The Epistle of James to the Twelve Tribes of the Diaspora

Transcription

1 James 4:1-3 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. My Translation: What (is) the source of wars and fightings among you? (Is it) not from here, from your pleasures, the ones that war in your members? You desire and (do) not possess; you kill and covet; also you are not able to obtain; you fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and receive not because you ask wickedly so that you may spend them on your pleasures. Context: This text drives home the main thrust of the book. This section begins with a list of accusations (1-6) and ends with a list of imperatives (7-12). The first major accusation is that the audience loves the world and has placed themselves in opposition to God. Within the accusation is James observation that loving the world is the main issue. The result of the problem is the fact that the people are combative, aggressive, and selfishly ambitious. Exegetical Analysis: Verse 1 begins with a rhetorical question, a question that James answers for the readers. The adverb πόθεν pothen is an interrogative pronoun that asks for the origin of something, literally from where? with the metaphorical use of source? This is why the NASB translates this as source where the KJV keeps the literal translation as whence. In this text, James uses five words for altercation, two of which are repeated. πόλεμος polemos translated quarrels in both verse 1 and verse 2. This word is a Greek word for war or battle; an armed conflict with the intention of eliminating one s opponent. Every other use of this word pictures an actual war or battle. This is the only one that can be depicted as an individual battle. Most of the uses are actually in Revelation, which describe hostile activity from the forces of Antichrist and the Beast. μάχη machē translated conflicts in in verse 1 and fight in verse 2. This noun means conflict or contest and can be physical or verbal. Both words are used together in both verses (reversed in verse 2). So the context is either a parallelism, using different words to state the same thing for emphasis, or this is referring to physical fights and verbal fights. Without knowing all the details (and we do not), we cannot know what this implies specifically. The standard commentary usually refers to this as verbal or spiritual in nature, limiting the physical conflict side. Again, we do not know precisely the nature of the fighting, but I do not rule out the possibility of a physical conflict.

2 στρατεύομαι strateuomai translated wage war. This articular participle modifies pleasures in verse 1 the ones (pleasures) that war or the warring ones. This word means to serve or function as a soldier in an army, to act in a military fashion. φονεύω phoneuō translated commit murder. Is a specific word for murder. There are many words in the New Testament that mean to deprive someone of life (kill, assassinate, crucify, spill blood, to be touched, slaughter, destroy, execute, cause death). This word means to kill unjustly and purposely. This is the word that is used for all references to the commandment from the ten commandments: You shall not commit murder (Romans 13:9; James 2:11). ζηλόω zēloō translated envious in verse 2. This word for jealous is not exclusively negative, but when it is negative, it indicates an action associated with fervent desire (Act 7:9, 17:5). This goes beyond desire and to a sinful act due to the desire. Based upon all these usages, the problem in these synagogues seems to be more than simple mental attitude sins. These problems are overt; they are evident in their language and in their actions. Their action at the least is a physical fight, the extreme of murdering a fellow believer is not impossible. The source of their problems is identified in verse 1. (Is it) not from here, from your pleasures, the ones that war in your members? my translation. The word for pleasure is ἡδονή hēdonē where we get the word hedonism. This is one who lives only for pleasure or enjoyment; strong self-gratification; self-love as the primary motivator. The pleasures are the ones that are warring in your members. The word members is μέλος melos. This word means limb or part of the body. Some have opined that this is dealing with the members of a local body of believers. This does fit in that thought. Paul uses it in that manner (1 st Corinthians 12:12,27; Ephesians 4:25). However, James uses this word in 3:5-6 talking about the individual tongue of a person s body. Since the body of Christ is not present in James, the conclusion is that this is dealing with the parts of a person s body that have hedonistic tendencies (Matthew 5:29-30). The problem within the assembly then begins with a lack of spiritual emphasis within individuals. The problem is not external but internal. When there is a group of hedonistic people the results are devastating. Everybody (remember they all stand together or fall together) is looking out for number one. They all follow self-interest and they end up doing anything to get what they want, including stepping on others to get it. Verse 2 is not the easiest verse to translate. Remember in the original language there is no punctuation. The LCV of verse 2 is, you desire and not have you commit murder and you act in jealously and not are able to obtain you fight and war not you have because the not to ask you. There are eight Present Indicatives. These eight verbs indicate what they are doing. The NASB places a cause effect in this passage, but in actuality the only cause indicator is in the last phrase. This verse might be best seen like this:

