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Author: Will

James 1:20 – Bad Example

Posted on February 24, 2015 by Will

Truth to Learn

We should not be easily angered because it does not show the world the type of godly example that we should be.

Behind the Words

In the previous verse we looked at the Greek word orgē, which refers to “violent passions.” It is most likely derived from the Greek word oregō, which means to stretch out with the hand or to snatch. Metaphorically, it means to covet, to long after, or to desire. Hence, orgē is the state of mind produced when we don’t get what we desire.

“Bring about” is translated from katergadzomai which is a compound word made up of kata, used as an intensifier and ergadzomai, which means “to work.” Put these together and we see that katergadzomai means “to work out, to bring about, or to fully accomplish.”

The word translated “righteousness” is dikaiosunē, which is based on the word dikaios meaning “equity, justice, or that which is right.” The sunē ending makes this an abstraction. Therefore, the word dikaiosunē means “the characteristic of doing that which is just or right.”

Meaning Explained

According to an area of Psychology called Cognitive Behavior Theory, “The main cause of anger is represented by our irrational perceptions and evaluations of situations when our rights and goals are apparently broken.” Put in layman’s terms, anger is caused when someone does something to us that we don’t like. When someone insults us, we don’t like it and we get angry. When someone cuts in front of us in traffic and slows us down, we don’t like it and we get angry. When the sports team we are rooting for loses, we don’t like it and we get angry.

Anger is a selfish response to a situation where we don’t get our way. This selfishness is not only the root of our anger, it is sin. God’s anger, on the other hand, is the result of people not giving Him the reverence that He alone deserves.

Because we have a sin nature, we are incapable of always responding properly to situations in our life. Because of His holiness, God is incapable of responding any way other than the right way. That’s His righteousness. He always does what is right.

The only way we can respond properly to difficult situations is to recognize that we belong to Christ; we have been bought with His blood. Because of that we have no personal rights and showing forth His righteousness is our high calling in life. But when we get angry because we think we have been wronged, we are sinning, therefore we are not producing righteousness.

James has just told us that we should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry. The reason given here is that when we get angry we are not being an example of or a witness for God, which should be our full time occupation.

Application

The old adage of counting to ten before you get angry has some basis in this verse. Let us all work harder at keeping our cool, and keeping our testimony pure and God glorigying.

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:19 – Ears Open, Mouth Closed, Without Anger

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Will

Know this, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

Truth to Learn

Your hearing will do you much more good in your walk with God than your mouth will.

Behind the Words

There is a variant reading in the first part of this verse. Some manuscripts begin this verse with hōste, meaning “so then” or “therefore.” The best manuscripts, however, begin with histe, a form of eidō, meaning “know this” (imperative). The latter is probably the correct reading.

In the Greek text a literal reading is, “Know this, my brothers, beloved ones …” As we pointed out in the notes on verse sixteen, James is not saying that the brothers (and sisters) are beloved by him (though, surely they are), but that they (and we) are beloved ones of God.

The words “let … be” are translated from the Greek word estō, a form of eimi. This is the verb of being and it is a command. Hence, James is commanding us all to, “be swift the hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath!”

“Swift” is translated from tachu, meaning “quick or nimble.” Figuratively, it means “ready and willing.”

The word “slow” is from the Greek word bradus which means “slow” but metaphorically it means “inactive.”

The word translated “anger” is the Greek word orgē, which means “violent passion.” It often refers to getting so angry that we yell or throw things.

Meaning Explained

Here is what Albert Barnes says of this verse in his Notes on the New Testament,

Since God is the only source of good; since he tempts no man; and since by his mere sovereign goodness, without any claim on our part, we have had the high honor conferred on us of being made the first-fruits of his creatures, we ought to be ready to hear his voice, to subdue all our evil passions, and to bring our souls to entire practical obedience.

In other words, what James is saying in this verse is: because God dearly loves us and because of what He has done for us, we must all be promptly ready to hear, that is, to listen intently to what God has to say to us. In addition we should not be in a hurry to express our own views. We cannot hear very well, either physiologically or mentally, when we are talking. If we are to learn what God has to teach us, we need to work hard on listening and even harder on not talking. There is an ancient saying which says;

The ears are always open, ever ready to receive instruction; but the tongue is surrounded with a double row of teeth, to hedge it in, and to keep it within proper bounds.

