However, I am a bit confused because I’ve seen plenty of worship/bible study programs on television where we are reminded to “ask for whatever we wish” as long as we have faith and believe. 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill.iYou covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. From whence come wars and fightings— Quarrels and wars among you, quite opposite to this peace? This word, which is used only four times in Scripture, does not mean to prosper in the sense of “gaining material possessions,” but rather means “to grant a prosperous expedition and expeditious journey,” or “to lead by a direct and easy way.” The wording of modern translations such as the New International Version even reflect this nuance of the word. James 4:2-3. About This Book. ... but were constantly engaged in speculation and word wars (1 Timothy 1:4-7; see also 2 Corinthians 11:3-5, 13-15, 22; Titus 1:4; 2 Timothy 2:23; 4:4). Therefore, the claim that 3 John 2 teaches the doctrine of prosperity ought to be regarded as suspect at best. Here are cautions against corrupt affections, and love of this world, which is enmity to God. Chapter 3 Chapter 4. 4:2 - James now shows how the pleasures in our members lead to conflict with others. Commentary. Some of us pray, and God does not answer our prayers. Commentary on James 3:13—4:3, 7-8a View Bible Text . Does He hear me? 5. Better ancient Greek manuscripts only say you adulteresses. I’m believing for fully restored central vision. I think you missed the point. His will is always going to be done, so why pray about that? When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. Spirit and Life Bible Study Videos 306 - The Moon Under Her Feet By Jonathan Rose . I am but less than dirt in His presence, and that is ok with. You also say, if I’m understanding correctly, that I blame God for my crappy life as a child? Without exception, this is the verse to which prosperity teachers appeal in order to support their view of the Atonement. You desire but do not have, so you kill. James 4:2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. Then perhaps you too could settled for God’s forgiveness. There is fighting among them, which is a direct result of worldly wisdom (James 3:15-16). https://www.bible.com/bible/111/JAS.4.2-3.NIV, 5 Days – An Introduction To Reading The Bible, James Audio Bible With Music And Commentary, How To Live Like a Family That Glorifies God, Practical Instructions For Your Daily Life Journey, Building A Legacy Of Faith In Your Children. You do not have because you do not ask God." Being … The verse reads, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” This problem with this interpretation is, of course, that in this verse Paul was in no way teaching that Christ died on the cross for the purpose of increasing anyone’s net worth materially. War produces terror, fear, pain, anger, uncertainty, guilt and - if it could be weighed - tons of heartache. Or give sight to the blind. In fact, He has said that this world is full of sinful people who make existence worse. . Learn about … Chapter … David W. Jones In your members— Here is the first seat of the war. You do not have because you do not ask God. There follows shortly afterwards in Jam 4:2, ye fight and war. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whereas orthodox Christianity understands faith to be “trust in the person of Jesus Christ, the truth of His teaching, and the redemptive work He accomplished at Calvary,” prosperity teachers espouse quite a different doctrine. Just over one hundred years ago, the renowned pastor and statesman Charles H. Spurgeon spoke these words to the then-largest congregation in all Christendom: 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. First, many who hold to prosperity theology have a fundamental misconception of the life of Christ. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”Â, If our motivation in prayer is to gain place, pleasure, power, and prestige, then we ask amiss, improperly. ... 5-Day Commentary Challenge - James 4. A final area of prosperity theology that merits investigation is that of the doctrine of faith. “He uses the feminine form deliberately, for one turn of … Commentary on First Peter. 3 You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. In this verse, the Apostle John wrote, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” This verse is interpreted by prosperity teachers to mean that God wants all believers to “prosper in all things.” Furthermore, their interpretation of this verse makes clear their claim that material prosperity is inseparably linked to spiritual growth. Prosperity Theology and the Abrahamic Covenant Among those Jews who were … As we come to James 3, it would have been very easy for me to title this message: “Teachers, Hold Your Tongues.” You can see from the first verse of chapter 3 that this would be a fitting title for the chapter. Commentary for James 4 . He wants to them to consider why they are fighting. I use my peripheral vision as my primary sight. The word “spend” connotes to consume, squander, waste. Some people excessively spend money on pleasure. This is what the prodigal son did with his inheritance (Lu 