3 You desire and do not have You commit murder and act in jealousy You are not able to obtain You fight and war You do not have because you do not ask What we end up with is five distinct statements that work as a strong indictment to their predicament. The one point of emphasis is the idea of commit murder. As stated, most commentators do not levy an actual murder charge upon the believers but that of a higher law (Matthew 5:21-22,27-28). But in the context of James there seems to be something nefarious going on (James 2:15-16; 5:5-6). Is it possible that James is speaking in hyperbole? That the guilt of murder is placed upon someone for lack of care? Yes, that is possible, but if there is real need for basic needs among fellow righteous and we do not share that burden, then James is clear. The one that does not provide for those in need or if one is responsible for creating the need, then that one is guilty having acted in self-love and has not fulfilled the royal law you shall love your neighbor as yourself. We can understand this in principle, but we can also understand this in the most critical of circumstance. If life gets hard; food, clothing, and shelter are no longer easy to come by; then we as a body need to decide now to take care of one another and the needy not just look out for ourselves (James 1:27; 2:12-13; Galatians 2:9-10).

4 James 4:3-5 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us? My Translation: You ask and receive not be because you ask wickedly so that you may spend them on your pleasures. Adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is God s enemy? Therefore, whoever should desire to be a friend of the world, makes himself God s enemy. Or (do) you think that the Scripture speaks in vain? He longs with envy the Spirit which dwells in us. Context: The manner that James is speaking seems to be in the same mold as a prophet of Israel. But this is not unique to the Hebrew Scriptures. This style of speaking is also exemplified by Jesus Christ. These passages need to be understood as Christ fulfilling the role of The Prophet. 1. Matthew 12: Matthew 16: Matthew 23:13-39 The purpose for reading these passages is to see that the language being used by James is a manner of speech used by prophets to Israel. Jesus used this speech to accomplish two things: to expose the truth and to fulfill prophecy (Deuteronomy 18:15-18). Exegetical Analysis: Verse 3 answers the question about prayer and the reason that someone, or a group, does not receive from God what they ask. Therefore this is a good time to discuss prayer. According to observations, there are general reasons why people do not pray: 1. They are in rebellion against God and do not want to talk to God. 2. They lack of confidence because they feel guilty about sins past or present. 3. They do not know how to pray. 4. They are too busy, too distracted, or forgetful. 5. They have found prayer to be ineffective. They have been disappointed before. 6. They lack understanding as to how biblical prayer works. I do not desire to give you a full systematic theology on prayer. We can do that at another time. For now I want you to understand some basic principles. a. The basic word for prayer is προσευχή proseuchē and is the word is almost always translated prayer. Along with the verb προσεύχομαι proseuchomai, these words are used over 130 times.

5 In the Hebrew Bible there are four words that indicate prayer: a. To fall down (this gives a sense of worship) b. To entreat, beg, or plead c. To meditate upon d. To beseech a deity (pray) b. There are other words in the New Testament as well a. Ask b. Entreat c. Intercede d. Thanksgiving/Praise c. The basic meaning is to talk to God a. Informal There is no prescription or limitation as to how to talk informally to God i. On the go ii. Saying grace before meals iii. Quick prayers iv. Corporate prayers b. Formal These have structure; it is good to have a specific topic list i. We have access to God because of grace Hebrews 4:14-16 ii. Sin no longer keeps us from God Psalm 66:18 (no longer applies) iii. The Holy Spirit translates our prayers Romans 8:26 iv. The prayers of Paul are good examples for us. v. Prayers are always about God, focused on worship and His character vi. Requests, petitions, and intercessions are primarily external vii. Requests are always based upon the will of God 1. If known, believe that God will grant the request 1 st John 5: If unknown, yield to His will, not demanding but requesting 3. Mental attitude is very important and it is important to understand His will James 4:3 the reason they ask and do not receive is because they ask wickedly (κακῶς kakōs). This is not just them asking incorrectly rather they are evil in their desires. The text elaborates for us. They ask so that they could spend the request on their hedonism. What are we praying for? Are we not receiving what we ask for? The primary reason is because we are not asking in accordance with the will of God. The other reason is because we ask to fulfill our own personal pleasures; we ask in selfish ambition. 1. Praying for someone s recovery? Why? Love them not yourself. 2. Praying for a new Cadillac? 3. Remember needs vs wants (Food, clothing, shelter 1 st Timothy 6:8) 4. Nothing wrong with additional requests a. Check motives b. Yield to God s will c. Receiving is a grace, not an expectation