Geoff Hudson

James – An Epistle of the Spirit

INTRODUCTION


It is my view that the word "faith" was added by an editor to this epistle (written originally by James the lord) and that this word was not in his text. It is also my view that James’ theology saw the Spirit of God providing purification for a believer so that the believer became acceptable to God as an offering. In a Jewish context, the disputes in this epistle were about: (1) How to achieve purity, and (2) How should a person who was purified live? Again, in a Jewish context, it is the spirit of deceit in a person who DECEIVES (Jam.1:19), and “a double –minded” person has the spirit of deceit or darkness and the spirit of truth or light in equal measure (Jam.1:7). In a first century Jewish context, there is no such entity as “evil”, but spirits of deceit or darkness cause wrong actions when they are listened to and obeyed.

James wrote his epistle at a location (probably Rome) to the poor (probably Rechabite potters and smiths – who were good at “casting”, but not nets) of Jerusalem, some of whom lived in camps outside the city, which itself, was regarded as The Camp (Heb. 13:11,13). These people were being persecuted by James’ wealthy opponent Ananus the son of Annas the high priest. Ananus had a reputation for anger, being “a bold man in his temper and very insolent”. (Ant.20.9.1).


[ ] Read out (editor’s changes)
{ } Read In (proposed original)


Chapter 1

(1)James, a servant of {the Spirit of} God, [and of the Lord Jesus Christ,] to the [twelve tribes] {poor} among the [nations] {camps}: Greetings.

THE SPIRIT PURIFIES THROUGH PERSECUTION

(2)Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face [trials] {persecution} of [many kinds] {spirits of deceit}, (3)because you know that the testing of your [faith] {spirit} develops [perseverance] {purity}.

(4)[Perseverance] {The Spirit} must finish its work so that you may be [mature and] complete{ly} {pure} not [lacking] {having} any [thing] {impurity}.

(5)If any of you lacks [wisdom] {purity}, he should ask {the Spirit of} God, who gives [generously] {purification} to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

(6)But when he asks, he must [believe] {ask in the Spirit}, [and not doubt], because he who [doubts] {does not} is [like] a [wave of the sea,] {spirit} blown [and tossed] by the wind.

(7)[That man] {Ananus} should not think he will receive anything from the [Lord] {Spirit}; he is a [double-minded] man {of two spirits}, unstable in all he does.

(9)The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride {in the Spirit} in his [high] {low} position.

(10)But [the one] {Ananus} who is rich should be {humble in the Spirit} in his [low] {high} position, because he will [pass] {fade} away like a wild flower.

(11)For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, [the rich man] {Ananus} will fade away, even while he goes about his [business] {persecution}.

(12)Blessed is the [man] {brother} who [perseveres] {obeys the Spirit} under [trial] {persecution}, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of [life] {glory} that {the Spirit of} God has promised to those who [love] {obey} him.

(13)When tempted, [no-one] {Ananus} should {not} say[s], "{The Spirit of} God is tempting me." For {the Spirit of} God [cannot be tempted by evil, nor] does not tempt anyone.

(14)But [each one] {Ananus} is tempted when, by his own [evil desire] {spirit of deceit}, he is [dragged away] {led astray} and [enticed] {tempted}.

(15)Then, after [desire] {his spirit of deceit} has conceived, it gives birth to [sin] {impurity}; and [sin] {impurity} when it is full-grown, gives birth to [death] {judgement}.

(16)Don't be DECEIVED, my dear brothers.

(17)[Every good and] {The} perfect [gift] {Spirit} is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly [lights] {spirits}, who does not change like shifting shadows.

(18)He chose to give us [birth] {purification} through the [word] {Spirit} of truth, that we might be [a kind] {an offering} of firstfruits of all he created.

LISTENING TO THE SPIRIT AND OBEYING HIM

(19)My dear brothers, [take note of this]: {in the Spirit}, everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, (20) for [man’s] {Ananus’} anger does not bring about the [righteous] {pure} life that the {Spirit of} God desires.

(21)Therefore, get rid of all [moral filth and the evil] {spirit of deceit} that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the [word] {Spirit} planted in you, which can [save] {purify} you.

(22)Do not merely listen to the (word) {Spirit}, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

(23)[Anyone] {Ananus} [who] listens to the [word] {Spirit}, but does not do what it says. {He} is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror (24)and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

(25)But the [man] {brother} who [looks] {listens} intently [into] {to} the perfect [law] {Spirit} that gives [freedom] {purification}, and continues to do this, not forgetting [what] {who} he has heard, but [doing] {obeying} [it] {him}, he will be [blessed] {pure} in what he does.

(26)If [anyone] {Ananus} considers himself [religious] {pure} and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his [faith] {purity} is worthless.

(27)[Religion] {Purification} that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless from the Spirit is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the [world] {spirit of deceit}.

Geoff

CX

That's quite fascinating I'm sure, but once again you make many assertions without supporting them with reasoned argument.

Geoff Hudson

CX,

To some extent my interpretations do have a logic of their own, and they are not totally without explanation. I am trying to interpret the NT in terms of the kinds of expression that I find in the Dead Sea Scrolls which I believe contain the contemporary language that was originally used and understood by Jewish people in the first century.

Geoff