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James 3:13 Ok, who is the wise guy? -Day 325

Good morning fellow aliens and exiles,

I may have mentioned my practice of memorizing scripture.  When I did it years ago, it was the Navigator Topical Memory System.  One "pack" had 6 associated topics with 2 verses per topic.  Over the last 6 years or so, I have been using Fighter Verses app from Desiring God (John Piper's ministry.  It has both topics and extended verses.  Anyway, James is one of the books that I have memorized.  As Hebrews says, the Word is a very sharp sword.

Blessings,

Jeff

James has a lot to say about wisdom.

From Complete Word Study Bible Dictionary 

Sophía stands for divine wisdom, the ability to regulate one's relationship with God, and is distinct from phrónēsis (G5428), prudence, the ability to know and deal with people (1 Cor. 12:8; Eph. 1:17; Col. 1:9: 2 Pet. 3:15). Specifically of insight imparted from God in respect to the divine counsels (1 Cor. 2:6, 7). Metonymically (a figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated) of the author and source of this wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30). As conjoined with purity of heart and life (James 1:5; 3:13, 15, 17).

This is how the Greek word is used in the Bible.  The Greeks apparently had the idea that there was divine wisdom, although their gods were more super-human than divine.  When James uses it, he is thinking of the omniscient, omnipotent God revealed in scripture.  So when he asks the question, his audience would understand that he is not talking about person to person prudence.  We might not catch that nuance.   

This wisdom requires a relationship with God.  If you don't believe in God as revealed, you cannot have a relationship with Him, let alone regulate it.  Therefore, only Christians can be wise in this way.

However, this ability to regulate my relationship with God is supposed to have outward evidence.  Good conduct in the meekness of ability to regulate relationship with God.  This reminds me of his argument about faith and works in previous chapter.  He emphasizes that while we are saved by faith alone, we are not saved by faith that is alone, i.e. devoid of works.

James is often called the proverbs of the New Testament.  Through him, God communicates a nugget of truth and invites us to examine the nugget for all it is worth.

Like Paul, all I can say is Oh the depths of the knowledge and wisdom of God.

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