Are you with God or
With the World?
James’ use of Inclusive Language:
James uses the term adelphos, or brother 17 times,
starting with verse 2. It is clear from studies of first century
Judaism and paganism that the term refers to “fellow members
of the same religion (Moo 53). NRSV has used brothers and sisters,
or, in some cases, believers as an accurate translation
of James’ use of the term. Similarly, James seems to use aner,
which is literally man or husband, and anthropos,
meaning people, or humankind, interchangeably.
For example in 1:7 he uses anthropos and in 1:8 aner,
despite the fact that the subject of both phrases is clearly the
doubter mentioned in verse 6. It seems likely that James’
intended audience is a community of believers, male and female,
and that our translations most accurate when they reflect that understanding.
James Chapter 1
James is hard to read. Especially in chapter 1 the subject seems
to jump from topic to topic, Tamez comments that it is “quite
dense, difficult, and even incoherent” (Tamez 10). With closer
scrutiny we will find that the chapter introduces the entire content
of the letter. This introduction sets out the “ethical and
religious dualism that structures the composition as a whole”
(Johnson 187). That is, we are seeing the beginnings of James’
basic premise: we can live in God’s reality, or in the world’s.
James 1:2-12
How are we to understand God’s reality? As a community we
bring our faith to perfection through endurance of trials, and through
prayer (Johnson 187). Temptations and trials, oppression and poverty
are themes we will see again and again. Joy is the result of our
endurance, for it is in endurance that we live in God’s way.
Mature is probably too gentle a translation for telios,
James is calling us to strive for God’s perfection.
If we can’t find the way to perfection, James 1:5 suggests
that we ask. Compare this verse with Matthew 7:7 and with Proverbs
2:6 or 2:6-10. The translation that God gives generously
certainly fits the Matthew text. But the word haplos, used
only by James, also means sincerely or simply
and is derived from haplous which means single (Tamez 49,
Moo 59). James will continue the contrast of God’s single-mindedness
with the world’s double-mindedness later in the letter.
It is the single-minded brothers and sisters in faith, enduring
trials, and living humbly who are lifted up in verse 9. The rich
person in verse 10 is subject to continuing debate. Surely if James
understands this rich person as one of the believers, it is with
irony that he should boast at withering away. Moo leans slightly
to the view that the rich person is a believer, encouraged to humble
themselves in Christian community (Moo 68), while Johnson leans
slightly to the view that the rich person is the oppressor of the
poor Christian community, condemned by God (Johnson 188). Tamez
is more strident. The rich “do not belong to the Christian
community or at least the author does not think they should belong
to it” (Tamez 25).
Read the text one more time. This time discuss what James meant
in this text, and what it means to us to hear it today. Take about
15 minutes for discussion.
- What is James telling us?
- Who is James' audience?
- Is James’ message applicable today?
- What does James 1:2-12 tell us today?
Luke Timothy Johnson, The Letter of James in The New
Interpreter's Bible Volume XII, Leander E. Keck et al, editors.
(Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000).
Douglas J. Moo, The Letter of James in The Pillar
New Testament Commentary, DA Carson, general editor. (Grand
Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000).
Elsa Tamez, The Scandalous Message of James: Faith Without
Works Is Dead. John Eagleson, translator. With Study Guide
by Pamela Sparr. (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 2002).
|