james-3:17

I recently read a little book entitled "The Young Christian." It was a reprint of a work written by Matthew Henry some 300 years ago. It did me good. Its chief theme was "sobermindedness," or to use a more contemporary idiom--self-control. It is a book with a challenge and it led me to look a little... Read More

"But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judg... Read More

I remember as a young evangelist preaching at a crusade before 5,000 people in Los Angeles. At least 2,000 of those people were Christian hippies. They had just been born again and were brought out of the hippie culture. Many of these young people lay sprawled before me on the floor, barefoot, weari... Read More

Bearing fruit (2592) (karpophoreo from karpos = fruit, produce + phero = bear, bring) literally means to bring forth fruit, to be fertile, productive. It is used figuratively to refer to bringing forth deeds or works (fruit), which depending on the context can be good fruit or bad fruit (see verses ... Read More

Became fools (3471) (moraino from morós = foolish and root of our English moron = very stupid person) can refer to physical sloth or dullness, but mainly is a reference (and especially in the present context) to one's intellectual life. It means to cause content of certain thoughts to become devoid ... Read More

Blameless (677) (aproskopos [word study] from a = not + proskopto = strike at, to trip, dash against as foot against a stone) literally means without offense, without stumbling, not stumbling or not tripping. Not causing others to stumble or fail. Not giving offense (thus inoffensive). NIDNTT adds t... Read More

Quarrelsome (3164) (machomai) means to war, quarrel, dispute fight or strive. This word describes a serious conflict, either physical (especially military combat as with armed combatants who engage in a hand to hand struggle) or non-physical, but clearly intensive and bitter. It was used of those of... Read More

Gentle (1933) (epieikes from epí = upon, on [intensifies meaning] + eikós = fair, equitable - but see note by Vincent below) is a Greek word that is difficult to translate. This word includes the ideas of gentle (free from harshness, sternness, or violence), forbearing (holding oneself back from esp... Read More

Benefit (fruit) (2590) (karpos) is used in its literal sense to refer to fruit, produce or offspring, which describes that which is produced by the inherent energy of a living organism. Karpos is what something naturally produces. Figuratively, karpos is used of the consequence of physical, mental, ... Read More

Full (3324) (mestos) signifies full up, full to the utmost, "stuffed"! Mestos is generally makes reference to that of or with which a person or thing is full. Mestos is used 9 times in NASB (Matt. 23:28; Jn. 19:29; 21:11; Rom. 1:29; 15:14; Jas. 3:8, 17; 2 Pet. 2:14), most often in a figurative sense... Read More