IN THE WORDS OF JESUS–Part 982

ON LOVE; PART DLXXI

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GoodWill IS Love in Action

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“The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).

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“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40).

In the last essay we took the Apostle James’ words on firstfruits from his saying that “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18) and we related this to the words of the Apostle Paul who speaks in a similar way regarding those who have chosen the Path to God over his Life in the Earth. In Paul’s words to the Romans, he includes himself in this idea that can only mean as we say here and as he implies; that they, he and the disciples to whom he writes, have “the firstfruits of the Spirit” (Romans 8:23) but yet they wait for the adoption which we explained again as union with God or, from a human perspective, the fullness of one’s divine expression of the God Within through one’s form in the Earth. In James words here we should be able to see the idea of the Plan of God, that He created or “begat he us with the word of truth” so that we would become “a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” This IS NOT unlike the ideas that Paul spends many more words on saying that “the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:20-21). Here the Souls of men are subjected to Life in the Earth according to the Plan of God with His “expectation that” ALL shall be delivered and our rationale for rendering this as “expectation that” in place of “hope because” is discussed in In the Words of Jesus part 926.

The point taken here should be that these ideas are similar in nature, they offer us the same insight that this creation is under an ordered Plan that results in this idea of firstfruit in which we should see the reality of the expression of the fullness of Paul’s listing of the fruit of the Spirit as “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23). Here Paul tries to capture the essence of the expression of a Son of God in the world, that these would be his thoughts, his attitudes and his actions in Life and, to further enhance these ideas, the apostle offers us these other Truths regarding this fruit saying: “the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth” (Galatians 5:9). James then tells us what IS required to realize this goal, this Truth of being His firstfruits, which he gives us in the ideas of being or becoming “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” and in these we can find the reality of the fruit of the Spirit. In the idea of listening we should understand that this IS first, that hearing is of primary importance, and in this we should try to see the ideas of hearing in the world as well as the ideas of hearing that Wisdom that we should ask for from His previous saying and which becomes that Wisdom from above in later sayings; in more common terms we can understand this as that a man should KNOW before he reacts. And it IS reaction that should be seen in the idea of speaking and not the uttering of words alone as everything that IS a response from a man IS his speech; his speech IS his expression to the world.

The word rendered as wrath and understood as anger is a perplexing one that we KNOW DOES NOT mean wrath as we understand it as there IS no anger in God who IS Love. In this we did find some words in commentary that offer us an idea that we ourselves can understand. The meaning of this Greek word orge is seen as wrath and anger most likely based on its perceived usage and not on its intent. The Commentary Critical, quoting from Tittmann tells us that we should see orge this way: not so much “wrath” is meant, as an indignant feeling of fretfulness under the calamities to which the whole of human life is exposed ⁸. Here we can see the ways of the world and the apostle’s admonition that a man be slow to express these if he IS seeking God and intending to be among the firstfruits; in this we should try to understand the logic that the apostle is expressing for us as he continues with this same word orge and says that “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God“. While anger works in this context, this idea IS not one that would need further elucidation as would the extra emphasis upon the idea that the ways of the world ARE NOT the way to the righteousness of God, a righteousness that IS a basic requirement of being or becoming His firstfruits. This dialogue continues with another difficult idea to understand based in its rendering here as:

“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:20-22).

What IS “all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness“? These words are rendered in a variety of way by other translations:

• American Standard Version “Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness“
• Douay-Rheims “Wherefore, casting away all uncleanness and abundance of naughtiness“
• GOD’S WORD Translation “So get rid of all immoral behavior and all the wicked things you do“
• New International Version “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent“
• New Revised Standard “Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness“
• Young’s Literal Translation “wherefore having put aside all filthiness and superabundance of evil“

There is quite a variety of ideas in these renderings and we should discount any that imply that this IS an activity that the audience IS engaged in. The intent of this saying is properly taken by Young’s which assumes that putting aside these activities is accomplished while the King James and the American Standard caution us to stay away from these things in favor of the ideas that follow, which ARE the reality of that Wisdom. In the end we should see here the instruction to NOT let temptation have its way, to not let the ways of the world become the ways of the man who seeks to be among the firstfruits and then here to keep away ALL things of the world in favor of the Truth of the “engrafted word“. There is a continuous building of the apostle’s words of action and of caution as he approaches the end point which IS plainly and clearly stated as “But be ye doers of the word” and it IS in this building that the reader can see the pitfalls and the promises. We still have no True understanding of the words used as “all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness” and here we go to Vincent for some better view of the usage of the Greek words:

