide support. James 5:14 and Mark 6:13 also connect oil with prayer for the sick. The evidence is broad for baptismal and symbolic anointing, and thinner or more mixed for any one exact rite across every church.
132 early-church witnesses · 175 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about anointing with Oil?
Early Christians did talk about anointing with oil as part of baptism and church life, and they also tied it to holiness, sealing, healing, and the Holy Spirit. The clearest direct witnesses are the Apostolic Constitutions, Cyprian, and Tertullian, with Irenaeus, Clement, Justin, Origen, Hippolytus, Theophilus, and Lactantius adding broad support. The evidence is strongest for baptismal anointing and for seeing oil as a sign of consecration and the Spirit;
it is thinner for any one single universal ceremony, since some texts are about baptism, some about Christ as the Anointed One, and some about healing or symbolic language. James 5:14 and Mark 6:13 also fit the practice of anointing with oil for the sick. A few later or weaker cards are more indirect, but the main teaching is clear and early. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christians linked oil with baptism, sealing, and the Holy Spirit.
- Cyprian says the baptized should be anointed, and the oil is sanctified in the church.
- The Apostolic Constitutions describe oil and ointment as part of baptism and sealing.
- James 5:14 and Mark 6:13 connect oil with prayer for healing.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians anoint new believers with oil after baptism?
Several early Christian texts describe anointing with oil after baptism or after the washing, and they explain it as part of Christian initiation. Cyprian ties chrism to grace, while the Apostolic Constitutions and Tertullian describe post-baptismal unction as a church practice.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
...rward baptize him with water, and at the end you shall seal him with the ointment. In this way, the anointing with oil may be the participation of the Holy Spirit, the water the symbol of the death of Christ, and the ointment the seal of the covenants. But if there is neither oil nor ointment, water is enough for the anointing, for the seal, and for the confession of Him who is dead, or rather of the one dying together with Christ. But before baptism, let him who is to be baptized fast. For even the Lord, when He was first baptized by John and remained in the wilderness, afterward fasted forty days and forty nights. But He was baptized and then fasted, because He Himself had no need of cleansing, or of fasting, or of purification, since He was by nature pure and holy. Rather, He did it so that He might bear witness to the truth to John and give an example to us. Therefore our Lord was not baptized into His own passion, or death, or resurrection, for none of those things had yet happened, but for another purpose. Therefore, by His own authority He fasted after His baptism, as being the Lord of John. But he who is to be initiated into His death ought first to fast and then to be b
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Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching
...those who, they argue, have baptism. It is also necessary that the person who is baptized should be anointed, so that, after receiving the chrism, that is, the anointing, he may be anointed by God and have in himself the grace of Christ. Further, it is from the Eucharist that the baptized are anointed with the oil sanctified on the altar. But one who has neither an altar nor a church cannot sanctify the created thing of oil. Therefore there also can be no spiritual anointing among heretics, since it is clear that among them the oil cannot be sanctified nor the Eucharist celebrated at all. But we ought to know and remember that it is written, “Let not the oil of a sinner anoint my head,” which the Holy Spirit warned about beforehand in the Psalms, lest anyone who has gone out of the way and wandered from the path of truth should be anointed by heretics and adversaries of Christ. Besides, what prayer can a priest who is impious and a sinner offer for a baptized person? Since it is written, “God does not hear a sinner; but if any man is a worshiper of God and does His will, him He hears.” John 9:31 Moreover, who can give what he himself does not have? Or how can he carry out spirit
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
so that, having received the chrism, that is, the anointing, he may be anointed of God, and have in him the grace of Christ.
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
whence also there can be no spiritual anointing among heretics, since it is manifest that the oil cannot be sanctified nor the Eucharist celebrated at all among them.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
But if there be neither oil nor ointment, water is sufficient both for the anointing, and for the seal, and for the confession of Him that is dead, or indeed is dying together with Christ .
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
Concerning the water and the oil, I, Matthias, make this rule. Let the bishop bless the water or the oil. But if he is not there, let the presbyter bless it, with the deacon standing by. But if the bishop is present, let the presbyter and deacon stand by, and let him say this: O Lord of hosts, the God of powers, the creator of the waters, and the supplier of oil, who are compassionate and a lover of mankind, who have given water for drinking and for cleansing, and oil to give man a cheerful and joyful countenance, do You now also sanctify this water and this oil through Your Christ, in the name of him or her who has offered them, and grant them power to restore health, to drive away diseases, to banish demons, and to scatter all snares, through Christ our hope. With Him, glory, honor, and worship be to You, and to the Holy Spirit, forever. Amen.
