Archive for December, 2009

Wisdom From Above

Jason December 7th, 2009 1 Comment

James 3-17 Wisdom-from-Above

In class on Sunday, we reviewed James 3:17 and the sermon terms that are used to describe the wisdom from above.  Rather than having bitterness or selfish ambition, which are really earthly, unspiritual attitudes, James suggests that we embrace:

  1. Purity (in Greek hagnos) – whatever is clean and holy before God (used again in Philippians 4:8 and 1 Peter 3:2)
  2. Peaceable (eirēnkos) – at rest; without strife (Hebrews 12:11)
  3. Gentle (epiekēs) – a reasonable, yielding person (Philippians 4:5; 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 3:2)
  4. Open to Reason (eupeitheia) – a readiness to obey and get along with others (only used here in the NT)
  5. Full of mercy (eleous) and good fruit – this is so near the heart of God and creates a great contrast with his description of the tongue as full of poison (James 3:8)
  6. Not divided (adiakritos) – this is a person who is impartiality and not double minded
  7. Not insincere (anupokritos) – this is a trait of honesty and genuineness (1 Peter 1:22; 2 Timothy 1:15)

You might notice the alliteration of terms #2-5.  They all start with the letter Epsilon in Greek.  The last two words are plays on the word kritos- having to do with judgment.  This is a famous theme in the book of James (1:6; 2:4,6, 12-13; 4:11-12; 5:9,12). It seems to me that the first 5 virtues open our capacity to think clearly (adiakritos) and genuinely (anupokritos) about life.  We have to ask ourselves, “How honest and genuine am I?  Am I really a double minded person?”

Another note about the book of James.  I keep noticing all the false speech that James wants us to avoid:

  • Don’t say, “God is tempting me” (James 1:13).
  • Don’t say to someone in fancy clothes, “Here is a good seat for you.”  And to the poor man say, “You stand there” (James 2:3).
  • Don’t say, “Go I wish you well; keep warm and well fed” (James 2:16).
  • Don’t say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city. . . and make money” (James 4:13).

Instead of such hollow poisonous words, we are to speak with truth, humility, and a freshness of spirit.

How will such a change come to us?  Only with Wisdom from Above.

Posted in: Bible Reflections, Life Practices, Upward