• Filthiness (ῥυπαρίαν); Only here in New Testament, but James uses the kindred adjective (James 2:2), “vile raiment.” Ῥύπος , filth, occurs in 1 Peter 3:21- on which see notes; and the verb ῥυπόω , to be filthy, is found in Revelation 22:11.
• Superfluity of naughtiness (περισσείαν κακίας); A translation which may be commended to the attention of indiscriminate panegyrists of the A. V. Περισσεία is an unclassical word, and occurs in three other New-Testament passages – Romans 5:17; 2 Corinthians 8:2; 2 Corinthians 10:15. In all these it is rendered abundance, both by A. V. and Rev. There seems to be no need of departing from this meaning here, as Rev., overjoying. The sense is abounding or abundant wickedness. For haughtiness Rev. gives wickedness, as in 1 Peter 2:1, 1 Peter 2:16, where it changes malice to wickedness. It is mostly rendered malice in both A. V. and Rev. In this passage, as in the two from Peter, Rev. gives malice, in margin. Malice is an adequate translation, the word denoting a malevolent disposition toward one’s neighbor. Hence it is not a general term for moral evil, but a special form of vice. Compare the wrath of man, James 1:20. Naughtiness has acquired a petty sense in popular usage, as of the mischievous pranks of children, which renders it out of the question here ⁴. 

Filthiness is likely the easier idea to understand as James IS speaking already about the ways of the world which we see in the idea of corruption and the antithesis of Godliness and righteousness. This IS NOT uncleanness in the common understanding nor IS that rightly understood in scripture where Vincent tell us that: Paul speaks of working uncleanness ( ἀκαθαρσίαν ) in a spirit of selfish desire ( πλεονεξία ) which is the spirit of covetousness. In Ephesians 5:3, uncleanness and covetousness are closely associated ⁴. In the context that this IS offered we DO NOT see the idea of filth as in dirty or even offensive and while vile may better approach the meaning, it too is lacking. We should note that the three kindred forms of the Greek word are each used but once making it is difficult to see a True intent of James’ usage. For us this idea here is intended to express again those things of the world, ALL that IS NOT of the good and perfect which come from God. And the next idea IS related in much the same way and relates the carnal nature of man in his relationships with others. This IS from another word that is ofttimes rendered as evil but IS not the same evil from the Greek poneros that we attribute to the ways of the world; this one, kakia from kakos, appears to be of a more personal nature by its usage. Malice may be the best approach here as it is a word that conveys a psychic idea rather than a physical one so that malice can be see in one’s thoughts and attitudes which, in righteousness, must be from the Soul. In this idea of malice as it would effect the man who IS seeking God which IS the apostles audience, there is little that would allow us to see superfluity as abundance as any malice would be wrong and in this we should go beyond Vincent’s idea.

Strong’s offers us some insight as does one of the ideas presented by the lexicon; Strong’s tell’s us that this Greek word perisseia means abundance and prevalence ³ while the lexicon includes the ideas of preference and  pre-eminence ². In prevalence from Strong’s and preference from the lexicon we can see a better idea here of James intent in using this Greek word; here we would see then to avoid any preference or prevalence of malice in our thoughts and attitudes about others as this IS contrary to righteousness and this flows well into the next thought that requires meekness which IS also an idea that relates to one’s interactions with others. Language IS always a problem and as we can see from the ideas of Vincent and Strong’s, both authorities in Greek translation, there is much confusion regarding some of the ideas intended by the words used. In our view we see the need to have a sensible rendering of sayings and groups of sayings rather than words and phrases and that any rendering should be in line with the basic premise of our own view of God and His word. A good view of the potential confusion of this word rendered as superfluity can be found in the lexicon’s full definition: abundance, superabundantly, superfluously; superiority, preference, pre-eminence; gain, profit; residue, remains: the wickedness remaining over in a Christian from his state prior to conversion; Used by the Greeks to describe the excess wax in their ears ².