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Tertullian, On Baptism Supporting witness
After this, when we have issued from the font, we are thoroughly anointed with a blessed unction, — (a practice derived) from the old discipline, wherein on entering the priesthood, men were wont to be anointed with oil from a horn, ever since Aaron was anointed by Moses.
More related quotations from this section 1 shown
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
...essities. First, in the baptism of women, the deacon shall anoint only their forehead with the holy oil, and after him the deaconess shall anoint them. For there is no need for the women to be seen by the men. But only in the laying on of hands shall the bishop anoint her head, as priests and kings were formerly anointed, not because those who are now baptized are ordained priests, but because they are Christians, or anointed ones, from Christ the Anointed One, a royal priesthood and a holy nation, the Church of God, the pillar and ground of the marriage chamber, 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:15, who formerly were not a people, but now are beloved and chosen, upon whom His new name is called, as Isaiah the prophet witnesses, saying, "And they shall call the people by His new name, which the Lord shall name for them."
What did early Christians think anointing with oil meant?
Some writers explicitly interpret oil as a sign of the Holy Spirit or of spiritual consecration. The Apostolic Constitutions, Hippolytus, and Origen all use oil-language to explain spiritual realities rather than just a physical practice.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
that the anointing with oil may be the participation of the Holy Spirit, and the water the symbol of the death of Christ, and the ointment the seal of the covenants.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching
And it is the Father who anoints, but the Son who is anointed by the Spirit, who is the unction, as the Word declares by Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me,”—pointing out both the anointing Father, the anointed Son, and the unction, which is the Spirit.
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Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness
... of the holy Word? And what was the oil except the power of the Holy Spirit, by which believers are anointed like ointment after the washing? All these things were shown in figure in the blessed Susannah, for our sake. This was so that we who now believe in God would not think the things now done in the Church are strange, but would believe that all of them were set forth beforehand in figure by the patriarchs of old, as the apostle also says: "Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the world have come."
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Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness
...he person of the Lord Himself, in another place: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because He has anointed me, He has sent me to preach the Gospel to the poor.” Similarly David says, “Therefore God, even Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows.” Of Him the Apostle Paul says, “For he who does not have the Spirit of Christ is none of His.” And, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” He is the One who effects with water the second birth, as a certain seed of divine generation, and a consecration of a heavenly birth, the pledge of a promised inheritance, and as it were a kind of handwriting of eternal salvation. He can make us God's temple, and fit us for His house. He asks for divine hearing on our behalf with groanings that cannot be uttered, filling the offices of advocacy and showing the duties of our defense—an inhabitant given to dwell in our bodies and an effector of their holiness. Working in us for eternity, He can also bring forth our bodies in the resurrection of immortality, accustoming them to be associated in Himself with heavenly power, and to be allied with the divine eternity of the Holy Spirit. For our bodies are train
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Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness
...the person of the Lord Himself in another place: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because He has anointed me, He has sent me to preach the Gospel to the poor.” Similarly David says: “Therefore God, even Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows.” Of Him the Apostle Paul says: “For he who does not have the Spirit of Christ is none of His.” And, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” He it is who effects with water the second birth, as a certain seed of divine generation, and a consecration of a heavenly birth, the pledge of a promised inheritance, and as it were a kind of handwriting of eternal salvation. He can make us God’s temple, and fit us for His house. He pleads for us before the divine hearing with groanings that cannot be uttered, filling the offices of advocacy and showing the duties of our defense—an inhabitant given for our bodies and an effector of their holiness. Working in us for eternity, He can also raise up our bodies in the resurrection of immortality, accustoming them to be joined in Himself with heavenly power, and to be allied with the divine eternity of the Holy Spirit. For our bodies are trained both in Him and
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Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness
...t in these words: "You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness: therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows." As a reward for its love, then, it is anointed with the oil of gladness; that is, the soul of Christ, along with the Word of God, is made Christ. Because to be anointed with the oil of gladness means nothing else than to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And when it is said, "above your fellows," it means that the grace of the Spirit was not given to it as to the prophets, but that the essential fullness of the Word of God Himself was in it, according to the saying of the apostle, "In whom dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." Finally, on this account he has not only said, "You have loved righteousness," but he adds, "and You have hated wickedness." For to have hated wickedness is what the Scripture says of Him, that "He did no sin, neither was any guile found in His mouth," and that "He was tempted in all things like as we are, without sin." Nay, the Lord Himself also said, "Which of you will convince Me of sin?" And again He says with reference to Himself, "Behold, the prince of this world comes, and finds nothing
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Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness
Because to be anointed with the oil of gladness means nothing else than to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
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Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness
And what was the oil, but the power of the Holy Spirit, with which believers are anointed as with ointment after the layer of washing?
