Swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, the three musketeers of competent communication personally and increasing development spiritually. How much human misfortune spawns from the neglect of these wise words. How much ignorance results from inverting these words? In 1870  a bishop visited the president of a small denominational college. He blurted out his biblical conviction. “Inventions are a past affair.” The educator, of course, disagreed. “Why, in 50 years I believe it may be possible for men to soar through the air like birds!” The bishop in shock said “Only angels can fly.” Ironically, that mistaken bishop was none other than Milton Wright, the father of Orville and Wilbur. Thirty Three years later, Orville and Wilbur proved the folly of their fathers words. ¹.

Epistle of James: Chapter One

PARAGRAPH SUMMARY: James 1:19-27

Pastor James urges the Scattered with four mandates centered on putting the Word of God into daily use. Failure to act is deception and leads to shallow Christianity according to Jesus. This post, covers instructions one and two; being swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath, and stripping away sin out of one’s life.

James 1:19-21 (KJV) – 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

DEFINITIONS:

• beloved/ἀγαπητός/agapētos
  • Beloved; prized; highly valued.
• swift/ταχύς/tachys
  • Swift or quick.
• slow/βραδύς/bradys
  • Slow; meaning an extended amount of time passes before an utterance occurs.
• worketh/ἐργάζομαι/ergazomai
  • Work; do; accomplish; perform.
• righteousness/δικαιοσύνη/dikaiosynē
  • Justice; righteousness; doing what is right.
• wrath/ὀργή/orgē
  • Anger; wrath; displeasure.
• lay apart/ἀποτίθεμαι/apotithemai
  • Take off, lay aside, and literally strip off as a garment (ἀποτιθέναι; [so found in Homer, Il. 3.89; Herodotus, 4.78] of all evil. The baptismal idioms belong to the act of the rite itself as candidates were encouraged to exchange their normal clothes for new garments received after the baptism was performed. ². Same word translated as ‘cast off’ in Romans 13:12, ‘lay apart’ in Ephesians 4:22, ‘put off’ in Colossians 3:8.
• filthiness/ῥυπαρία/rhyparia
  • Moral uncleanness; impurity; filthiness. This word only occurs here in the New Testament.
• superfluity/περισσεία/perisseia
  • Surplus or abundance.
• naughtiness/κακία/kakia
  • Baseness; depravity; wickedness;- evil.
• meekness/πραΰτης/praÿtēs
  • Gentleness, humility, or meekness.
  • The word gentleness can be better understood when compared to its antonym, roughness. Humility and meekness are closely related to gentleness in that it takes those qualities to exhibit that trait. You could say gentleness is a by-product of humility and meekness. A gentle person would exhibit, patience and leniency with others shortcomings; be quick to forgive; have a calm temperament; exude mildness and serenity; be easy in his conversation with others, be accommodating and welcoming towards all; and able to restrain ones passions. The word has been used historically to describe a person with a mild look, a smiling countenance, a soft voice, a tranquil and courteous demeanor. ³. The word does not carry the sense of weakness but actually strength ‘under control.’ Picture a ‘type A personality’ who has learned to walk in this grace. Jesus used this word to describe himself (Matthew 11:29), as did Moses (Numbers 12:3) in the Septuagint.
• engrafted/ἔμφυτος/emphytos
  • Implanted; instill; inseminate; put within.

BACKGROUND:

