YAC 1:18 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:12–18: God does not tempt people to do evil

This section has an opening verse (1:12)Some commentators connect 1:12 to 1:2–11 (Hiebert, for example). Others see 1:12 as a kind of “hinge” that connects 1:2–11 to 1:12–18 (Moo (2000), pages 71–72; McCartney, page 100). They recognize that 1:2–3 and 1:12 form an inclusio, or verbal bracket to 1:2–12 through the repetition in both of three key words: trials (πειρασμοῖς/πειρασμόν), testing (δοκίμιον/δόκιμος), and endurance (ὑπομονήν/ὑπομένει). and two main paragraphs (1:13–15 and 1:16–18). In 1:12 James recalled 1:2–3 and that it was important to persevere in times of trial and temptation. The next paragraph, 1:13–15, points out that it is not God who tempts us but our own sinful desires, which eventually lead to death. Paragraph 1:16–18 reinforces this by saying that God gives only good gifts.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Christians should endure testing and temptations

Trials and temptations

Paragraph 1:16–18

This paragraph gives more reasons that show why it is not God who tries to make people do evil. Everything good comes from God, and he never changes. So it is unthinkable that any bad thing could come from him. God wants to give us new life.

1:18

In 1:18, James wrote about the particular gift that was foremost in his mind when he said, “Every good gift…comes from above” (1:17). This good gift is that God “chose to give us birth through the word of truth.”

1:18a

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth,

He chose to give us^(incl) new life by means of the true message,
He decided to give us^(incl) eternal life when we believed in the gospel.
He chose/decided to send his true message and make us^(incl) his children.

He chose to give us birth: This phrase indicates that God planned and decided to give us birth. He did not choose and desire to cause people to sin (see 1:13).

give us birth: There are two ways to interpret the phrase give…birth:

It refers to the new birth that happens when people become followers of Christ.Huther, page 74; Alford, page 283; Mayor, page 59; Ropes, page 166; Mitton, pages 56–57; Hiebert, pages 116–117; Adamson (1976), pages 76–77; Davids (1982), pages 89–90; Moo (1985), pages 76–77; Martin, pages 39–41. For example, the CEV says:
give us new birth (NLT96, CEV, JBP)
It refers to the creation of mankind.In particular, see F. J. A. Hort. For example, the GNT says:
he brought us into being (GNT)

Childbirth is used in the NT as a metaphor for new birth in Christ (1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9), but never for creation. Also the phrase “word of truth” normally refers to the gospel (see the following note on “through the word of truth”). For these reasons, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

In some languages, the metaphor of childbirth (“he gave birth to us”) may be misunderstood. If this is the case in your language, it may be better to say:

he gave us new life

us: James was probably referring to all Christians. See the note on “firstfruits” at the end of this verse.

through the word of truth: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as through the word of truth here means “through the true message.” In the NT this phrase commonly refers to the gospel concerning Jesus Christ. Belief in the gospel is the way that God chose to give us new birth.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

by means of the word of truth

when we believed the true message

because we believed that his word is true

See the General Comment on 1:18a below for other ways to translate this phrase.

word: The Greek word that the BSB translates as word means “a message.” It is what someone has said.

General Comment on 1:18a

In some languages, it is more natural to put “through the word of truth” before “He chose to give us birth.” For example:

The word of truth is the way that he chose to give us birth.

He used/took the word of truth and chose to give us new birth.

We believe the word of truth saying, “He chose to give us birth.”

1:18b

that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.

so that we^(incl) might be the most important part of everything he created just like the first part/grains of the harvest are the most important part.
He did this in order that we^(incl) believers might be the most important part of everything he created.

that: The Greek word that the BSB translates as that introduces God’s purpose in giving people new birth. God gave us new birth (1:18a) so that we might be a kind of firstfruits (1:18b).

Some other ways to translate this word are:

in order that

for the purpose of

In some languages, it may be natural to start a new sentence here. For example:

He did this so that…

we would be a kind of firstfruits: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as a kind of firstfruits is a simile. In this simile, Christians are compared to firstfruits. The word firstfruits refers to the first grains and fruits of the harvest. It also refers to the first-born child and animal. God had asked his people to give their firstfruits to him.

