Two Kinds of Wisdom
James did not remain abstract in his reference to works in the preceding chapter. He warned his readers against the injustice of the rich. With hundreds hungry and a minority overfed, there is little change for peace in the world of James. The motif of wisdom introduced in 1:5 pervades the Epistle and reaches its climax in this section. The Greek word for wisdom used by James is “sophia,” which is broad and full of intelligence, used to describe the knowledge of very diverse matters.
The heavenly wisdom has seven adjectives ideal to the character of Christ, which calls not for an accumulation of virtues, but for the submission of the entire personality of God (Jas. 4:7). First mentioned are inner characteristics of a person and then follows the outward evidence of Christian wisdom. Purely, the wise man will associate himself with Christ and will keep himself unspotted from the world (1:27).
The heavenly wisdom found in James resembles another New Testament text, Paul’s delineation of the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23). James is writing before Paul, therefore, James is not familiar with Paul’s theology. The author rejects war and class struggle. According to James, such struggle reflects a lack of wisdom.
The preeminent attribute that wisdom produces is cleanliness or pure decisions. The word pure (hagnos) connotes innocence and moral blamelessness. James has harmonious convictions that a person must combat devilish wisdom, nevertheless, provides virtues that are practical and direct. These qualities are communal driven. They are not necessarily individualistic, rather the reason for this parenetic wisdom is an expression best expressed through community.
Posted by simpledivinity 