Finally, in this verse James says that we are to be “slow to anger.” If we have truly received the perfect gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus, then we should be eager to learn and we should not be characterized by outbursts of anger.

Application

There is a modern proverb which says:

It is better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all reasonable doubt.

I’m sure that James would say, “Amen!”

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:18 – New Birth

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Will

Having desired it, He brought us forth by the word of truth, for us to be a certain first fruit of His creatures.

Truth to Learn

Our salvation is the greatest example of the goodness of God and His desire to give us good things.

Behind the Words

The words translated “having desired” is a form of the Greek word boulomai. This word refers to “a passive desire, or desirous will” as opposed to the Greek word thelō which expresses “active volition and purpose, or determined will.”

Back in verse 15 we were introduced to the Greek word apokueō, translated in this verse as “brought forth.” It is a medical term for a woman giving birth. It is never used of a man, only of women, inanimate objects (metaphorically speaking), and God.

“First fruit” is translated from aparchē, which is a compound word made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from,” and archomai, meaning “to begin.” This is a reference to the special firstfruits offering that God required of the Israelites.

The expression “for us to be” is composed of the purpose clause eis to along with the infinitive einai, meaning “to be.” So, this could be translated as, “for the purpose of us to be.” James is not saying that it is possible that we will be a kind of first fruits but that it is God’s purpose for us to be a kind of first fruit.

Meaning Explained

James tells us that it was simply because He desired to do it that God gave us birth, and He did so by the word of truth. The birth referred to here is not our physical birth but our new birth (our spiritual birth). This is the birth of which Jesus spoke when he told Nicodemus:

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

Our new birth is not the result of us performing some sacred act, nor is it the result of us completing a series of religious classes and partaking of the sacraments. This spiritual birth comes only from believing God’s promise to us that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all our sins.

James is here giving an example (perhaps the best possible example) of a good act of giving that is completely a gift from God. It was by His will (desirous preference) that he gave us the new birth by the word of truth. It was not by obligation, because we did something, rather it was His choice. He chose us so that we would be a kind of ‘first fruit’ of His creatures.

The “first fruit” is a reference to the Jewish sacrifice that consisted of the first born of all animals and the first part of the harvest of the crops. James’ reference to first fruit here is not meant to emphasize the timing (first) but first in importance, the fact that God considers us as consecrated, or set-apart from the rest of creation.

Application

God is the source of all good and perfect gifts, and an example of that is the gift of our salvation, given to us because He wanted to, not because we earned it in any way.

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:17 – God’s Perfect Gift

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Will

Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Truth to Learn

God cannot be the source of our temptation because He only gives what is good.

Behind the Words

There are two different nouns translated “gift” (or “act of giving”) in this verse. “Act of giving” is translated from the noun dosis which refers to “the act of giving.” “Gift” is translated from the noun dōrēma referring to “the gift itself.”

“Father of lights” is a representation of God as the one from whom lights originate. According to the Apostle John, “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1John 1:9) But this is not James’ point. The reference to lights (plural) is an apparent reference to the heavenly bodies, the sun, the moon, and the stars. God is the one who gave light to these heavenly bodies. He is the creator and father of these lights.

The word “variation” is from the Greek word parallagē which means “to change alternately from one condition to another” or “to change successively through a series of stages.” This is most likely a reference to the changing of the path of the sun from one season to the next or to the moon from one full moon to the next.

The expression “shadow of turning” is also an allusion to heavenly light. It refers to the turning of a shadow from one part of the day to the next. A shadow changes both in position and intensity as the sun moves through the sky.

Meaning Explained

James is telling us that every good act of giving and every gift in its totality have their source in God. There is nothing good that you receive which does not ultimately come from God. James calls Him the Father of lights, which refers not only to physical lights in the skies, but metaphorically to spiritual light as well.

In the very beginning of creation God said, “light exist!” and light existed. He was declaring Himself present in His new creation. He is the originator, the Father of all light. Not only is He the source and substance of all light, but with Him there is no change or even variation and no moving shadow because He stays the same. That is, He is the same invariable light in all directions and at all times.

God illuminates things, He does not hide them, and He does not change from one moment to the next, from one month to the next, from one season to the next, from the beginning of creation to the end of time, God does not change! Halleluiah!

