James 1:17-18. Please assist in understanding these verses.

[leecappella]

I am studying the book of James. I am having some difficulty in understanding verses 17 and 18 in the first chapter. Any input would be greatly appreciated. I like to read the text, define the words with my strong's concordance and pray on it and think about it throughout my day or sleep on it. In addition, your replies will assist. Thanks.

 

[ZiSunka]

17 Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. 18 He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.


What is confusing to you?

 

[Benedicta00]

16
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers:
17
all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.

To those who are born again, that all gifts and goodness comes from God but not sin and temptation, they come from the flesh and the enemy and God can not change or deceive us.

18
He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

This refers to baptism, being born again. It was his will to save us and those who are born again are his adoptive children.

 

[leecappella]

17 Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. 18 He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures. What is confusing to you?

me: I use the king james. Your bible quote was not the king james, therefore, no confusion in understanding your version

 

[leecappella]

I will have to post the definitive meanings of words like 'firstfruits' in order to convey my misunderstanding. The term, I believe, refers to beginning sacrifice or some sacrifice of some sort. I will post soon.........And I am back. My question is more in regards to verse 18 and the term 'firstfruits. Here is strong's concordance's defintion of the term:

firstfruits - a beginning of sacrifice;the (jewish) first fruits (figuratively).

With that in mind, can someone assist me in understanding verse 18? Thanks.

 

[Andrew]

Strong's explains firstfruits as:

1) to offer firstlings or firstfruits
2) to take away the firstfruits of the productions of the earth which was offered to God. The first portion of the dough, from which sacred loaves were to be prepared. Hence term used of persons consecrated to God for all time.
3) persons superior in excellence to others of the same class

Jesus is our firstfruits in that He went ahead of us. He was the first to be resurrected from the dead under the New Covenant. He being our elder brother and head of the church. Those who are dead in Christ now will be resurrected too at the rapture/resurrection to come. But their turn comes after Christ.

1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Believers are also called "a kind of" firstfruits in that we are the first creatures on earth to be born again and made new creations unto God.

Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

In terms of farming, harvesting, firstfruits are like the first collections given unto God. Or the best portions given unto God.

That's the jist of it. Hope it helped.

 

[ZiSunka]

me: I use the king james. Your bible quote was not the king james, therefore, no confusion in understanding your version

I love the King James and I use it as my prime text when I study,but I always have other Bibles sitting on the desk with me, because I find KJV so hard to understand.

 

[WesleyJohn]

Andrew...excellent explanation of 'firstfruits.'

Basically, the firstfruits festival was a feast whereby the Israelites would bring the very first of their harvest to give to God. This was an act of faith and dependance, recognizing that even though they could have a drought (and no harvest), God would supply their needs. It was an acknowledgement that God had supplied the firstfruits, and so they would give them back to Him.

One could say that Joshua not allowing the people to rebuild Jericho after its destruction was a sort of 'firstfruits' celebration. They had just arrived in the Promised Land, and this was the first city they took...but did they rebuild its walls to live there? No...they devoted it to God.

As the redeemed, we are the first of the creation to be offered back to Him...in acknowledgement that all people really belong to Him (whether they acknowledge it or not).

Peace,

WJ

 

[leecappella]

Thanks to all!

 

[TOTALCATHOLIC]

18: Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
19: Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,
20: for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.
21: Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22: But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James is referring here to the Jewish feast of First Fruits. It was part of the celebration of Unleavened Bread. At the feast of First Fruits a grain offering was made to the Lord. The first gleanings of the harvest where to be dedicated to God. James by way of analogy here is telling us that we are the “first fruits” in the harvest of the Lord. Therefore it is being dedicated to God we must live up to our special position. Hope that helps.

PAX CHRISTI

TC