For us the ideas presented here by James are rather clear; that a man who IS seeking God should refrain from partaking in the ways of the world, that he should keep his focus upon the things of God and that his interactions with others or with the world should have NO prevalence of malice and no preference to take any worldly gain. Instead, the man who IS seeking God should “receive with meekness the engrafted word” which IS contrary to these ideas and most ALL ideas regarding the benefit of the self. This IS another saying that IS little understood and in this there ARE several ideas at work; first that this is an addendum to the previous thought linked by the conjunction and which for us works according to our interpretation above. Here we see the ideas presented, refrain from the ways of the world and have no inclination toward malice nor personal gain as a man in the world. It IS next that we find the idea of receiving in meekness the engrafted word which idea is rendered according to the understanding of doctrine and with as much variability as we see above regarding the first part. Here, if the word IS engrafted, Vincent prefers implanted as do some translations, than the idea of receiving DOES NOT work properly and neither do any of the renderings of the first part that deal with the man being active in a state of uncleanness or filthiness and wickedness or evil. Some render this as to accept the implanted word but this only makes sense from our own perspective of accepting in consciousness or realizing the Truths that one already possesses in the Soul.

And this IS what we see here, that the man who seeks God should refrain from his self-interests in the world of men and should come to realize the word, the Truths that are ever KNOWN by the Soul, the Christ Within. Here we see the apostle’s words as telling that man that he should retain his focus upon the things of God and NOT on the things of the world. We should note here as well that this word that IS rendered as word IS the Greek word Logos which refers in other places to the Christ and here we can try to understand the reality that the Christ, the Christ Within and His word ARE ALL the same; there IS NO separation. The Christ and His expression are the same and are equivalent to the Christ Within and his expression; these expression ARE ONE, they are the unction, they are the anointing and they are the word of God. And then there IS the simple Truth which IS that in doing this, in realizing the word of God as it comes into consciousness in the Light of the Soul, that the man can save himself which IS must be understood and Redeeming the Life out of the illusion and the glamour of the world of men. This DOES NOT say that this realization WILL offer salvation, only that it CAN as there IS yet the next idea which IS the DOING.  In our King James version the end part is rendered as to “save your souls” but, as we have discussed, this word could as easily been rendered as Life, which it IS in other translations, and here we should NOT understand Life as the Life of the body but the spiritual Life of the man in the world which IS saved by keeping His words.

We must understand that this idea of His word or the word of God IS NOT those things that are written only, they are the spiritual ideas that we KNOW as Souls. It IS the Soul that imparts the True meaning of the written word to the conscious man who IS focused upon the things of God and we should try to see that in the absence of this focus the words can only take on their carnal meanings which ARE in many ways the ideas of doctrine. The depth and the Truth are revealed to the man who seeks God and this IS the way that these words from James ARE intended. In this next phrase we have the most important part of this segment and one of the most important in the entirety of the New Testament: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves“. Here, while we generally speak about this in regard to the words that we read and hear and understand, there IS actually this deeper idea of KNOWING from the Soul the Truths and in this ALL Souls are the same….ALL KNOW.

As we proceed we will use the deeper ideas and meanings on this but we should not forget that these ideas, ALL of them, have some relevance to the man who DOES NOT see the reality as we see it in the apostle’s words here and while this is generally True of ALL that we have discussed, it is specifically True here in this saying as the word hearing can be seen in several ways. For us as realizations from the Soul, the Christ Within and for others as the words of scripture and of sermons which a man can come to believe are True but NOT DO. In both cases, to KNOW a thing or to believe a thing IS of NO use if one DOES NOT DO it.

We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.

Aspect of God	Potency	Aspect of Man	In Relation to the Great Invocation	In relation to the Christ
GOD, The Father	Will or Power	Spirit or Life	Center where the Will of God IS KNOWN	Life
Son, The Christ	Love and Wisdom	Soul or Christ Within	Heart of God	Truth
Holy Spirit	Light or Activity	Life Within	Mind of God	Way

Note on the Quote of the Day

This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment.

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit (John 3:3-8)

Today’s Quote of the Day is in regard to the new birth which Nicodemus did not understand and which many today do not understand either. The words of the Master tell us of a total commitment to the Lord as the way to the Kingdom and these verses say that as well. This total commitment is being born again. The differences in language aside, we should try to see the relationship between these ideas of being born again which is the essence of discipleship for it is only in discipleship that one can Truly see the Kingdom. These are much misused ideas because they are seen from the perspective of the man in form and no from the perspective of the Soul living through form.

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts!

• ² New Testament Greek Lexicon on BibleStudyTools.com
• ³ Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible – 2001
• ⁴ Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition, 1888
• ⁸ Bible commentaries on BibleStudyTools.com