Jam 1:13-14 | TNotes | STEP | 1:13 do not say: James is using diatribe , an ancient Greek rhetorical technique in which an imaginary opponent presents a contrary opinion. In this way he is able to voice the readers’ possible objection and immediately refute it (also in 2:3 , 16 , 18 ; 4:13 ). • God is never tempted to do wrong: The alternate translation (see footnote) dulls the parallelism with he never tempts .

‏ James 1:13-14

1:13 ^a do not say: James is using diatribe, an ancient Greek rhetorical technique in which an imaginary opponent presents a contrary opinion. In this way he is able to voice the readers’ possible objection and immediately refute it (also in 2:3 ^b, 16 ^c, 18 ^d; 4:13 ^e).

• God is never tempted to do wrong: The alternate translation (see footnote) dulls the parallelism with he never tempts.
1:14 ^f Like hooks for fishing or traps for hunting, desires . . . entice us into sin and drag us away from faithfulness to God.