Teaching Notes Book of James (Jacob) Chapters 4 to 5
Hugh Wood, Atlanta, Georgia
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The first Quarantine in the USA since 1918 continues. It is Day 36.
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"The grass withers and the flower [fades], but the word of [the Lord] endures forever." Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:24-25.
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Book of James. Papyrus 100.
Book of James Papyrus 100
Papyrus 100
Papyrus 100 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), P 100, is an early copy of the New Testament in Greek. It is a papyrus manuscript of the Epistle of James. The surviving texts of James are verses 3:13-4:4; 4:9-5:1, they are in a fragmentary condition. The manuscript has been assigned paleographically to the late 3rd century, or early 4th century. See, wiki
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Chapter
4. Worldly Mindedness
Origin
of Wars: Covetousness, 1, 2. The desire to get that which
belongs to others. This has been the cause of
most wars.
Reason
for Unanswered Prayer: ‘because they are for the
gratification
of our worldly pleasures, 3.
Double-Mindedness,
4-10. “An expansion of Jesus’ statement
that a person cannot serve God and Mammon,
Matt 6:24, and
similar
to John’s warning against Love of the World, I John
2:15-17. Such passages suggest the need of
unceasing
Self-Examination;
for, having to live in the world, and worldly
things
being needful to our daily subsistence, it requires great
watchfulness
to keep our affection above the border line. We
need
constantly to draw close to God. to Cleanse our Hands,
to
Purify our Heart, and to Humble ourselves.
The
Tongue, again, 11,12. This time on the utter absurdity of
one
sinner setting himself up as judge of another sinner.
If
the Lord Will, 13-17. One of the most amazing doctrines of
Scripture
is that God, with the infinite universe on His hands,
yet
has a definite Plan for each of His people, Acts 18:21; Rom
1:10;
15:32; I Cor 4:19; I Pet 3:17.
Chapter
5. Riches. Patience. Tongue. Prayer
The
Rich, 1-6. James’s fourth and strongest blast at them, the
others
being 1:9-11; 2:1-13; 4:1-10. There must have been a good
many
rich men in the Judean Church who were thoroughly Un
Christian
bent on Worldly Pleasure. Rare Christian souls are to
be
found among the rich;- but, quite largely, James’ picture of
still
holds; and his warning to them of coming retribution
is
frightful.
Patience
under Suffering, 7-11. One day the Lord will Come,
and
all Suffering will be over. Keep your eyes and your heart
fixed
on That Glad Day. The greater the Suffering here the
greater
will be the Glory there.
The
Tongue, again, 12. Our Sinful Tongue. The cause of so
much
trouble. This time, Swearing. A very serious Sin, very
displeasing
to God. Yet how many professed Christians, in their
ordinary
conversation, profane God's Name. A better use of the
Tongue
is to Sing, 13.
Prayer,
again, 13-18. Believing Prayer will surely be answered
Elijah’s
closing and opening of the heavens was a rare and
mighty
miracle, I Kin 18. Yet it is quoted to us as an incentive
to
Pray.
Anointing
With Oil, 14, Was a recognized medical treatment, Isa
1:
6; Lk 10:34, to be reinforced by Prayer, not to be used for
magical purposes.
To
Win a Soul for Christ, 19,20, pleases God immensely, for
which
He loves us, and overlooks our weaknesses. 'For it, we shall
shine
as the stars forever, Dan 12:3.
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Bible Project
Book of James (Jacob)
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James
4 New International Version (NIV)
Submit
Yourselves to God
4
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires
that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet
but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have
because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask
with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4
You adulterous people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world means
enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world
becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that
he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[b]? 6 But he
gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God
opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”[c]
7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners,
and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change
your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before
the Lord, and he will lift you up.
11
Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a
brother or sister[d] or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When
you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.
But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
Boasting
About Tomorrow
13
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city,
spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even
know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears
for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is
the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in
your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the
good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
Footnotes:
James
4:4 An allusion to covenant unfaithfulness; see Hosea 3:1.
James
4:5 Or that the spirit he caused to dwell in us envies intensely; or that the
Spirit he caused to dwell in us longs jealously
James
4:6 Prov. 3:34
James
4:11 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer,
whether man or woman, as part of God’s family.
James
5 New International Version (NIV)
Warning
to Rich Oppressors
5
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming
on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your
gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat
your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The
wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out
against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord
Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have
fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.[a] 6 You have condemned and
murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
Patience
in Suffering
7 Be
patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the
farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the
autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the
Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and
sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
10
Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take
the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as
blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and
have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion
and mercy.
12
Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or
by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you
will be condemned.
The
Prayer of Faith
13
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing
songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the
church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will
raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess
your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The
prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17
Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not
rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he
prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone
should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from
the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of
sins.
Footnotes:
James
5:5 Or yourselves as in a day of feasting
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New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Some content adapted from Halley, Henry H., Bible Handbook, Grayson Publishing, Minneapolis, MN. © 1927 - 1959, 1964
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Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia
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