Texts in Conversation
James quotes Proverbs 3:34 and its contrast between the arrogant and the humble. Both describe God resisting the proud and showing kindness to the humble, presenting humility as the way to receive grace.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
LXX Proverbs 3:34
Septuagint
32 For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous. 33 The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed. 34 The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted their own dishonor.
Date: 100–1 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
James 4:6
New Testament
4 Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy. 5 Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning”? 6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.” 7 So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.
Date: 80–90 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... There are several nagging ambiguities behind the NRSV's "God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us." Some — and I would include myself in this group — interpret the verse in a significantly different sense, so I offer three translations that illustrate the complexity and connectedness of the issues and problems ... The answer to this problem awaits the investigation of the various terms in the verse, but we indicate now that we prefer the first option above: Proverbs 3:34 is in fact the only text cited and the word 'Scripture' leads us to look for a specific citation ..."
Scot McKnight, The Letter of James (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2011), 336–337.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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