James 4:1-17

I’m thinking again about the profiteering that James discusses in James 4:13-17. I already discussed entrepreneurship in my second post (below) from last year and I see good in a lot of entrepreneurial activities. But there are some that strike me wrong. Right now I’m thinking of housing developments. We live in the country and on a number of these country roads we see the beginning of new housing developments. One that I really like is on the south end of Main Street in Versailles, just as you’re coming in to town on Rt. 33. There is nothing pretentious about it; it’s simply a new development with smaller homes, clearly our modern version of “starter homes”. [As I was growing up a newly-built “starter home” was three bedrooms, one bath!] A number of other new housing developments are quite modest, often just a very nice three-plank fence setting the borders of the development and maybe a brick-built entryway announcing the name of the development. For most of these developments the homes that are being built are beyond being “starter homes”, but don’t seem to be excessive. Others are! They boast a grand entrance and offer huge houses with ten or fifteen roof slopes, clearly designed for someone who has enjoyed a much greater income than Carol and I. Finally, there is one development going up on Rt. 169 between Keene and the Shannon Run intersection that’s worth a drive-by. Its main entrance boast of four gigantic brick pillars, two on each side, crowned with caps that cry out “luxury”. If I go further describing the property I just get more and more judgmental. But I wonder at what the Lord has to say about this level of luxury when so many in this county, this state, this country are hurting and barely getting by. Verse 16 just screams out to me: But as it is, you boast in your arrogance (or pretentions); all such boasting is evil. James offers his summary statement on profiteering one verse earlier: Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (v. 15) “If the Lord wills…”

See also: March 21 / James 4:1-10; March 22 / James 4:11-17

James 3:1-18

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts… (v. 14) and For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist… (v. 16) I wonder what’s going on in James’ world that he would point out jealousy and selfish ambition twice here. Back in Galatians Paul seemed to imply that this was a problem for the Judaizers, that they wanted to boast of their “converts” (Gentiles converted to Jesus, then circumcised). We also see it in the Gospels, with the Pharisees and Sadducees afraid of losing their power and influence with (over!) the people. So if James is writing from Jerusalem, mostly to Jews (the “twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad”, v. 1:1), it’s very likely that he is seeing the same behaviors that Jesus saw in Jerusalem and that Paul was witnessing in his missionary travels.

Which brings me to our church today… As I look at ACNA leadership, I do not see jealousy and selfish ambition. In Archbishops Duncan and Beach I see humble servants, desirous only of serving the Lord and guiding His people to the best of their ability through the grace of the Holy Spirit in their lives. And even as Archbishop Beach and Bishop Frank offer their guidance in our search for a new rector, it’s not a “control” issue with them, nor do we feel negatively subjected to their leadership – they are looking to our future and using their wisdom and experience to guide us. This was not so in the Episcopal Diocese from which St. John’s (St. Andrew’s) members departed. From my position as a member of the leadership team of that body I clearly saw control as a driving force coming from the top. Which brings me to the verse in between the two that I cited above, This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. (v. 15) Clearly (I believe) there were unspiritual, demonic forces at work in the Episcopal Church in 2003/2004. But from that turmoil sprang St. Andrew’s! I’m reminded of Joseph’s comment to his brothers, …you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good… (Genesis 50:20). GLORY!!

See also: March 19 / James 3:1-12; March 20 / James 3:13-18

James 2:1-26

James writes that in keeping the Law but failing in one point a person is guilty of the whole Law. He uses an example: If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. (v. 11b) For our 21^st-century society that example needs to be flipped: “If you commit adultery but do not murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.” Adultery is altogether too common in our society, even among those who claim to be believing Christians. Jesus said “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” (Matthew 19:5) To me Jesus was ruling out all sexual activity except that between a husband and a wife. This includes heterosexual activity outside of marriage as well as homosexual activity. I don’t mean to be judgmental, but Hollywood and the media have so glorified sexuality that many in society see nothing wrong with pre-marital sex, people living together, homosexual marriage, or any other activities that violate God’s simple standard of marriage between a man and a woman. I truly don’t mean to be personally judgmental, but I am afraid for God’s judgment on our American society.

