The Letter of James (New International Commentary on the New Testament) by Scot McKnight

Author:Scot McKnight
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-05-20T04:57:00+00:00

Resisting the evil one was an important theme in Judaism and early Christian catechesis.323 The constant presence of demons and unclean spirits in the life of Jesus (e.g, Mark 1:21-28), the cosmic battle into which Jesus entered (Matt 11:12-13; Luke 16:16), and the grander cosmic battle of the book of Revelation elucidate what lies behind the words of James. James does not say what Peter says about the roaring lion (1 Pet 5:8), but that sort of belief gives rise to the commandment James presents to the teachers. The grammar focuses on resisting, and one resists an opponent who attacks; therefore, we are probably to see James here urging a defensive response to devilish temptations, which connects this verse to 3:15 ("devilish") and the false wisdom of zeal and ambition. The teachers and their temptations have not left James's vision: he offers advice here on how to deal with the temptations that arise from zeal, ambition, cravings, desires, and yearnings for envy.

If the emphasis so far has led us to think in terms of anthropology, James now brings into the discussion a cosmic force at work in the divisiveness of the community leaders. The desires that yearn toward envy are animated, at least in part, by "the devil."324 It is reasonable to think that the desires of 1:13-15 are also partly inspired by the devil. But it would be inaccurate to flip completely into seeing all of sin as nothing but the cosmic victory of the devil. James, perhaps less than only Jesus in the New Testament, emphasizes human responsibility.

In addition, he believes the messianic leaders can overcome the enemy. James speaks here as does Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:13: "No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. " The devil will flee if the messianist resists the devil. This point is thoroughly Jewish. Tobit 6 speaks of Tobias being told how to rid a person of demons: one must smoke a fish's gall, heart, and liver. When they are smoked, "every affliction will flee away" (Tob 6:8; see 8:1-3). Perhaps more germane to James is the simpler method in the Testament of Simeon: "If anyone flees to the Lord for refuge, the evil spirit will quickly depart from him, and his mind will be eased" (3:5).325 And, Testament of Dan explains this a little more completely: "Draw near to God and to the angel who intercedes for you, because he is the mediator between God and men for the peace of Israel. He shall stand in opposition to the kingdom of the enemy" (6:2).

We might ask what it might have meant to "resist" the devil. Certainly it involved prayer and a steely commitment to do what God wanted. That prayer and obedience, perhaps better yet a prayerful obedience, were involved is made

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