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JAMES 2:24 - Chafer Theological Seminary

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<strong>JAMES</strong> 2:<strong>24</strong>: RETRANSLATION REQUIRED<br />

Part 2 of 2<br />

By John Niemelä<br />

A Continuation<br />

The first part of this article argued for a new translation of<br />

monon in James 2:<strong>24</strong>: You see then that a man is justified by<br />

works, and not only by faith. 1 Many fail to distinguish adjectival<br />

versus adverbial uses of monon. However, the contextual<br />

relationship of James 2:21 to 2:<strong>24</strong> and the seeming soteriological<br />

conflict between Paul and James make it essential. This second<br />

part of the article has three facets:<br />

1. a general discussion of adverbs and adjectives,<br />

2. lexical study, and<br />

3. a New Testament word study of monon.<br />

Adverbs versus Adjectives<br />

Adjectives usually modify nouns or pronouns, while adverbs<br />

do so for verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Usually Greek, Latin,<br />

German, and English adjectives have different endings than<br />

adverbs. Furthermore, Greek, Latin, and (usually) German<br />

adjectives show their case, number, and gender, but English does<br />

not. Unlike adverbs, the textual form of an adjective may differ<br />

from the vocabulary form.<br />

A few words have both adjectival and adverbial functions.<br />

This applies to the accusative-neuter-singular monon in Greek<br />

(tantum in Latin). It also applies to the English only and the<br />

German allein. Not only the Greek original, but also Latin,<br />

German, and English, render James 2:<strong>24</strong> with a word that can<br />

either be an adjective or an adverb. The Greek and Latin texts<br />

1 John Niemelä, “James 2:<strong>24</strong>: Retranslation Required: Part 1,” CTS Journal 7<br />

(January–March 2001): 13–<strong>24</strong>. This is the author’s translation of James 2:<strong>24</strong><br />

given in part one. Unless otherwise indicated all scripture citations are from the<br />

New King James Version of the Holy Bible (Nashville: Nelson, 1990, 1985,<br />

1983).


