Henry Krabbendam - James - World Evangelical Alliance

community. These members obviously flunk the test. “In cringing servility”
(Dibelius, 139) they are partial to their rich visitors, while they humiliate the
poor. In a passing strange manner they injure potential friends and honor potential
executioners (Tasker, 59). Still, at this juncture there is a subtle shift,
indicated by the direct address, “you.” While not all the rich folk are oppressors,
all oppressors in this setting are clearly rich. These rich oppressors are
now highlighted. 227 Their “credentials” are far from harmless!
(2) Listen to James, as he further categorizes the rich. 228 He appears passionate,
if not outraged (Johnson, 226, 229). They instigate legal proceedings
against you! At the drop of a hat they drag you into court for breach of contract,
failure to repay debts, or other reasons, and use the strong arm of the
law to realize their objectives (Is. 58:4; Mt. 10:17; Acts 16:19; 19:27). Of
course, it would be totally in character, if these charges were either alleged or
trumped up.
(3) Finally, to top it all off, they give the noble name of Jesus a bad
press. They use abusive, if not foul, language (literally, blasphemy). They
slander and insult him (Lev. 24:13; Ps. 139:20-22; Is. 52:5; Rom. 2:24; 1
Tim. 6:1; 1 Pet. 4:14; Rev. 13:6; 16:9), something, that seems to have been
typically Jewish (So Grosheide, 1955, 373, with reference to Acts 13:45;
18:6; 26:11). This must touch your heart’s strings! After all, he is the one who
entered in a special relationship with you (Am. 9:12), in fact, who owns you
(Deut. 12:11). Are you not baptized in his name (Acts 2:38; 10:48; 19:5), and
don’t you bear that name (Deut. 28:10; Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:14, 16)?
So to rail against someone’s “property,” against someone, who is covered by
the name of Christ (Deut. 28:10; 2 Chron. 7:14; Am. 9:12) (a Christian), is
ultimately to rail against the “owner” (Christ) (See also Mt. 25:31-42). This
blasphemous railing may be done directly by verbally mocking, ridiculing,
belittling, scorning, misrepresenting or even cursing Christ himself (See also
Moo, 1985, 93). Or it may also be done indirectly by heaping the same or
similar insults upon the Christians by virtue of their identification with Christ
(Acts 26:11; 1 Tim. 1:13)! This would indicate that their shameful treatment
227 To be sure, the rich in this context, in their role of oppressors, obviously include non-
Christians, even if in certain instances, according to Johnson, 229, they were formally members
of the Christian community (See also Nystrom, 119).
228 Brosend, 65-66, gives a vivid picture of the socio-economic world of James’ days (I paraphrase).
Socially, it resembled a hierarchical pyramid where luxury at the top was only available
through the deprivation of those at the bottom. Economically, it was a zero-sum society
where the GNP “pie” never expanded and the rich could only have their “seconds,” and more
(!), by taking them from the poor. All this spelled force, force of arms, force of law and force
of taxation. Add to this the precariousness of a society, where one’s daily bread was never
secure, and it becomes rather evident why the situation was ripe for animosity, hostility and
revolt.
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