Faith and works – I comment on that in the second link below.

See also: March 17 / James 2:1-13; March 18 / James 2:14-26

James 1:1-27

Welcome to the Epistle of James!

Sin, with a number of verses (seemingly?) reflecting temptations from outside and from inside… First, from outside: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds… (v. 2) and Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial… (v. 12) [I’m sure brothers and man includes sisters and women!] Verse 2 seems especially to refer to trials from outside, since the following verses have trials (testing) leading to endurance (steadfastness) and endurance having its “full effect”. By contrast, later verses refer to temptations (lust?) instead of trials and testing: Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin… (vv. 13-15a) Verse 14 refers to “his own desire”, reflecting temptation (or lust) beginning from within. It’s helpful to see that temptations arise from outside and from inside – and even more helpful to consider the source and to be able to fight the temptation, with help from the Holy Spirit, our “Helper”.

See also: March 15 / James 1:1-11; March 16 / James 1:12-27

Galatians 6:1-18

My daily pattern is to read through two translations and notes and sidebars of our scheduled reading, then to read my comments from last year, then to read a third translation and post new comments. With this pattern it is often the case that in my first readings I do not understand a particular verse. Then I often find in my comments from last year (see the links below) that I had searched out that verse and came to a better understanding. That was the case today – verse 12 was initially confusing to me until I read my Study Bible notes and my comments from last year; then upon re-reading the verse it was much clearer. So my perspective to you is this – last year’s in-depth study of the epistles helped me/us to gain a greater understanding of what Paul and the other writers were saying, especially with particularly difficult verses. And it’s not just my comments that I am encouraging you to read; last year’s RTB team members also added a number of clarifying and illuminating comments. Perhaps John S. can find the time to show you how to access all the comments from last year. (That access is confusing to me!)

As for new comments on today’s reading… A couple of days ago I suggested that “flesh” and “world” often have negative spiritual meanings in Paul’s writings. We see that today: For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption… (v. 8a), “flesh” here relating to money, sex, power, etc. (See also my second paragraph comments in the first link below.) Then today we also see Paul’s use of “world” in a negative spiritual sense: But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (v. 14) Finally, what is often the case is not always the case: …they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. (v. 13b) Here “flesh” does not have a negative meaning – it simply refers to a person’s being, with the Judaizers boasting in their influence over another person’s circumcision decision.

And so we finish our first epistle with Paul’s appropriate closing: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers [and sisters]. Amen. (v. 18)

See also: March 13 / Gal. 6:1-10; March 14 / Gal. 6:11-18

Galatians 5:16-26

When we did our “Three Streams” series at St. Andrew’s last March during Lent it was Archbishop Foley Beach who spoke on the third “stream”, the Pentecostal/Charismatic stream – the Spirit-filled life. And as he spoke of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, he was clear in distinguishing the manifestations of the Spirit (speaking in tongues, healings, lifting hands, etc.) from the fruits of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Today we have Paul’s famous listing of the fruits of the Spirit: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… (vv. 22-23a) See my comments in the link below and note that “fruit” is singular, not plural. That is, these nine characteristics are part and parcel of every believer’s life. It’s what God does for us as we actively seek Him – as we ask daily to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

As for the gifts of the Spirit, Paul lists a number of those gifts in at least three places – and in no particular order anywhere. Check out these lists in Romans 12:6-8, I Corinthians 12:28, and Ephesians 4:11-12. We don’t imagine any of those lists to be as complete and comprehensive as Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit that we read about today.

BTW, ask Carol to recite the fruit of the Spirit in Czech – this listing of the fruit of the Spirit was our memory verse for our Czech and Slovak kids the very first English Camp that we did with Mark Bruner. Memories…!!

See also: March 12 / Gal. 5:16-26

Galatians 5:1-15

When I read this section last year I was really confused by verse 11. I looked at another translation, and the first paragraph in my comments in the link below helped me to understand what Paul was saying. There are a few other confusions in today’s reading. Please read on.

I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! (v. 12) The ESV translation gets it right, with “emasculate” an even stronger word than “castrate”. Other translations have “mutilate” (NASB) and “cut themselves off” (NKJV). Paul is being sarcastic here – he certainly does not wish this behavior on any of those Judaizers!

