James 1:21

James 1:21

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

a. NLT: So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

b. NIV: Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

c. YLT: wherefore having put aside all filthiness and superabundance of evil, in meekness be receiving the engrafted word, that is able to save your souls;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive andwelcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.

e. Worrell Translation: Wherefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive in meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

1. “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness…”

a. Wherefore [1352 * dio] [Strong: from 1223 and 3739; through which thing, i.e. consequently:--for which cause, therefore, wherefore.]

b. lay apart [659 * apotithemi] [Strong: from 575 and 5087; to put away (literally or figuratively):--cast off, lay apart (aside, down), put away (off).]

1). Uses of same Greek word.

a). Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

b). Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

c). Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

d). Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

e). Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

f). 1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

c. all [3956 * pas] [Strong: including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

d. filthiness [4507 * rhuparia] [Zodhiates: Filth, filthiness, figuratively in a moral sense.] [Strong: from 4508; dirtiness (morally):--turpitude.]

e. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

f. superfluity [4050 *  perisseia] [Strong: from 4052; surplusage, i.e. superabundance:--abundance(-ant, (-ly)), superfluity.]

g. of naughtiness [2549 * kakia] [Strong: from 2556; badness, i.e. (subjectively) depravity, or (actively) malignity, or (passively) trouble:--evil, malice(-iousness), naughtiness, wickedness.]

2. “…and receive with meekness the engrafted word…”

a. and receive [1209 * dechomai] [Strong: middle voice of a primary verb; to receive (in various applications, literally or figuratively):--accept, receive, take.]

b. with [1722 * en] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

c. meekness [4240 * prautes] [Strong: from 4239; mildness, i.e. (by implication) humility:--meekness.] [Vines: “Meekness is that temper of spirit in which we accept his dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting.”]

d. the engrafted [1721 * emphutos] [Strong: from 1722 and a derivative of 5453; implanted (figuratively):--engrafted.]

e. word [3056 * logos] [Strong: from 3004; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):--account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.]

3. “…which is able to save your souls.”

a. which [3588 * ho; including the feminine he; and the neuter to] [Strong: in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

b. is able [1410 * dunamai] [Strong:  of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible:--be able, can (do, + -not), could, may, might, be possible, be of power.]

c. to save [4982 * sozo] [Zodhiates: to save, deliver, make whole, preserve safe from danger, loss, destruction…Sozo occurs fifty-four times in the Gospels [fifty-six in the KJV]. Of the instances where sozo is used, fourteen relate to deliverance from disease or demon possession; in twenty instances, the inference is to the rescue of physical life from some impending peril or instant death; the remaining twenty times, the reference is to spiritual salvation.]

1). In order to get a clearer revelation of what the Scriptures say concerning “saved” i.e., sozo I will list some of the verses that are the most enlightening.

a). Matthew 9:22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole [sozo].  And the woman was made whole [sozo] from that hour.

b). Mark 10:52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole [sozo]. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

2). In Luke chapter eight the word sozo is used three different times for three different maladies. Deliverance from devils, physical healing, and being raised from the dead.

a). Luke 8:36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed [sozo].

b). Luke 8:48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole [sozo]; go in peace.

c). Luke 8:49, 50, 54, 55 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

8:50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole [sozo].

8:54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

8:55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

3). Notice the English “healed” is used but the Greek word “sozo” is in the text.

a). Acts 14:8-10 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed [sozo],

14:10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

4). C. I. Scofield Notes under Romans 1:16 Salvation: “The Hebrew and Greek words for salvation imply the ideas of deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, and soundness. Salvation is the great inclusive word of the Gospel, gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes: as justification, redemption, grace, propitiation, imputation, forgiveness, sanctification, and glorification.”

a). Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

5). Likewise James is using the inclusive word of “sozo” to include the deliverance and restoration of our mind, our thought life, our will, our personalities from the strong holds and hang ups and wrong thinking habits we picked up during the years we were lost.

a). Palm 19:7 “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul…”

(1) In the margin it has “restore”.

b). Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

c). 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;

10:5 Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

6). The word of God has the ability to save our souls, renew and restore our minds because it is the power of God [Romans 1:16].

d. your [5216 * humon * genitive case of 5210; of (from or concerning) you:--ye, you, your (own, -selves).]

e. souls [5590 * psuche] [Strong: from 5594; breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from 4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from 2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew 5315, 7307 and 2416):--heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.]

1). Man is a three part being, spirit, soul, and body. We are spirit, we have a soul, and we live in a body.

a). 1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

b). The soul is dimension of man which deals in the mental, man’s intellect, the will and personality, our emotions, the part that reasons and thinks.