Some ways that Christians and firstfruits are similar are:

Both are first in time, in contrast to others that will come later. For example:
that we might be…the first specimens of his new creation (JBP)
Both are offered to God and so belong to him. As a result, both are more important than other parts of God’s creation. For example:
so that we should have first place among all his creatures (GNT)
to make us his most important creatures (GW)

Some ways to translate this simile are:

Make explicit the way that Christians and firstfruits are similar. For example:
that we believers should be the first to come to him just like the firstfruits of the harvest
that we believers should be the most important of all his creation just like the firstfruits of the harvest
Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
to be his own special people (CEV)
Translate the simile literally. For example:
so that we would be like the first fruit/grains of the harvest If you translate the simile literally, you may want to add a footnote. In the footnote you can explain more fully what firstfruits were and what was being compared in this simile. For example:
The word “firstfruits” refers to the first grains/fruits of the crops that ripen or the firstborn child or animal. God asked the Israelites to give these things to him. Here James compares us Christians to the firstfruits. We are similar in that we are the most important part. We are also the first.

of His creation: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as of His creation is literally “of his creatures” (as in the RSV). This phrase refers to everything that God created. It does not refer just to living things.

Some ways to translate this phrase are:

of all the things that he created

from among everything he made

uW Translation Notes:

βουληθεὶς, ἀπεκύησεν ἡμᾶς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Βουληθείς ἀπεκύησεν ἡμάς λόγῳ ἀληθείας εἰς τό εἶναι ἡμάς ἀπαρχήν τινά τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων)

Alternate translation: [God chose to give birth to us]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

βουληθεὶς, ἀπεκύησεν ἡμᾶς

James says that God gave birth to us because God gives spiritual life to everyone who believes in Jesus. Alternate translation: [God chose to give us spiritual life]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμᾶς & ἡμᾶς

Here and throughout this letter, James uses the pronoun us to refer to himself and his readers. Sometimes by extension he also means all believers or all people. In every case, therefore, the pronoun us is inclusive, so use the inclusive form if your language makes that distinction. The same applies to the pronoun “our.” However, in some cases the pronoun “we” is exclusive. Notes will identify those places. Everywhere else, the pronoun “we” is inclusive.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

λόγῳ ἀληθείας

˱by˲_˓the˒_word ˱of˲_truth

James is using the possessive form to describe a word that is characterized by truth. Alternate translation: [by the true word]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

λόγῳ ἀληθείας

˱by˲_˓the˒_word ˱of˲_truth

James is using term word to describe the message about Jesus that was conveyed by using words. Alternate translation: [by the true message]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

λόγῳ ἀληθείας

˱by˲_˓the˒_word ˱of˲_truth

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the abstract noun truth by translating the idea behind it with an equivalent expression that uses an adjective such as “true.” Alternate translation: [when we believed the true message]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

λόγῳ ἀληθείας

˱by˲_˓the˒_word ˱of˲_truth

James is referring implicitly to the message about Jesus. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: [when we believed the true message about Jesus]

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

εἰς τὸ εἶναι ἡμᾶς ἀπαρχήν τινα τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων

in_order (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Βουληθείς ἀπεκύησεν ἡμάς λόγῳ ἀληθείας εἰς τό εἶναι ἡμάς ἀπαρχήν τινά τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων)

This is a purpose clause. James is stating the purpose for which God desired to give us birth. In your translation, follow the conventions of your language for purpose clauses. Alternate translation (without a comma preceding): [so that we would be like a firstfruits of his creatures]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀπαρχήν τινα τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων

first-fruit (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Βουληθείς ἀπεκύησεν ἡμάς λόγῳ ἀληθείας εἰς τό εἶναι ἡμάς ἀπαρχήν τινά τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων)

James is assuming that his readers will know that he is using the traditional Israelite offering known as firstfruits as a simile. The law of Moses required the Israelites to offer to God some of the first crops they harvested each year. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state specifically that this is the name of an offering. Alternate translation: [something like an offering of firstfruits from among his creatures]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

ἀπαρχήν τινα τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων

When they offered some of their first crops to God each year, the Israelites were acknowledging that the entire crop belonged to God and was a gift from God to them. James is using this firstfruits offering as a simile to indicate that the believers of his time are an indication that there will be many more people who will belong to God in the future. In fact, since James speaks of creatures, he may even mean that believers in Jesus are the first part of God’s creation to be freed from the curse and come back fully under his rule. Alternate translation: [the first of many people who would believe in Jesus] or [the first of God’s creatures to be freed from the curse and come back fully under his rule]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear YAC (JAM) 1:18

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 1:12–18: God does not tempt people to do evil

Paragraph 1:16–18

1:18

1:18a

General Comment on 1:18a

1:18b

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)