Lookahead: Nevertheless, the video clearly confirmed that it wasn’t God Who was dissatisfied that religious people weren’t dying in order to convert more sinners.  It confirmed that the Celtic people were dissatisfied.  So where did this evangelism = martyrdom viewpoint come from?  Toward the end of the video, one guest commented that the lifestyle of these happy religious hermits was patterned after the Apostle John, who hungrily sought to get close enough to Jesus to hear His heartbeat–and himself wound up exiled and isolated…and living on an island.  It further occurred to me that John was the only apostle who was not martyred, probably dying of old age in Ephesus.  All the other apostles had been martyred while spreading the Good News that Jesus had died for our sins.  So perhaps there was a general understanding that anyone who went into the ministry needed a “God wants the ultimate sacrifice from me” mentality.  And that mentality could have been woven into the Church’s doctrinal fabric over the centuries.  

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.  James 1:12,13 NLT

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. James 1:12: While I was researching the diff between testing and temptation, I came to the sudden realization that this NLT translation was the only one (out of 30-ish) that had two words here.  The others used a single word in this verse, either “testing” or “temptation.”  Or they used the ever endearing “trials” word instead (Unpacking #2 and #3 Posts).  

Side Note:  Can’t resist the opportunity to reiterate that I do not believe that James 1:2, the famous “joy in trials” verse, is implying that we need to patiently endure punishment which God heaps on us to teach us cosmic lessons.  

I came across a really interesting video last week about the Celtic revival that occurred in ~400 A.D.  The narrator/producer made the statement that as the revival fires grew, it became apparent that hordes of people were getting saved…with no bloodshed!  The Celtic populace was dissatisfied that the Church was not risking life and limb to spread the Good News.  This had occurred on the heels of the Church enduring considerable persecution, torture, and murder by the Romans for decades.  But now Rome had entered its Dark Age. The Celtic revival was happening on a series of islands that were physically and spiritually isolated from the rest of the world and relatively unscathed by Rome’s final decline.  Celtic hermits and monks, who were wandering around in the woods alone communing with God every day, were super magnets for spiritual seekers in the general populace.  The former overwhelmed the latter with the Love of Jesus and demonstrated many signs and wonders through His Power.  The people were converting in droves with little resistance…and no backlash of persecution/violence.  Regardless, to satisfy the populace, the Celtic Church expanded the definition of martyr: Religious who had given up home and family and worldly goods, to live set-apart lives in uninterrupted pursuit of God, were now considered martyrs also.  

Nevertheless, the video clearly confirmed that it wasn’t God Who was dissatisfied that religious people weren’t dying in order to convert more sinners.  It confirmed that the Celtic people were dissatisfied.  So where did this evangelism = martyrdom viewpoint come from?  Toward the end of the video, one guest commented that the lifestyle of these happy religious hermits was patterned after the Apostle John, who hungrily sought to get close enough to Jesus to hear His heartbeat–and himself wound up exiled and isolated…and living on an island.  It further occurred to me that John was the only apostle who was not martyred, probably dying of old age in Ephesus.  All the other apostles had been martyred while spreading the Good News that Jesus had died for our sins.  So perhaps there was a general understanding that anyone who went into the ministry needed a “God wants the ultimate sacrifice from me” mentality.  And that mentality could have been woven into the Church’s doctrinal fabric over the centuries.  

Back on course, I believe that the context of James 1:12 is clearly defined in the subsequent verses because James proceeds to talk about temptation:  God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

And now another phrase that seemed confusing to me:  Temptation comes from our own desires. 

So does this mean that we are actually tempting ourselves….in contrast to my belief that temptation comes from the enemy of our souls or his agents? Is it moreso like Eden where the enemy dangled the forbidden fruit under Eve’s nose, and the evil desire arose in her?  The Greek includes an expression that implies the setting up of a trap….therefore, is it our lust or desire for the bait that causes us to sin?  (The Aramaic is big on the term lust instead of desire. To me “lust” incorporates the key aspect of coveting.  That is, a person is going after something that doesn’t belong to them or is intended for someone else.)  

ἕκαστος δὲ πειράζεται ὑπὸ τῆς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας ἐξελκόμενος καὶ δελεαζόμενος  = A man is tempted by the own lust being drawn (dragged) away and enticed (by bait). (Note:  per Unpacking #5, no punctuation in the ancient Greek manuscripts.) 

