James 1:18-25
18By his sovereign plan he gave us birth ▼▼ Grk “Having willed, he gave us birth.”
through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. Living Out the Message
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! ▼ Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. 20For human ▼▼ The word translated “human” here is ἀνήρ (anēr), which often means “male” or “man (as opposed to woman).” But it sometimes is used generically to mean “anyone,” “a person” (cf. BDAG 79 s.v. 2), and in this context, contrasted with “God’s righteousness,” the point is “human” anger (not exclusively “male” anger).
anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. ▼▼ God’s righteousness could refer to (1) God’s righteous standard, (2) the righteousness God gives, (3) righteousness before God, or (4) God’s eschatological righteousness (see P. H. Davids, James [NIGTC], 93, for discussion).
21So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly ▼▼ Or “with meekness.”
welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls. 22But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves. 23For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone ▼▼ The word for “man” or “individual” is ἀνήρ (anēr), which often means “male” or “man (as opposed to woman).” However, as BDAG 79 s.v. 2 says, here it is “equivalent to τὶς someone, a person.”
who gazes at his own face ▼▼ Grk “the face of his beginning [or origin].”
in a mirror. 24For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets ▼▼ Grk “and he has gone out and immediately has forgotten.”
what sort of person he was. 25But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, ▼▼ Grk “continues.”
and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out – he ▼▼ Grk “this one.”
will be blessed in what he does. ▼▼ Grk “in his doing.”
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