[b-greek] Re: James 2:12

From: Ben Crick (ben.crick@argonet.co.uk)
Date: Tue Aug 14 2001 - 16:37:54 EDT


On Tue 14 Aug 2001 (09:32:59 +1000), gathas@ausisp.com wrote:
> Any thoughts as to what exactly James is referring to in 2:12 by the
> term NOMOU ELEUQERIAS (by which his readers are about to be judged)?

 Dear George,

 Scripture is its own best interpreter. The phrase occurs first in James 1:25
 hO DE PARAKUYAS EIS *NOMON TELEION TON THS ELEUQERIAS*. So this is not the
 Mosaic Law which enslaves, but the Law of Christ which sets us free from
 bondage to the Mosaic Law. Christ's Law is the perfect Law, the Law of
 Liberty; compare:
 Romans 8:2 hO GAR NOMOS TOU PNEUMATOS THS ZWHS EN CRISTWi IHSOU
 1 Corinthians 9:21 MH WN ANOMOS QEOU ALL' ENNOMOS CRISTOU
 Galatians 5:13-14 ... hO GAR PAS NOMOS EN hENI LOGWi PEPLHRWTAI EN TWi
 AGAPHSEIS TON PLHSION SOU hWS SEAUTON...
 Galatians 6:2 hOUTWS ANAPLHRWSETE TON NOMON TOU CRISTOU.

 This dominical Saying is the *second* great commandment, quoted by Christ in
 Matthew 19:19 and parallels. Jesus was quoting Leviticus 19:18, of course.

 Paul makes clear that no-one can succeed in keeping the Law, and is thereby
 condemned (Romans 7:7ff). Jesus has set us free from the power of the Law by
 (1) keeping it perfectly himself (fulfilling it, Matthew 5:17); and by (2)
 dying its death penalty on our behalf. Christ's life, death, and resurrection
 set us free from the Law of Sin and Death, into the perfect Law of Life and
 Liberty. Not freedom to break the Law, but freedom from the penalty of the
 Law, and freedom to serve God in newness of life.

 IMHO this is the Law of Liberty in James 1:25 and 2:12.

 ERRWSQE
 Ben

-- 
 Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
 <ben.crick@argonet.co.uk>
 232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
 http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm

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