On Thu, 31 May 2001 02:48:00 -0400 "Stephen C. Carlson" writes: > >> Thus, James 1:12-14 would mean something like: > >> > >> 12 Blessed is the man who withstands testing, because > >> he has become worthy to receive the crown of like that > >> was promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one > >> who is being tested say, "I am being tested without > >> God, since God is not to be tested by bad things, > >> and he himself tests no one." 14 But each is tested > >> by their own desires, being lured and enticed. > > > >You should not have stopped at verse 14. This section continues > >through to verse 15 which indicates that the end result of such > >PEIRASMOS, if carried out, is sin and death. But, the intended > >end of testing is faithfulness, not sin and death. > > I disagree. In v 15, sin and death are the natural result of > lust/desire:"then, when desire is conceived, it gives birth > to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to > death." (NRSV) Thus, lust does two things: it tests people > (especially the rich) in verse 14, and in verse 15 it normally > leads to sin and death (if one flunks the test). The benefits > of testing come through perseverence (verse 12). There is an inescapable connection between v. 14 and v. 15, the former necessarily issuing in the latter. That is, each is PEIRAZETAI when he carried away and enticed by his own lust. Verse 15 picks up with this and concludes then (EITA) when lust has conceived (apparently when one is carried away and enticed), it gives birth to sin. These verses do not envision lust doing "two things," but one, that is, giving birth to sin which brings forth death. The only alternative to this would be someone not being carried away and enticed by his desire/lust, but then it wouldn't fall under the PEIRAZETAI of v. 14. It seems unavoidable that PEIRAZETAI can denote temptation to sin, as well as a testing for good. Thanks for the interaction. Paul Dixon --- B-Greek home page: http://metalab.unc.edu/bgreek You are currently subscribed to b-greek as: [jwrobie@mindspring.com] To unsubscribe, forward this message to leave-b-greek-327Q@franklin.oit.unc.edu To subscribe, send a message to subscribe-b-greek@franklin.oit.unc.edu