Epistle of James

1. James 4:13,14 – ‘Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what [will happen] tomorrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.’ Have you noticed the transition in the epistle here? From judging brethren to materialism This theme continues until James 5:5 To what audience is this directed, all believers? McCalley suggests that this refers to the itinerant Jewish traders within the ecclesia who have serious doctrinal errors. Epistle of James James 4:13-17 “Self-Sufficiency vs. Reality” 1 August 18, 2013 Bob Eckel

2. Many of them were engaged in foreign traffic, and for this purpose made long journeys to distant trading cities, i.e. Alexandria, Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, Phoenicia, Thessalonica. And today means this very day and tomorrow the next day. ‘Go to’ here and in James 5:1 is used 3 times in Gen 11:3-7 concerning the building of Babel. Thus, this could represent the apostate Jewish system of worship – ‘a city and a tower’ in the midst of its vineyard (Is 5:2, Matt 21:33). All Jewish temples were built using Gentile labor, as of course was Babel. But does any of this depend on God? know is e-pē'-stä-mī – to be acquainted with or understand Is the intent here anything but rash and presumptuous? The sin of distraction? Is 56:11 - Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Epistle of James James 4:13-17 “Self-Sufficiency vs. Reality” 2 August 18, 2013 Bob Eckel

3. How often do you think of your life as a vapor? James 1:10; Job 7:6,7. 9:25,26, 14:1,2; Psalms 90:5-7; I Pet 1:24 vanishes away – to snatch out of sight, destroy or consume Does this produce fear or comfort? But, is there anything wrong with making a profit? Almost all uses of gain relate to spiritual gain I Cor 9:21,22; Phil 3:8 What are the motives? James 4:15 - “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” Alternatively, instead of your saying (verse 13) say is active, present; will – active, aorist, subjunctive; shall live and do – active, future, indicative Epistle of James James 4:13-17 “Self-Sufficiency vs. Reality” 3 August 18, 2013 Bob Eckel

4. The verb tenses after we indicate our dependence How do know His will? Barnes - ‘There is nothing on which the success of our plans depends over which we have absolute control; there is nothing, therefore, on which we can base the assurance of success but His favor.’ I Cor 4:19 – ‘But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.” Let’s see what Christ Himself said about His will – Rom 8:28,29 James 4:16 – “But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.” Both rejoice and is are present and indicative – fact! boastings empty, braggart talk Epistle of James James 4:13-17 “Self-Sufficiency vs. Reality” 4 August 18, 2013 Bob Eckel

5. an insolent and empty assurance, which trusts in its own power and resources and shamefully despises and violates divine laws and human rights an impious and empty presumption which trusts in the stability of earthy things rejoicing is the act of glorifying I John 2:16 – ‘For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.’ Rom 7:13 – ‘Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.’ I Cor 4:7 – ‘For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou Epistle of James James 4:13-17 “Self-Sufficiency vs. Reality” 5 August 18, 2013 Bob Eckel

6. didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?’ James 4:17 – “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Therefore – what’s it there for? Compare to boastings and their source. know is eidō – perceived and factual Were there some who didn’t know? What a burden this is, or is it? What does doing good mean? Doesn’t this sound legal? What is the metric? Remember, it’s a life we live not a series of good acts! John 6:29 - ‘Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” Epistle of James James 4:13-17 “Self-Sufficiency vs. Reality” 6 August 18, 2013 Bob Eckel