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
I mean the unction of acceptance, the quality of disposition which resides in the soul that is gladdened by the communication of the Holy Spirit.
More related quotations from this section 6 shown
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Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Supporting witness
...your laughing at me and calling me a Christian, you do not know what you are saying. First, what is anointed is pleasant and useful, and far from being something to despise. What ship can be useful and seaworthy unless it is first caulked, that is, anointed? What fortress or house is beautiful and useful when it has not been anointed? And what person, when entering this life or going into the gymnasium, is not anointed with oil? What work has any decoration or beauty unless it is anointed and polished? Even the air and everything under heaven is, in a certain way, anointed by light and spirit. So are you unwilling to be anointed with the oil of God? Therefore we are called Christians for this reason: because we are anointed with the oil of God.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
Therefore the Lord Himself also is anointed with ointment, as David mentions: "Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions; myrrh, and stacte, and cassia come from your garments." But let us not foolishly hate ointments, like vultures or beetles. People say that when these are smeared with ointment, they die. And women should choose only a few ointments, such as will not be overpowering to a husband. For excessive use of ointments smells like a funeral, not like married life. Yet oil itself is harmful to bees and insects. It helps some people, and it calls some to a fight. And those who were formerly friends, when anointed with it, end up in deadly combat.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
A Thanksgiving Concerning the Anointing with the Mystical Oil.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
Wherefore also the Lord Himself is anointed with an ointment, as is mentioned by David: Wherefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows;
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness
And Jacob, having poured oil on a stone in the same place, is testified to by the very God who appeared to him, that he had anointed a pillar to the God who appeared to him.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
And if I seem not to insist too much, the feet of the Lord which were anointed are the apostles, having, according to prophecy, received the fragrant unction of the Holy Ghost.
Did early Christians use oil to heal the sick?
The Bible card James 5:14 gives the clearest direct instruction to anoint the sick with oil, and Mark 6:13 says the disciples anointed many sick people and healed them. Early Christian liturgical and theological sources also mention prayer for healing and oil in a church setting.
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James 5:14 Direct teaching
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
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Mark 6:13 Direct teaching
And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
37 Mark 6:13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed many sick with oil, and healed them.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
and they shall lay their hands on the diseased, 11 and they shall be healed.
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Supporting witness
raise the fallen; confirm the wavering; heal the sick;
More related quotations from this section 2 shown
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Background
O holy Lord, who dwells in holy places, make us holy by the word of Your grace and by the coming of Your all-holy Spirit. For You, O Lord, have said, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." O Lord our God, incomprehensible Word of God, one in substance with the Father and the Holy Spirit, co-eternal and indivisible, accept this pure hymn in Your holy and bloodless sacrifices, together with the cherubim and seraphim, and from me, a sinful man, crying out and saying:
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Background
Remember, O Lord, the sick and afflicted, and those troubled by unclean spirits, their speedy healing from You, O God, and their salvation.
Common Questions
Did early Christians use oil in baptism?
Yes. The Apostolic Constitutions describe anointing with oil and ointment after baptism, and Cyprian says the baptized should be anointed.
Did early Christians think oil had spiritual meaning?
Yes. Several writers connect oil with the Holy Spirit, sealing, consecration, and grace.
Was oil also used for healing?
Yes. James 5:14 tells the sick to be anointed with oil, and Mark 6:13 says the disciples anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
Source Index for Anointing with Oil
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 123 ranked source links from 175 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 123 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 132
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 43 included
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.