Per Bible Hub, δελεάζω (from delear, “bait”) – properly, to bait a hook or set a trap with bait; (figuratively) entice a victim into a moral trap, luring them in through their own selfish impulses.

That last phrase basically explains it.  It’s a set up.  Someone puts the cheese in the mouse trap with evil intent for the mouse.  The mouse really should avoid that cheese with everything he’s worth, but he starts lusting after its wafty aroma and appearance.  It’s the lust that draws him in for the death blow.  However, the lust wasn’t the tempter.  The grossed out homeowner, who set the trap with an object of the mouse’s affection, was the tempter.   The verse says that God cannot tempt man–hence in this context, we’re talking external stimulus, not an inward impetus.  Sounds like the enemy of our souls to me.  

Blessed is the man who endureth trials for after…he shall receive the crown of life which He has promised to those loving (agapē’ing) Him.  KJV  Agapē is the God-kind of love that is “poured into our hearts.” Romans 5:5 We get this agapē when we accept Jesus as LORD.  Therefore, James 1:12 is probably intended for believers.   

He will receive the crown of life.  I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I had a problem with teachings that extrapolated earth-based hierarchical systems to heaven–and subsequently prioritized according to religious works we do on earth.  So in heaven, the ones who have led holy, sanctified lives are set over the greasy grace folks (e.g., people who barely slide in to home-base-safe! in deathbed conversions).  I even heard one teaching that said that those who just squeaked into heaven had to sit in the nosebleed section or the overflow room–and they never had a chance to see Jesus up close.  Also, I’ve heard teachings that they’ll know our sanctification level by the number of crowns we will have on our heads.  Hence, if you accomplish major things for the Kingdom on earth, you’ll be walking around with a stack of crowns on your head.  Initially, I actually had some trepidation about never being eligible to win a crown.  James 1:12 helped me to dismiss that hogwash. 

According to Bible Hub HELPS Word-studies, the Greek word for crown is stephanos στέφανος; “properly, a wreath (garland), awarded to a victor in the ancient athletic games (like the Greek Olympics); the crown of victory (versus diádēma, “a royal crown”).  OK, so we might be walking around with a little or lot of vegetation on our heads, but I doubt it.  My theory, heaven isn’t going to be about us at all–or anything we’ve done–or yet to do.  Heaven will be one big corporate face-plant as we behold the infinite Glory of God.  

As I said, James 1:12 set me free from my initial trepidation.  James implied that, theoretically, if I could just say no to one temptation one time, I would earn a crown.  Not only that, I later learned that we get a crown just for loving and accepting Jesus as LORD:  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.  2 Timothy 4:8

ἠγαπηκόσι τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ — Loving the appearing (appearing, manifestation, glorious display) of Him.  

Easy peasy lemon squeezy!!  While I was undergoing that initial learning experience, I eventually found myself steeped in the 90’s Revival Meetings. Since that time, I have never ceased to crave a manifestation of His presence.  

Furthermore, these verses imply that we will receive minimum two crown types–one of righteousness and one of life.  “A crown of righteousness” seems self-explanatory–and you can bet your bottom dollar it’s His Righteousness, not ours.  But I wasn’t sure about the “crown of life” or crown of ζωή zōḗ.  I believe that the biblical references underscore my belief that this latter crown is awarded when you believe in, and, therefore, fall in love with Jesus.  In the Book of John, Jesus had a lot to say about life.  The word zōḗ was used 32X in the Gospel of John (three times the number in each of the other gospels).  

So we have life…and then we have its antithesis, death…one would think.  However, the Gospel of John includes a particularly interesting verse that does not use death as the antithesis of life:  

All that are in the graves shall hear His voice…And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.  John 5:28,29 KJV  Other translations call it a resurrection of judgment.  In an earlier verse, Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24

In the various translations, other expressions for “judged” include condemned, given a sentence, and subject to God’s wrath. We will all be judged one day, but I believe that this judgment in John 5 refers to a guilty conviction that will be handed down to those whose names are not written in the Book of Life (i.e., those who have denied Jesus and/or hate Him).  Those who have accepted/embraced Jesus as LORD will be declared “Not Guilty!!” and will receive ζωή zōḗ—the Good Life…and it’s possible that those who have loved Jesus (and longed to see Him) will then receive the James 1:12 crown.