James is teaching some very profound truths about Jehovah God, here. Not only is He the source of all good, and the very existence of all light, but we can count on Him always being the same and always dealing the same with us. So, no matter what trial or temptation we are facing; no matter whether we resist the temptation or succumb to it, God’s love and His light are unchanged. And, God has not caused the temptation because that would not be in keeping with His character. God gives all good things and God does not change!

Application

Are you in the middle of a trial? Remember that God loves you unconditionally and unceasingly. You can be sure of His love in every situation and at all times!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:16 – Perfect Love

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Will

Do not be led astray, my beloved brethren.

Truth to Learn

Seek the truth and do not let yourself be led astray, because God loves you with a perfect love.

Behind the Words

The word translated “be led astray” is a form of planaō which means “to cause to roam or wander about.” This verb is in the passive voice indicating action that is being done to the subject (my beloved brethren). Also, this verb is in the imperative mood, indicating a command. In the Book of the Revelation this word is used with regard to Satan, the antichrist, and the false prophet, leading people astray from the true faith unto idolatry (Revelation 12:9; 19:20; 20:3).

In the Greek text the word order of this verse is “Do not be led astray brethren of mine, beloved ones.” Paul is not saying that his Christian brethren in Galatia are beloved by him (though they surely are), but that they are beloved by God. The reason for this is two-fold. First, is the fact that the word “beloved” comes from the Greek word agapē which is a self-sacrificing type of love. This is the word the apostle John used to describe what God is in 1 John 4:9. The second reason is the fact that in the next verse Paul will talk about the gifts that are bestowed by God; gifts that flow out of God’s love for us.

Meaning Explained

James has just been talking about trials and temptations. In verse thirteen he told his readers:

Let no one being tempted say, "I am tempted by God"; for God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself tempts no one.

He then went on to inform us that the source of these temptations is our own desires which have gotten out of control. He now returns to his comments about God. Believing that God tempts us to sin is heresy and James wants to make a strong point of the fact that not only does God not tempt us, but He loves us and is the source of all good things for us.

When we go through trying times, it is easy to roam from God, to get “weary in well doing,” to blame God, and to basically quit trying. James is encouraging us to hang in there during such times, not allowing ourselves to be led astray, because as brothers and sisters in Christ we are all loved by God.

This epistle (letter) is clearly addressing all of us who have been born again and who are loved by God. This agapē love has as its focus the good of the one being loved. God wants the best for us. He is not a mean ogre who wants to trick us into sinning. After all, that breaks our fellowship with Him. He wants us to grow from our trials so that we will be more like His Son, Jesus.

Application

I encourage you my brothers and sisters in Christ, in spite of whatever trials and tribulations you are going through right now, continue to walk facing God, keeping your focus on Him alone. When we are in the middle of trials one of the best pieces of advice we can receive is what James tells us later in this letter;

Be humbled before the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10)

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:15 – Death’s Birth

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Will

Then, desire having conceived, gives birth to sin; and sin, having been completed, brings forth death.

Truth to Learn

Though we think of birth as the beginning of life, our unrestrained lusts produce a birth which results in death.

Behind the Words

The word translated “conceived” is a form of sullambanō, which is made up of sun, meaning “together” and lambanō, meaning “to take” or “to receive.” Sullambanō means “to grasp hold of” or “to enclose in the hands.” Figuratively, it is used in reference to conception when the egg grasps hold of the sperm.

“Gives birth” is translated from the Greek word tiktō, meaning “to bear or bring forth in birth.”

The Greek word apoteleō is translated here as “having been completed.” It is made up of apo, used as an intensifier and teleō meaning “to complete.” Hence, it refers to a process that has been absolutely, completely finished.

Finally, “bring forth” is translated from the Greek word apokueō, which is made up of apo, meaning “from” and kueō, meaning “to swell or be pregnant.” This is a medical term for giving birth, whereas tikto, discussed above, is a literary term for the same thing.

Meaning Explained

Once again Paul uses a play on words to make his point. What he is telling us is that the child of lust is sin, and the child of sin is death. We were told in the previous verse that we are drawn away and enticed by our own overly strong desire, or lust. Now we are told that when that lust has grasped hold of us it produces sin, which then produces death.