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh… (v. 13a) In general, any time Paul refers to “the flesh” or “the world” he is referring to anything that takes our eyes or our behavior away from faith in Jesus. That is, something that is “an opportunity for the flesh” could be food or sex or money or power. Our freedom in Christ does not mean that we are free to do whatever our “flesh” desires!

Yes, Paul’s epistles are more difficult to read and understand than the Gospel or Acts narratives!

See also: March 11 / Gal. 5:1-15

Galatians 4:1-31

In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. (v.3) And: But now that you have come to know God … how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world…? (v. 9) Although it’s confusing, it could be that Paul’s twice-mention of the “elementary principles of the world” are the many rules of the Law which Jews were required to obey. That is, I wonder if Paul is speaking to those Jews who had converted to Jesus, but were now going back to their old ways because of those Judaizers who had come in, fearful of this new faith to which their fellow Jews had turned. Paul goes on about these Judaizers: They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. (v. 17) These Judaizers see that they have lost their influence with these new converts and want to turn them back the rules of the Law, once again enslaving them.

With all that it’s clear to me that I am not a Bible scholar. But then again, even the Bible scholars don’t know exactly what Paul was trying to say in this chapter – these “elementary principles” and his “bodily ailment (v. 13) and “at first” (also vs. 13). As I’ve said before the past few day, we move on!

See also: March 8 / Gal. 4:1-11; March 9 / Gal. 4:12-20; March 10 / Gal. 4:21-31

Galatians 3:15-29

This gets confusing. Paul bases his argument in today’s reading on his translation of the word “offspring” (or “seed” as in many translations): Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings, referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. (v. 16)

But here is the quotation from Genesis that Paul is citing, with God speaking to Abraham: I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And…in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22:17-18) I fully understand that Paul has a better understanding of the Old Testament books than I, but as I read it, in God speaking to Abraham, it seems to me that His first use of the word “offspring” is plural, effectively translating “offspring” as “descendants”. So I find myself at odds with Paul’s argument of the singular versus the plural.

HOWEVER, Paul’s argument of singular versus plural does not nullify his main point of salvation through Jesus, where he says, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. (v. 16b), in that Jesus is one of those offspring (descendants) from Abraham. That is, Abraham’s offspring (descendants) include Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David, and Jesus – and countless millions more! So the translation of offspring as singular versus plural seems to me not to be an issue.

The main point of Paul’s full argument in today’s text is that our salvation is through faith in Jesus, not through the Law of Moses. In the previous chapter we have Paul making it explicit: …if righteousness were through the Law, then Christ died for no purpose. (Galatians 2:21b) I think a better translation is that “Christ died needlessly”. That is, Jesus’ death on the cross would have been a waste of time. What a horrible thought!

See also: March 7 / Gal 3:15-29

Galatians 3:1-14

Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? (v. 2b) Our Men’s Group has been on a “Three Streams” mission; currently our topic is the “Spirit-filled stream”. We are looking at the work of the Holy Spirit in the Gospels, in Acts, and in the Epistles. So here we find Paul’s first reference to the Holy Spirit in the first of the many letters/epistles that he wrote. My Study Bible noted that we will see sixteen more references to the Spirit in this Epistle!! I love it when our studies overlap!

Does He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? (v. 5) This quote is the ESV translation, but I have capitalized the deific pronoun, “He”. The NASB and the NKJV both capitalize deific pronouns, but the ESV does not. I suppose it’s because the ESV does not want to “put words into our mouth” or, more realistically, thoughts into our head. But when it’s fairly clear that the “He” refers to Jesus or His Father, I see no reason not to capitalize it – for the sake of clarity. As to the content of this verse, “…He who supplies the Spirit to you…”, you may recall Jesus’ promise to His followers at the Last Supper, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper…” (John 14:16) Here we see Paul writing that Jesus has fulfilled His promise – He or the Father has sent the Holy Spirit. Closing the loop…!

As we get deeper into the Epistles the readings get more difficult – not as much narrative as we see in the Gospels or in Acts. But we read on – there is good material for us to digest!

See also: March 6 / Gal. 3:1-14