• Public Reading of Scripture
  • Christians, in the first century, heard scripture read publicly (1Thessalonians 5:27, 1Timothy 4:13). Need drove this car. Expensive books, out of reach for the mostly poor population, sparsely dotted the landscape. Population literacy was problematic. Little doubt remains the church’s public reading of scripture was an offshoot of the Jewish practice of the same in the synagogue. Nehemiah 8:7-8, records the first Biblical instance of publicly read scripture. You apply the ‘let everybody be quick to hear’ declaration first to the Word. Hearing comes before  doing.
• Sexual Sins of the Greco-Roman World
  • The Greco-Roman world was a cauldron of wickedness. Sexual sins, homosexuality, temple prostitution connected with the worship of the various false deities, were ripe. Sin was free-flowing and in great profusion. One thousand temple prostitutes serviced the Temple of Aphrodite. Sexual misconduct was so wild in cities like Corinth the name of the city became associated with sexual terminology. ‘Corinthinizing’ equaled fornication in the city. The term ‘a Corinthian girl’ referred to a prostitute. Idolatry was also prolific. Violence and robbery were norms. Sin lists (Romans 1:29-32, 1Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, 2Timothy 3:2-5, Revelation 9:20-21. Ephesians 2:1-3, 1Timothy 4:1-2) found in the New Testament reflect the times.
  • Sex’s dark side paints an accurate picture of sinful man in Bible times. The passage of time has not improved the picture. Positive advances in human ingenuity have not brightened the dark side. But, men in Christ are new creatures. Why does James address filthy living with new creatures? James addresses sin because believers display various responses to purity doctrine. The Lord’s commandment here is clear (John 17:14-19). We are in the world but not partners with it. You should not share in lost peoples sins.

COMMENTS:

