New Testament Review: Exegesis James 1:22–27

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It is imperative to mention that several ways in which passages can be interpreted are always present, and it is reasonable to examine the ideas of other scholars to get a better understanding of their stance. Scriptures by James are quite intriguing, and should to be analyzed. An article by Holly Hearon has been chosen because it was published in a reliable source, and she draws attention to several interesting topics. The passage suggests that one is not a true believer if he or she does not acknowledge the fact that religion should be reflected in actions, and the most attention should be devoted to supporting of people that are in need of help.

The idea that people may be hypocrites when it comes to particular religious issues is not new. It is stated that “but be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves” (Jas 1:22 NRSV). Hearon does not devote enough attention to this scripture. However, the author of the article believes that the whole passage was aimed at the poor, and she examined particle connections with other ones. Moreover, Hearon argues that James thought that wealthy people are not spiritual enough most of the time because their actions are questionable. Also, she suggests that he has criticized them quite often.¹ In other words, the idea is that poor people should not compare themselves to others because their behavior is not reasonable, and they only pretend to be religious. Such interpretation may be quite controversial because it is believed that such ideas were targeted at everyone.

In other words, it may be suggested that individuals could be lying to themselves, and they are not believers in reality because the only thing they do is listen, and it is not sufficient from the perspective of religion. “For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like” is also worthy of a discussion (Jas 1:23–24). The statement is truly fascinating, and one could think that a mirror is a metaphor for something much deeper. Hearon suggests that it may be utilized as a tool of self-scrutiny.² Differently put, physical appearance may play a crucial role in lives of people. Individuals frequently overlook several aspects that they view as not important, and it reflects in their treatment of others. For instance, one may not think about possible privileges, and it can be quite problematic. Moreover, the expressions that the people see affect the perception of their actions, and behavior of others. Hearon focuses on social status in this case, and it is noted that every individual has access to various amounts of resources. Therefore, differences between the ways in which they are used are also present. The application of such ideas may seem questionable in this case, but such claims have some merit, and the author of the article sounds quite comprehensive.

The next scripture suggests that “but those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act – they will be blessed in their doing” (Jas 1:25). The author’s approach is interesting because the ends the section with the interpretation of this line and one may think that she regards it as the most important one. Hearon claims that “he invites them to look into a mirror and to transform their internalized oppression into freedom, as they take on the reflection of the perfect law.”³ Differently put, this statement signifies that the passage is directed at people that are oppressed, and it is believed that one could become emotionally free if his or her actions reflect their beliefs. This approach is intriguing, and it is entirely possible that James was speaking about a particular group of people. Furthermore, it makes the process of interpretation much harder. On the other hand, the weakness of this argument is it is quite evident that this these words may be applied to anyone. It is possible to look at this statement from another perspective. It is likely that James meant that the religion is a particular path to liberty for any individual, and one may achieve it if he or she is persistent. It highlights the importance of the reward of such behavior, and the author of the article overlooks the importance of the blessing.

The last scripture also needs to be discussed, and it is noted that “religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (Jas 1:27). The author believes that it is suggested that it is reasonable for individuals that are not wealthy to offer their support to people that are less protected than they are. Furthermore, she argues that such religion may be regarded as pure because an individual that is not wealthy is willing to help others even if he or she is struggling.⁴ It is hard to argue with the fact that such behavior is worth being respected and signifies the achievement of higher levels of spirituality. Another core aspect that should not be overlooked is that the author does not discuss the part related to stains. It is suggested that actions of an individual may be affected if he or she doubts at least one aspect of religion, and it leads to inappropriate behavior.

In conclusion, it is possible to state that the interpretation provided by the author is quite comprehensive and is quite similar to my personal understanding of these words. On the other hand, she applies the concepts of privilege and social status, and one could think that it is not reasonable in this situation. However, it enhances the level of understanding of the passage and supports the idea that it may have several meanings. Also, it is stated that the goal was not to undermine the ideas of James.⁵ Therefore, the focus on various aspects of the society makes this interpretation quite valuable, and it should be studied. One may disagree with the statements regarding the intended target audience of the scripture, but such ideas should not be dismissed, and must be analyzed. Overall, the approach utilized by Hearon is appropriate, but my interpretation is rather different. In my opinion, the purpose of the passage is to ensure that all individuals are aware of the importance of actions, and one may not be regarded a real believer if he or she is not willing to help people that are suffering.

Bibliography

Hearon, Holly E. ““But Be Doers of the Word”: Power and Privilege in James.” Encounter 72, no. 1 (2011): 81-90. Accessed April 21, 2016. ATLA Religion Database.

Footnotes

Holly E. Hearon, ““But Be Doers of the Word”: Power and Privilege in James,” Encounter 72, no. 1 (January 2011): 84, accessed April 21, 2016, ATLA Religion Database.
Ibid., 81.
Ibid., 89.
Ibid., 88.
Ibid., 89.

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New Testament Review: Exegesis James 1:22–27

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