“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”
Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years — the example of Elijah (1 Kings 17:1) establishes that the prophetic figure was 'like us' (homoiopathēs, of like nature) despite his extraordinary power. His prayer (proseuchē) that it would not rain brought about drought (ouk ebrexen, did not rain) lasting three and a half years (tribos), demonstrating that earnest prayer accomplishes cosmic effects. The passage invokes Elijah as precedent for the power of righteous prayer.
Church Fathers on James 5:17
But since God, Who makes poor and makes rich, Who kills and makes alive; Who makes and transforms all things; Who turns night into day, Amos 5:8 winter into spring, storm into calm, drought into abundance of rain; and often for the sake of the prayers 1 Kings 18:42 of one righteous man James 5:16-17 sorely persecuted; Who lifts up the meek on high, and brings the ungodly down to the ground; since God said to Himself, I have surely seen the affliction of Israel; Exodus 3:7 and…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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