• ‘Wherefore, my beloved brethren,’
  • Pastoral Imperative One: James 1:19-20
  • Transition to Verse Nineteen
    • Verse 19 begins a new thought as James transitions from the idea of temptation and its origin to the skillful instruction of doing the Word. Yet even with the transition, the  Word of God (‘word of truth’), found in verse 18, appears in verse 21 of the next section. The point? The Word of God is the center. Whether we are speaking of temptation, tests or trials or the thoughts we will see in the verses ahead. Above all, the Word comes first.
  • Another translation of ‘Wherefore’
    • The word ‘wherefore’ (Masoretic text) should have been translated ‘Know this’ (Alexandrian and Byzantine texts).
  • Children Are Beloved
    • Used here the word beloved carries a wonderful connection. Ephesians 5:1 declares that God’s kids have high value to Him. Children must have the same standing with their parents. In this verse, this cherishing love extends to the siblings of James.
• ‘let every man be swift to hear,’
  • How Helpful Hearing Comes
    • Helpful hearing only comes by right content and proper attitude. Jesus cautioned us in this area of ‘hearing.’ He states the importance of ‘what we hear’ or content (Mark 4:24) and ‘how we hear it’ (Luke 8:18) or attitude. Hearing God’s Word correctly, through all the avenues of availability, is life-giving to spiritual life. God’s Word comes to us through diverse channels. Those, who have not practiced the fine art of listening to Spirit moved men, have cut off a possible source of God’s revelation to them. The Bible coaches us that faith comes by hearing. So, being swift to hear heightens faiths potential in one’s life. You have to hear to progress. Doomed is the self-reliant man.  Ruined is the man who depends on his own thoughts.
    • James snippet on hearing can extend past God’s Word to hearing one another. Quick to hear helps us with false conclusions and ‘foot in mouth disease’. You will eat dust for reacting before hearing all the truth (Proverbs 18:13) on an issue. Though the Bible warn us against haste (Proverbs 19:2, Isaiah 28:16), there are a few areas where swiftness works well. Repenting from wrong actions, and forgiving others quickly will keep you right with God and man.
• ‘slow to speak,’
  • Advantages of Being Slow with Ones Words
    • Specifically in the first century, vocal communication outbreaks during the public reading of the Word of God where common ⁴.  James urges us ‘to be quick to hear and slow to speak’ when in the presence of God’s Word. The ancients, in timeless fashion, propose delaying before responding (Proverbs 10:19, 13:3, 17:27-28, 29:20). Slowness of speech and swiftness in hearing are marriage partners forever linked. Impulsive speech does not allow you to hear another’s thoughts. You can develop oral slowness by developing humility. Pride reigns if you think your thoughts are more relevant than others. Thoughtful deliberations reduces conflict (Proverbs 15:1). It helps you steer away from trouble (Proverbs 21:23). Barclay notes the man praised for his linguistic abilities. He had learned the fine art of keeping silent in seven different languages ⁵. See also Ecclesiastes 5:1-2.
• ‘slow to wrath:’
  • Refusing Anger
    • The last of the ‘three musketeers’ is a noted character trait of God (Exodus 34:6, Numbers 14:18, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalms 86:15, 103:8, 145:8, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2, Nahum 1:3) . James warns the Scattered to refuse anger at God’s corrections. Slow to anger is a must in all friendships. Besides this caution in James, Proverbs (Proverbs 14:17,29, 15:18, 16:32, 19:11) tells us of the benefits of matching the Lord in this trait. In both of these areas, speaking and anger, the qualifying word ‘slow’ is king. The slower you act, the more patient and deliberate you are, the more spiritual success you will enjoy.
  • The Impact of the New Birth on Controlled Speech.
    • Working in all three of these areas in unison is no small feat. Solomon says that military difficulties in capturing a city take much less effort than to rule oneself (Prov. 16:32). With the New Birth’s arrival (vs. 18), this three part commandment finds realization in the born-again child of God.
• ‘For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.’
  • Difference Between Righteous and Unrighteous Wrath
    • Out of the three admonitions in verse 19, ‘quick to hear’, ‘slow to speak’, and slow wrath only the latter has any added explanation. The result of doing the opposite, that is being quick to speak, and refusing to hear, produces anger. The anger of man does not produce godly righteous actions. Man’s anger should be categorized separately from the godly anger Jesus displayed in the Temple.
  • Anger Does Not Accomplish a Godly End
    • Acting out of anger is unrighteous behavior. It does not produce the right ways of the Lord. Why? Anger is a work of the flesh (Gal. 5:20) and results in death. Jesus is clear on this firestorm emotion. Unprovoked anger puts you in the crosshairs of judgment (Matt. 5:21-22). His words are a saving deterrent.
  • Doing the Right Thing
    • The words ‘the righteousness of God’ does not refer to the righteousness we have because of Jesus death, burial and resurrection. This righteousness does not come from salvation. This ‘righteousness’ comes from the actions of a righteous person. Righteous people do righteous deeds. They speak right words. They live in virtue. The treat people with goodness.
• Pastoral Imperative Two: James 1:21
• ‘Wherefore lay apart’
  • Ties Back to Verse Twenty
    • The word ‘wherefore’ ties you back to verse 20. The unrighteousness anger that James references is part of the filthiness and evil that he alludes to in verse 21.
  • Self-Control
    • Laying apart implies self-control. If the Lord, commands us to do something, that commandment suggests an ability to do it. God would be unrighteous to demand  something that we hopelessly had no potential to perform. The existence of any order from God means the matching power to carry it out must be present. Before we received Jesus as Lord we had no such ability (Ephesians 2:1-3).
• ‘all filthiness’
  • Moral Filth and the Believer
    • ‘All filthiness’ covers thoughts, speech and actions. Impurity has no place in a believer’s life. Toss it aside. On sin and moral filth, the 1st century human being does not differ at all from its twenty-first century counterpart. Every person faces the need for self-control over their generations immorality. Vices change according to the current rage. The standard for purity never does.
• ‘and superfluity of naughtiness,’
  • Strong Words Describing Sin
    • The words ‘superfluity of naughtiness’ are words no longer in use. Modernizing the phrase yields ‘put aside all dirty impure efforts and lavish wicked and evil actions.’ These are strong words used to describe sin. Remember that James writes here to blood washed children of God making this an eye-opening statement.
  • Stating the Expectation
    • Taking on Sin
      • James addresses the ‘sin’ issue head on without any hint of condemnation or guilt. His emotions do not enter into the discussion. James states the expectation and moves on.
  • The Danger of Judging Others
    • Many times, we weigh-in on others who live inappropriately. We critique a person’s salvation status based on these verdicts. According to God’s Word, such judgments are inappropriate. Most would agree the words ‘evil’ and ‘Christian’ are not synonymous terms. But, all believers in Jesus are not at the same stage of development. The Bible states that through Jesus we are righteous. Right standing means God looks at us as if we never sinned. This is how we look in Christ. But, the Word of God also teaches the graceful walk of holiness after the new birth. The sanctifying walk is a daily task. It’s not automatic. We must face the Word of God. Our minds have to receive renewal. As we understand the Lordship of Jesus and willing yield ourselves in obedience, then progress comes in the moral life.

