The Gospel Reflected In James' Vocabulary

VALUES VIEWED VIA VOCABULARY

The claim is made that every society values highest those things for which it uses the broadest vocabulary. That is, they use the most words to describe the things which that society most treasures.

This can help give us insight into the New Testament. In its pages we discover a brand-new society of people with an extensive new vocabulary. If we pay attention to this fledgeling and expansive vocabulary, we learn a great deal about them as a people and about the things they most valued.

Consider this sampling of words and phrases used synonymously for The Gospel, The Good News Story about Jesus and His atoning work:

The Faith,
God's Work (which is by Faith),
The Sound Doctrine,
The Glorious Gospel Of The Blessed God,
The Grace Of Our Lord,
The Faith And Love (that are in Christ Jesus),
A Trustworthy Saying That Deserves Full Acceptance,
The Good Fight,
The Truth,
The Testimony,
The True Faith,
The Deep Truths Of The Faith,
Their/Our Faith (in Christ Jesus),
The Mystery Of Godliness,
The Word Of God,
The Truths Of The Faith,
The Good Teaching,
A Trustworthy Saying,
Our First Pledge,
Our Teaching,
The Sound Instruction Of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
The Eternal Life,
The Good Confession,
This Command,
The Life That Is Truly Life.

Take time to meditate on these expressions. Consider them with renewed wonder for the work of Christ!

LOYALTY TO A STORY

Remarkably, this entire selection comes from just one short letter, I Timothy. In this letter, Paul uses this wide range of words and phrases to describe The Gospel Story. Further, in nearly every context, Paul is pleading with Timothy to remain loyal to his Savior BY remaining loyal to The Gospel Story itself. Paul is strident in his challenge to defend The Gospel from all forms of corruption by addition, subtraction, or perversion!

Remember also how, in the letter to the Galatians, Paul is even more adamant about loyalty to The Gospel alone. We must not add to, or pervert The Gospel by looking outside The Gospel for the capacity to do what only The Gospel can do! The Gospel alone is able to save. The Gospel alone continues transforming us into the image of Jesus. The Gospel alone sets us apart to God's Work! The Gospel alone produces faith, both for salvation and for sanctification!

This is why the 'Preaching of the Word' (to use the historic phrase) is not an expendable part of the Christian community's gathering, but is rather the most critical element of our meetings!

Now, take time to think about the words and phrases that James uses in his letter. James reflects this same set of values in the vocabulary he chooses! Think about these by way of comparison to Paul's:

The Word,
The Truth,
The Word Of Truth,
The Implanted Word,
The Seed Of Righteousness,
The Righteousness Of God,
The Perfected (Completed) Law (that gives us Liberty),
The Law Of Liberty,
The Royal (the King's) Law,
Your Faith,
The Faith In Our Lord Jesus Christ,
The Wisdom From Above,
Mercy,
More Grace

Reflect on how so very similar James’ vocabulary is to Paul's. Their very essences are the same.

All of these words, phrases and expressions were a vital part of the new community of Jesus' people. Their very breadth and vastness ought to speak volumes to us about the values of these believers and about their relationship to The Gospel. Indeed, The Gospel defined their very identity as a people.


JAMES' PLEA FOR LOYALTY TO THE STORY

Taking it a step further, James' letter's single, dominant theme is about loyalty to The Gospel, every bit as much as Paul's theme in Galatians is about loyalty to The Gospel and to The Gospel alone.

James pleads with his readers and with us for our unwavering devotion to Jesus and our single-minded loyalty to The Gospel alone. Consider what James says about The Gospel.

The Gospel is that 'Word Implanted' which, when humbly received, has the power to save (James 1:21)! It is our perseverance in loyalty to The Gospel alone which is tested through life's trials and which results in maturity and, ultimately, the crown of life (1:2-4,12)! The Gospel alone is the Seed of Righteousness that is sown into us in peace, by God from above (3:18 - more on this verse in coming segments)! It is The Gospel alone by which God births new life into us (1:18)! It is The Gospel alone that must be adamantly preserved from the corruption that comes through mixing it with: human desires (1:14; 4:1), human drives or anger (1:20), human ambitions (3:14), or any other of this world's prevalent evils or ideologies (1:21; 4:4)!

James' is the plea to remain loyal to The Gospel alone, the plea to restore loyalty to The Gospel alone, and the plea recover others from wandering from The Truth (5:19-20) of The Gospel.

Come along to explore this amazing letter from James!

-Royce Douglas