James 2:<strong>24</strong>: Retranslation Required 3<br />

clearly convey that the word has an adverbial sense here.<br />

Unfortunately, the English and German treat it as an adjective.<br />

Greek Monon and Latin Tantus<br />

Each form in the following paradigm has adjectival uses.<br />

Only the neuter-accusative-singular can be an adverb. Two purelyadjectival<br />

parsings (the masculine-accusative-singular and the<br />

neuter-nominative-singular) share this form. If the sentence lacks a<br />

substantive that can agree with monon, it is adverbial. If it contains<br />

such a substantive, juxtaposing monon and the substantive makes it<br />

adjectival.<br />

Paradigm for the Greek Adjective<br />

Masculine Feminine Neuter<br />

Sing. Plu. Sing. Plu. Sing. Plu.<br />

Nom. monos monoi monh monai monon<br />

mona<br />

Gen. monou monwn monhs monwn monou monwn<br />

Dat. monw monois monh monais monw monois<br />

Acc.<br />

monon monous monhn monas monon<br />

mona<br />

Latin resembles Greek here. The accusative-neuter-singular,<br />

tantum, can be adjectival or adverbial.<br />

Paradigm for Adjectives in Latin<br />

Masculine Feminine Neuter<br />

Sing. Plu. Sing. Plu. Sing. Plu.<br />

Nom. tantus tantī tanta tantae tantum<br />

tanta<br />

Gen. tantī tantōrum tantae tantārum tantī tantōrum<br />

Dat. tantō tantīs tantae tantīs tantō tantīs<br />

Acc.<br />

tantum tantōs tantam tantās tantum<br />

tanta<br />

Voc. tante tantī tanta tantae tantum<br />

tanta<br />

Abl. tantō tantīs tantā tantīs tantō tantīs


4<br />

CTS Journal 7 (April–June 2001)<br />

The German Allein and the English Only<br />

The German allein and the English only serve adjectivally for<br />

any case, gender, and number. They can also be adverbial. Word<br />

order differentiates adjectival and adverbial uses.<br />

Illustrating Greek and Latin<br />

Consider the following simple sentence, “Esqiw arton” (I<br />

eat fruit) or “Esqiw artous” (I eat fruits). The translation alone<br />

is adjectival, but only is adverbial. The potential for ambiguity is<br />

less than with either English or German (see below). Only the fifth<br />

sentence is ambiguous. Word order is only important in the two<br />

sentences with asterisks.<br />

1. Monos esqiw karpon (I alone eat fruit) 2<br />

2. Esqiw monos karpon (I alone eat fruit)<br />

3. Esqiw karpon monos (I alone eat fruit)<br />

4. Monon esqiw karpon (I only eat fruit)*<br />

5. Esqiw monon karpon (I alone eat fruit, or I only eat fruit)<br />

6. Esqiw karpon monon (I eat fruit alone)*<br />

7. Monon esqiw karpous (I alone eat fruits)<br />

8. Esqiw monon karpous (I alone eat fruits)<br />

9. Esqiw karpous monon (I alone eat fruits)<br />

Illustrating English and German<br />

Only appears in different positions within a simple sentence<br />

(following). When paraphrased as alone it is an adjective, but<br />

solely signifies that it is adverbial. Two of four examples are<br />

ambiguous (more often than in Latin or Greek).<br />

Only I eat bread (I alone eat bread)<br />

I only eat bread (I alone eat bread; I solely eat bread)<br />

I eat only bread (I alone eat bread; I solely eat bread)<br />

I eat bread only (I solely eat bread)<br />

2 The implied subject is nominative-singular egw (“I”), so monos (masculinenominative-singular)<br />

agrees with the subject.


James 2:<strong>24</strong>: Retranslation Required 5<br />

Lexical Study<br />

The outline of BDAG’s pertinent adjectival uses follows:<br />

1. adj.—a. only, alone—a. used w. [stative] verbs. . . . 3<br />

b. used w. a noun [as an attributive adjective]. . . . 4<br />

g. w. a negative and w. ajllav foll. . . . 5<br />

d. movno" qeov". . . . the only God. . . .<br />

b. alone, deserted, helpless. . . . 6<br />

c. isolated, by itself. . . . 7<br />

Each of BDAG’s adjectival classifications involves attributive<br />

or predicate adjectives. Both require the adjective and its<br />

substantive to agree in case, number, and gender. Only the<br />

accusative-neuter-singular form (monon) can function adverbially.<br />

3 Daniel B. Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax<br />

of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), 40, explains that “the<br />

passives of some transitive verbs” act as stative verbs in predicate nominative<br />

clauses. Robertson, Grammar, 656, “As further interesting examples of the<br />

predicate adjective, note. . . movno" (Lu. <strong>24</strong>:8; cf. Mt. 14:23), etc.”<br />

4 BDAG, 658, lists John 6:22 as an example. Monos here is attributive: His<br />

disciples alone had gone away.<br />

5 Ibid., 658, cites Matthew 4:4: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every<br />

word that proceeds from the mouth of God. F. Blass and A. Debrunner, A Greek<br />

Grammar of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, trans. and<br />

rev. Robert W. Funk (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1961), 233,<br />

“Ouj. . . ajlla also means ‘not so much. . . as’ in which the first element is not<br />

entirely negated, but only toned down. . . .” Man lives by more than bread alone.<br />

6 This is a double accusative of object and complement. Wallace, Grammar,<br />

182, says that in this construction “one accusative substantive is the direct object<br />

of the verb and the other accusative (either noun, adjective, participle, or<br />

infinitive) complements the object in that it predicates something about it. The<br />

complement may be substantival or adjectival [emphasis mine].” Ibid., 184,<br />

indicates that a complementary adjective here is always a predicate adjective.<br />

Ibid., also says, “. . .one should normally translate the construction with ‘as,’ ‘to<br />

be,’ or ‘namely’ between the two accusatives.” BDAG, 659, gives John 8:29 as<br />

an example: The Father has not left Me [to be] alone.<br />

7 BDAG’s only example is John 12:<strong>24</strong>: it [a grain of wheat] remains alone. This<br />

resembles a predicate adjective. The verb menw (“remains”) may function as a<br />

stative verb (cf. Wallace, Grammar, 40, n. 11).