• ‘and receive with meekness the engrafted word,’
  • Humility: A Key Component to Receiving from God
    • Meekness is a key and necessary ingredient to receive from the Lord.  The haughty, arrogant, high-minded and proud person experiences resistance from the administration of heaven (James 4:6). They receive none of its treasures. A gentle teachable spirit enables ‘receiving.’ It’s value is huge. Galatians 5:23 states that this ‘meekness’ or ‘gentleness’ is already in our spirits. Christians do not have to go far to access it. It’s part of the new creation ‘package’.  All of these fruits of the spirit listed in Galatians 5, develop and mature through feeding and exercise.  As we feed and practice God’s Word in our everyday life, the fruits of the spirit blossom. Our natural tendencies are overcome.
• ‘receive with meekness’
  • Getting Things in Right Order
    • Before a man can receive the God’s faultless Word, he must discard filthiness and evil. Repentance precedes revelation in every case. One must be in right position to receive the good things (Matthew 13:12) of heaven.
• ‘engrafted word’
  • The Proper Environment for the Word
    • The King James adjective ‘engrafted’ or implanted suggests two truths. First, the proper environment for God’s Word is a man’s spirit. Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). You could think of it this way. The Word of God is spirit food for the spirit of man. As FF. Bosworth put it, “Many people feed their physical bodies three hot meals a day but their spirits, one cold snack a week.” Second, engraft shows the business of the Word. To engraft means to inseminate.  God’s Word is like seed that a man places in the ground. In Mark’s gospel, Jesus gives the ‘Parable of the Sower’. The sower sows the word. He implants the seed. He inseminates the heart. With an agriculturally based people, this parable hit the mark.
• ‘which is able to save your souls.’
  • What Is the Saving of the Soul?
    • The saving of the soul and the new birth, are not the same event. The new birth, received by a person accepted the Lordship of Jesus, takes place before the saving of the soul. James, according to verse 19, addresses ‘beloved brethren’. People who already know Jesus. What James suggests is that these born-again ‘beloved brethren’ do not have their souls saved. Confusion arises because we are inexact in our use of Bible terminology. How many times have you heard someone say, “I thank God for saving my soul?” They are calling attention to their ‘coming to Jesus’ experience. Gospel songs ring out with this same idea. 1Thessalonians 5:23 says that composite man includes spirit, soul and body. Spirit and soul are not interchangeable. The terms are different. The spirit of man receives the new birth. The soul of man, comprised of the mind, will, and emotions, remains unaffected by this inner saving. The soul takes part in saving after the new birth via the action of the Word of God.  As you read it, as you meditate on it, as you practice it, your soul changes. Your soul experiences salvation. Over time, your soul can begin to think like God does. Your thoughts align with His thoughts. Your ways come into harmony with His ways. Other scriptures that refer to mind or soul renewal include Psalm 23:3 (the ‘restoring of the soul’) and Romans 12:1 (the ‘renewing of the mind’). Realize the importance of reading the Word of God. God’s Word contains God’s thinking. God preserved His Word for man in print form so we might be able to think His thoughts after Him. Allowing our thinking to change, conforming to His thought patterns is renewing the mind. Renewing the mind and ‘saving of the soul’ are synonymous. James encourages mind renewal in place of a lifestyle filled with sin and anger.

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References