James 1:12 talks about being approved. What exactly does that mean? To answer that we have to uncover what the word meant to the author and the way we do that is to look at the way the Greek word he used is used by this author and all the other writings of that period that we have access to. There is seldom a one-to-one correspondence between words in any two languages. Words may overlap in meaning and thus can be translated between languages, but the meanings are never totally coincident because people in different cultures think and express themselves differently. You can easily see this in the following word study. Try to think what a first century Greek speaking person has in their minds when they use the word we are examining.
The bold words are basically the same Greek word. By examining the various ways it is translated into English you can deduce something of the the meaning it had in first century culture.
Noun Form
Romans 14:18 (NASB95) For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Romans 16:10 (NASB95) Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.
1 Corinthians 11:19 (NASB95) For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.
2 Corinthians 10:18 (NASB95) For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.
2 Corinthians 13:7 (NASB95) Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB95) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
James 1:12 (NASB95) Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Verb Form
James 1:12 (NASB95) Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Luke 12:56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but …
…but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
Luke 14:19 …five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’
Rom 1:28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them …
Rom 2:18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed …
Rom 12:2 …of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what …
Rom 14:22 …to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.
1 Cor 3:13 …be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has …
1 Cor 11:28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the …
1 Cor 16:3 …I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to …
2 Cor 8:8 …say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your …
2 Cor 8:22 …are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but …
2 Cor 13:5 …to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this …
Gal 6:4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason …
Eph 5:10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
Phil 1:10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure …
1 Thess 2:4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the …
…to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
1 Thess 5:21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.
1 Tim 3:10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons …
1 Pet 1:7 …precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire— may be found to result …
1 John 4:1 … Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are
Great post Jim.
ReplyDeleteIn essence, based on the usage it suggests "approved" is in the context of passing a test.
In our culture the word test is often associated with a grade, with concepts of passing and failing and often with the connotation of the test being about knowledge or giving right answers. In fact this knowledge is many times forgotten after being "tested".
ReplyDeleteThis word is a tad more connected with examining or testing through experience or real circumstances. I prefer the connotation of our word "proving" more than testing. In the literature of the first century the word had to do with proving a person or thing to be reliable, trustworthy - or not.