Book Of James 2: 8-11 Essay

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A Word Study of James 2:8-11 Challenging many who read it, the Book of James is full of rich phrases and descriptive words, testing even the shrewdest and perceptive bible scholar. Creating at times great tension, one has to determine the authentic meaning the author renders. An individual will gain a deeper understanding of the message the author conveys by exploring several key words in James 2:8-11. Law, repeated three times within the passage in verses 8, 9, and 10, shows its importance in this scripture passage. Its Greek word νόμος (Strong’s #G3551), “nomos,” is derived from the root word “nemo” meaning to divide, distribute, or apportion. According to the Vines Expository Dictionary, nomos became the standard or the established name for “law.” Several meanings are plausible – having to do with Mosaic Law as a volume, or pertain to the law of the Christian religion, relevant to the moral teachings of Jesus Christ, for instance the principle of love. In all three instances in James, the definition most closely related appears to be the latter, relating to law in respect to the moral code and …show more content…

Strong’s (#G266) equates it to the Greek form ἁμαρτία, or hamartia. Its form of speech is feminine noun. Closely related is the root hamartanō, (ἁμαρτάνω), the verb tense (Strong’s #G264), defined as to err, offend, or trespass. Other definitions for the word sin include a wrongdoing, or sinful act, a governing principle as in Romans 6:6, and a “missing of the mark” which is found only in the Old Testament (Vine, 1996). Interestingly, the word sin is difficult at times to distinguish between noun and verb, as the definitions above attest. However, as one reads verse 9, it clearly refers to the verb tense, so the definition most closely related is to offend, trespass, or to err. Romans 6:15 uses the word sin in similar fashion, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace”

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