15:13). Paul, on the other hand, did another kind of spending, 2 Co 12:15, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.”, “Pleasures” is the same term as in verse one. . A suitable verse for this study is 3 John 2. You do not have because you do not ask God. However, it is possible to choose one verse as an example and to examine both the prosperity gospel and orthodox interpretations of the text. The first, that God does not answer prayer for “pleasure.” I am afraid you completely missed the point of this verse. This video is a part of the Spirit and Life Bible Study series, whose purpose is to look at the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible, through a Swedenborgian lens. You do not possess because you do not ask. The prosperity gospel is built upon a faulty understanding of the Abrahamic covenant. Please feel free to share evidence of God healing people. The term translated “prosperity” is a form of the Greek word eujodovw. The thesis of this paper is that the prosperity gospel is constructed upon a faulty theology. As James saw it here, their covetousness was idolatry (Colossians 3:5) and friendship with the world. I found what you have said to be informative and quite accurate. Believe me, growing up in the projects where I would wake up to someone splitting dime bags in the kitchen while I’m trying to get me a bowl of Mr. T cereal was normal for me. God gave people the right to make bad choices and even sin because they are free moral agents. 8:9. If you are ever in Puerto Rico, I’d gladly show you around the island. In fact, Paul was actually teaching the exact opposite principle. … Second, one is wise to note the meaning of the word “prosperity” as it occurs in this verse. James 4:2 AMPC. It appears that the heavens are silent.” The problem lies within us. This Abrahamic inheritance is unpacked primarily in terms of material entitlements.” In other words, according to the prosperity gospel, the primary purpose of the Abrahamic covenant was for God to bless Abraham materially. 1 a James, a servant 1 of God and b of the Lord Jesus Christ, To c the twelve tribes in d the Dispersion: Greetings. God bless everyone. God honors prayer motivated by His purposes.Â, Mt 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”, Thank you so much for this commentary! James 4:3, KJV: "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." Hope to hear from someone. Fighting is the active carrying on of war. May God richly use you in your ministry. I might not be far from where I started, but I’m closer to where I want to be. I will recommend your site to them! James wrote to help them. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. Carlos, I am impressed that you have made of your life what you did. Calvin's Dedication. ... (James 4:2). However, many of us do not ascribe to God the direct cause of our problems. Required fields are marked *, Notify me of followup comments via e-mail, Designed by Elegant Themes You do not have because you do not ask God. You see, He told Noe ( I think you call him Noah in English, sorry, I read it in Spanish) to build the ark, He didn’t build it for Noe. So, these Christians no longer had the day-to-day contact with theirleaders. 2. You see, I expect nothing, and I’m now self made. A second cracked pillar upon which prosperity theology stands is that of a faulty view of the Atonement. Is it not from your pleasures - Your desires of earthly pleasures. 3:14, prosperity teachers ignore the second half of the verse, which reads, “That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” In this verse Paul clearly was reminding the Galatians of the spiritual blessing of salvation, not the material blessing of wealth. Due, in part, to the rise of several ungodly philosophies and movements, a new gospel is being taught today. 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3. Print. This gospel has been ascribed many names, such as the “name it and claim it” gospel, the “blab it and grab it” gospel, the “health and wealth” gospel, the “word of faith” movement, the “gospel of success,” the “prosperity gospel,” and “positive confession theology.” This kind of prayer disgraces God. I expect to a make treasures in Heaven, not here on earth. His parents had to hide in Egypt for a while. The Theology of the Prosperity Gospel These areas are the Abrahamic covenant, the Atonement, giving, and faith. It is from the root of hedonism, the philosophy of pleasure. If it feels good, do it.Â, God answers prayer when we pray legitimately.Â, There is a legitimate ask and a non-legitimate ask. *. Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles by John Calvin, 1509-1564. Contextually, it is clear that Paul was teaching the Corinthians that since Christ accomplished so much for them through the Atonement, then how much more ought they empty themselves of their riches in service of the Savior. However, we come to the Father as finite beings asking something from the infinite One.Â. Me of followup comments via e-mail, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress,. You be abused, and love of this verse is anti-Christian faith which makes the laws of the.! 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