After the Reformer Martin Luther died, his friends who came to his room to remove his corpse found a note he had scrawled sometime in his final days: “We are beggars, that is true.” [Read more…]
Pastor, Thanks for All You Do
The work of preaching is the highest and greatest and most glorious calling to which anyone can ever be called. — Martyn Lloyd Jones
We can’t say thanks enough.
For this year’s pastor appreciation month, we’re sharing these free gifts to say thank you for serving the Church. [Read more…]
The Pitfalls of One-Sided Biblical Interpretation
Historically the Church has understood the nature of Scripture much the same as it has understood the person of Christ—the Bible is at the same time both human and divine. “The Bible,” it has been correctly said, “is the Word of God given in human words in history.” It is this dual nature of the Bible that demands of us the task of interpretation. [Read more…]
5 Myths about Anxiety That Sabotage Christians
This excerpt is adapted from Common Misconceptions about Common Church Problems by C. Gary Barnes, now on sale along with many other courses covering controversial topics.
Myth 1. Anxiety Always Results from Sin or Lack of Faith
Now, of course, biblically, it’s clearly established that sinful choices can bring forth anxiety. But that’s a huge leap to say that every time you’re seeing anxiety, that’s a result of sinful choices or a lack of faith. This is a very complex package, and there are many possibilities, even biological, that can be key and instrumental in the experience of anxiety, even if a person’s not making personal sin choices. [Read more…]
Save Up to 50% on Books and Courses on Worldviews, Gender, Eschatology, and More
Finding biblical answers to tough questions can be overwhelming, but having the right resources at hand can make all the difference. We’ve got a huge sale—up to 50% off, actually—on books and courses on controversial topics and biblical passages right now.
Here are a few you might find helpful, especially if you’re stocking up on worldview and cultural hot topics: [Read more…]
Learning Logos: How to Print or Export Filtered Bible Text
The recent Logos 8.7 update contained a lot of exciting new features. I certainly hope you’re discovering and enjoying them.
Today’s blog focuses on one that’s almost hidden, but nonetheless can assist us as we’re working with specific Bible verses. Succinctly stated, we can now print or export filtered Bible text. [Read more…]
4 Pastors Who Led and Loved Their Churches Well
The Bible establishes specific qualifications for pastors (see 1 Pet 5:3, 1 Tim 3:2–7, Titus 1:8, Eph 6:4). But above all, they are to “set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12)—a tall responsibility.
Today is Pastor Appreciation Day, and to honor the work pastors do for the sake of the gospel, we’re sharing about four pastors who lived out 1 Timothy 4:12 and loved God’s people well. [Read more…]
October’s Top Picks—Jonathan Edwards, Anchor Yale Bible Reference & More!
Biblical research is like an ongoing, always-profitable treasure hunt. You can never get into the Word too much, and your Logos library can never be too full.
Now’s your chance to add monumental works at prices kind to your book budget. [Read more…]
BrillDAG Officially Released on Logos
BrillDAG is fully integrated with your entire Logos digital Library—every entry tagged and linked to citations from ancient and biblical texts.
The 7 Qualities You Must Nurture for Peace in Your Church
[In James 3:14–16,] James . . . told what heavenly wisdom is not, and now [in James 3:17–18,] he turns and tells what it is. . . .
Purity
The false wisdom is “earthly [and] unspiritual,” while this true wisdom is “first of all pure.”
The four following characteristics develop aspects of this purity: they all begin with e, and the last two end with kritos. The emphasis is not on the purity laws of the Torah but on moral blamelessness with a clear conscience. Such a person is the opposite of the worldly characterized by verses 15–16. This person entails an absence of sin and defilement, true holiness. There is a spiritual and moral faithfulness to God leading to a divinely directed way of life that glorifies God and serves his people in his messianic community.
Peace
The other six qualities are introduced by epeita (then) and provide aspects of this moral and spiritual purity. In the context of serious dissension in the community, “peace-loving,” or “peaceable,” is another key attribute of godly wisdom.
This quality will become the theme of 3:18.
There is a complete absence of peace in 14–16, while it is central here and builds on Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (see also Ps 34:14; Isa 52:7; Rom 12:18; Heb 12:11). This is the exact opposite of the jealous, combative ambition that produces the “fights and quarrels” of 4:1.
Peace with God is achieved through the cross and the gift of salvation; peace with the people around us is the product of sanctification—that is, the process of holiness.
As the Spirit enters us and draws us to God both in our thinking and our actions, love takes over, and as God’s love infiltrates our being, our relations with those around us change correspondingly.
Self-giving spirit
“Considerate,” or “gentle” (epieikēs), in the Greek mind means “reasonable” or “fair” but for Christians refers to that spirit that refuses to demand its own rights but lives for others (also Phil 4:5; 1 Tim 3:3). So it connotes an empathetic, forbearing spirit that accepts others as they are and is willing to forgive.
Next, this God-sent wisdom is “submissive” (eupeithēs), or “open to reason” (RSV, ESV), or “accommodating” (NET). This “willingness to yield to others” (NLT) is the direct opposite of the narcissistic concerns of verses 14–16 and is the epitome of the self-giving spirit that is supposed to characterize the Christ follower. . . .
This is so needed today, as Christians fight and disrespect each other over every issue imaginable.
Living out godly wisdom
The final three continue this emphasis on godly wisdom lived out in our lives. “Full of mercy and good fruit” reverses the sinful results of the counterfeit wisdom above. Instead of a tongue “full of deadly poison” (3:8), we have a life “full of mercy”—namely, caring and sharing with the needy around us.
Such acts of love and compassion reflect a kind spirit concretely via good deeds, which indicates the presence of the Spirit in our lives. Mercy is known by its “good fruit” and is the natural by-product of the “word implanted in you” (1:21).
Finally, the saint filled with heavenly wisdom is “impartial and sincere.”
The first (adiakritos) stands opposed both to the double-mindedness of 1:6, 8, and the partiality of 2:4. This person refuses to discriminate and both treats and respects everyone equally. It is immensely difficult to exemplify this godly trait consistently, for we are all sinful, selfish creatures, and only those truly filled with the Spirit and holiness can do so.
The final trait, “sincere,” or “without pretense and hypocrisy” (anypokritos), is closely connected. Such a person refuses to play-act and consistently exhibits godly qualities. There is no hiding behind a mask for such people, and they live out what they claim to stand for.
The concluding description of godly wisdom (3:18) returns to the beginning of the verse and is an inclusio with the “peace-loving” person described there.
Spiritual victory
Those with true wisdom will always “sow [seeds of] peace” and then through that “reap a harvest of righteousness.” This is not another characteristic of wisdom but the by-product of wisdom.
So verse 17 defines wisdom, and then verse 18 tells what its effects will be.
Here we have the antidote for the epidemic of divisiveness and dissension caused by rampant self-centeredness, the main problem of 3:1–4:12.
If our speech ever begins to sow seeds of peace in our assemblies, the “fights and quarrels” of the next verse (4:1) would never take place. Divine wisdom calls for peace-loving gardeners (3:17) who sow peace rather than discord (3:18) in God’s vineyard (see also Rom. 14:19; Heb. 12:14), producing a life that truly will make a difference.
What is sown in peace produces a “harvest of righteousness.” . . . We will have a bumper crop of spiritual victory and live in a way that greatly pleases God, beginning with peace rather than conflict in our community.
***
This excerpt is adapted from James Verse by Verse (Osborne New Testament Commentaries) by Grant R. Osborne, the last full volume in Osborne’s commentary series, available now through Lexham Press.
The headings and title of this post are the additions of the editor. The author’s views do not necessarily represent those of Faithlife.