When we give in to those overly strong desires, we do so to gain something: pleasure, power, possessions, accomplishment, etc. Instead of getting what we thought we wanted, however, what we get is death. Physical death is the separation of the body from the soul and spirit and it breaks our fellowship with those we have known in the flesh. The death talked about here, caused by sin, separates us spiritually from all that is holy and is a breaking of our fellowship with God. Just as the Father could not look upon the Son for those three hours as he hung on the cross bearing our sins, He cannot be in fellowship with us when there is sin in our life.

Likewise as Adam and Eve thought they would gain something from eating of the forbidden fruit, they, instead, got death. They died in a physical sense in that they began dying that day, eventually being cast out of the garden. They also died in a spiritual sense, in that they hid from God and were afraid of Him. When we give in to our selfish desires we are putting our own will before God’s will. This is the exact opposite of humbling ourselves before God and submitting to His will. Selfish satisfaction produces separation from God whereas humble submission produces close fellowship with God.

Application

Satisfying our lusts is an act of putting our will and our desires ahead of what God wants for us. It is taking the throne in our own life instead of giving it to the One who truly deserves it. Let us regard God’s will as the most important thing in our lives and He will take care of the rest.

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:14 – Temptation’s Source

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Will

But each one is tempted by his own desires, being drawn away and enticed by them.

Truth to Learn

We may want to blame someone or something else for our sinfulness, but each of us is to blame for our own sin.

Behind the Words

James tells us that each and every one of us is tempted, not by God, but by his (or her) own “desires.” This is translated from the Greek work epithumia which is made up of epi, which means “above or over” (as in epidermis) and thumia, which means “the mind.” What this word represents is overly strong desires of the mind. It is often translated as “lusts.”

The words “drawn away” are from the Greek word exelkō. This is made up of ex meaning “out of” or “away from” and helkō, meaning “to drag” or “to draw.” This word was used by Jesus in John 6:44 where He said that the Father draws men to Him. Hence, this word means to be pulled away or drawn away.

The word translated “enticed” is deleadzō, from the noun delear which means “bait.” And what is the purpose of bait on the end of a hook? It is to entice and entrap a fish. Metaphorically, this word means “to trick or entice.”

In the previous verse we noted that the word “by” was translated from apo, referring to source rather than agency. In this verse the word “by” is translated from hupo which indicates agency. In other words, our overly strong desires are the very things (the agency) which cause us to be tempted.

Meaning Explained

When we sin, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We cannot claim the old Flip Wilson line, “The devil made me do it!” And we cannot blame our parents, or the way we were raised. The sin comes from within and it can only be taken care of from without; that is, by the blood of Christ. He is the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

We all have desires and they are necessary for sustaining life. We have the desire to eat, we have the desire to rest when we are tired, we have sexual desire, we have the desire to achieve, and many others. All of these are good and necessary in the proper balance. It is when any one of these becomes too great, even uncontrollable, that we get tempted to sin.

This is not to say that Satan and his fallen angels have no part in our temptation. In both Matthew 4:3 and 1Thessalinians 3:5 we find that our adversary is referred to as “the tempter.” The world system, which he controls, is made up of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16).

No matter who or what the source of our temptations may be, James is telling us that the agency of our temptation is our own desires which we allow to get out of control. When this happens, those lusts draw us from God’s way and entrap us in our own selfish ways.

Application

We all sin. It’s a fact of life. None of us has complete control of our fleshly desires. But we do have a Savior who did not sin and who gave His life to pay for ours. Let us thank our God for the blood of Christ and for the faith to believe in Him.

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:14 – Temptation’s Source

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Will

But each one is tempted by his own desires, being drawn away and enticed by them.

Truth to Learn

We may want to blame someone or something else for our sinfulness, but each of us is to blame for our own sin.

Behind the Words

Meaning Explained

Application

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:13 – Not From God

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Will

Let no one being tempted say, "I am tempted from God"; for God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself tempts no one.

Truth to Learn

God is not the source of our temptation. When it does come, He wants us to grow in faith. And, even when we stumble and give in to temptation, He has already taken care of it.

Behind the Words

The word here translated as “tempted” is from the same Greek word, peiradzō, which was translated “trials” back in verse two. There it was explained that this word refers to “a trial, temptation, or a putting to proof by means of experimentation.” This word, however, can also have the meaning of “a solicitation to do evil.”

The word translated “from” is the Greek preposition apo which means “from” or “away from.” In other words, in this verse Paul is saying that no one should accuse God of being the originator of the temptation. Therefore, we could paraphrase it this way:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “This temptation is from God.”

“Evil” is from the Greek word kakos, which refers to that which is bad or externally worthless.

Meaning Explained

In verse two, James made the point that falling into various temptations produces a trying or testing of our faith. In this verse he is making it clear that God is not the source of the temptation, although He does allow us to go through trials. God cannot be tempted to sin and He does not tempt any of us to sin. It is our own sin nature along with the world system, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, which cause us to be tempted (see 1 John 2:16). God has no sin nature and there is nothing in the world system that He does not already have.

But what about Hebrews 4:15?

For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

This verse tells us that Christ was tempted to sin. How can that be if God cannot be tempted by evil? This is part of the beauty (and paradox) of the incarnation of Christ. He is completely God and completely man. His god-ness (his divinity) was never tempted, indeed cannot be (as James tells us here), but his human-ness (humanity) was tempted in every way we are, and yet He was without sin. He never gave in to temptation. That is the very thing that made Him a worthy sacrifice for our sins. If He had not become completely man (and without sin), he would not have been able to pay for our sins.

So… whereas it is appropriate to say that God allows us to go through trials to strengthen our faith and to make us more like Christ, and those trials may be a result of giving in to temptation, the source of the temptation is not God. The source of the temptation is the tempter, Satan (Matthew 4:3 and 1 Thessalonians 3:5), and his world system (Ephesians 2:2 and John 12:31).

Application

On those occasions when we do not resist temptation but fall victim to it, we still have this promise:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Halleluiah! Our God has thought of everything. Give Him the praise!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:12 – Crowning Reward

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Will

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for having been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Truth to Learn

Patiently enduring the trials of our lives will result in eternal rewards of far greater value than all of our possessions and anything that money can buy.

Behind the Words

The word for “temptation” here is the same as in verse 2, peirasmos which, as was pointed out earlier, means “a criterion or test by which something is proved or tried.”

The word for “endures” is the verb hupomenō, the noun form of this word is translated as “patience” in verses 3 and 4. It’s the word that means “to remain under the load without complaining” or “to persevere.”

The word translated “approved” is also from verse 3. It is the noun dokimos (from the verb dikomadzō) which refers to proving or refining with the intent of finding good. In this verse it refers to someone who has already undergone testing and has successfully endured it. This person has been refined and his faith has been purified by the trial.

“Promised” is from the Greek word epangellō, which is made up of epi, used as an intensifier, and angellō, meaning “to announce” or “to declare.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicating an action completed at a point in time in the past.

The word translated “the Lord” does not appear in the earliest manuscripts. However, even without the presence of this word it is clear who made the promise.

Meaning Explained

Not only has James taught us that we are blessed when we encounter various trials (temptations, sufferings) but he promises us that we will receive more blessing when we endure them. James is summing up what he has been talking about for eleven verses now; the person who patiently endures, who stays humbly submitted throughout the difficulties, sufferings, and trials of life will come out more refined and more Christ-like.

James does not promise us that we will be given riches, like Job, when we endure our trials. But James does say that if we endure our trials with an ever strengthening faith, we will one day receive a crown of life which is promised to those who love God. This is one of the crowns that we will be able to cast at the feet of God proclaiming His worthiness as depicted in the book of Revelation.

the twenty-four elders will fall down before the One sitting on the throne. And they worship Him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, O Lord, You are worthy to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because You created all things, and by Your will they are and were created. (Revelation 4:10, 11)

Other crowns of reward promised to Christians include:

The incorruptible crown (I Corinthians 9:24, 25)
The crown of glory (I Peter 5:2-4)
The crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:7, 8)
The crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19)

Application

Will you have a crown to cast before your King some day? Or will you be in the crowd thinking, “I wish I had a crown to cast before Him”?

Hang in there and endure the trials of life, always looking to the author and finisher of our faith. Patient endurance is not easy but it is rewarding, both now and eternally!

In God's service, for His glory,