6<br />

CTS Journal 7 (April–June 2001)<br />

Word Study<br />

The New Testament has 114 uses of monos. 8 They belong to<br />

various categories.<br />

Separating Monon from other Forms<br />

The appendix lists all seventy-three occurrences of the form<br />

monon. Only accusative-neuter examples can be adverbial.<br />

Nominative or masculine versions are adjectival. The seven<br />

passages with masculine uses of monon must be adjectival. The<br />

underlined words (below) are accusative masculine adjectives.<br />

They saw no one but Jesus alone (Matthew 17:8)<br />

They saw no one anymore, but Jesus alone (Mark 9:8)<br />

The Father has not left Me alone (John 8:29)<br />

You. . . will leave Me alone (John 16:32a)<br />

They may know You, the only true God (John 17:3)<br />

He will have rejoicing in himself alone (Galatians 6:4)<br />

Ungodly men who deny the only Lord God (Jude 1:4)<br />

These adjectival classifications are not controversial.<br />

Robertson, 9 BDAG, 10 and Moulton-Geden 11 so classify them.<br />

Matthew 17:8 and Mark 9:8 are adjectival, because the<br />

meaning of monon “w. eij mhv after a neg. not. . . except. . . alone” 12<br />

resembles examples using adjectival forms of monos. Both verses<br />

juxtapose monon with the noun, not the verb.<br />

8 The Critical Text and Majority Text agree, but the Textus Receptus substitutes a<br />

compound word katamonas for kata monas (Mark 4:10; Luke 9:18). It adds<br />

monous in Revelation 9:4. These plural forms do not affect adverbial uses.<br />

9 Robertson, Grammar, 657, classifies Matthew 17:8; Mark 9:8; John 16:32.<br />

Ibid., 549, classifies John 8:29. Ibid., 776, classifies John 17:3 and Jude 1:4. He<br />

does not classify Galatians 6:4.<br />

10 BDAG, 658–59, classifies Matthew 17:8; Mark 9:8; John 8:29; 16:32a; 17:3;<br />

Galatians 6:4; and Jude 1:4.<br />

11 W. F. Moulton and A. S. Geden, A Concordance to the Greek Testament, 5th<br />

ed. (Edinburgh: Clark, 1978), 657, lists all seven passages under movno" (monos,<br />

adjectival). Ibid., 656, lists adverbial uses under movnon (monon).<br />

12 BDAG, 658.


James 2:<strong>24</strong>: Retranslation Required 7<br />

John 16:32b supports BDAG’s adjectival classification of<br />

John 8:29 and 16:32a. The former has monos (masculine), but the<br />

others use monon (masculine or neuter).<br />

16:32b: I am not alone (monos), because the Father is with Me<br />

8:29: The Father has not left Me alone (monon)<br />

16:32a: You. . . will leave Me alone (monon)<br />

John 16:32b is a simple predicate adjective. The subject I<br />

refers to Jesus (masculine), so alone (monos) is masculine. John<br />

16:32b is a predicate adjective, so 16:32a is a double accusative of<br />

object and complement 13 (similar to a predicate adjective).<br />

8:29: The Father has not left Me [to be] alone (monon)<br />

16:32a: You. . . will leave Me [to be] alone (monon)<br />

Thus, John 16:32 means that: When the disciples forsake<br />

Christ, He would be (humanly) alone, but not completely alone<br />

(because of the Father). John 8:29 parallels 16:32a.<br />

John 17:3 and Jude 1:4 illustrate the attributive adjective. The<br />

adjective is close to its matching substantive.<br />

The word order of Galatians 6:4 most naturally places monon<br />

within a prepositional phrase eis heauton monon (“in himself<br />

alone”), rather than modifying the verb (distant from it).<br />

In all seven of these verses both the NKJV and the NASB<br />

place alone or only in the adjectival position (next to the noun), not<br />

in the adverbial position. These are adjectival. John 12:9 may also<br />

use the masculine accusative adjectivally.<br />

Adjectival:<br />

Adverbial:<br />

They came, not because of Jesus alone [masculine<br />

accusative], but that they might also see Lazarus.<br />

They came, not only [neuter accusative] because of<br />

Jesus, but that they might also see Lazarus.<br />

13 Ibid., 659, gives John 8:29 as an example of the double accusative of object<br />

and complement: The Father has not left Me [to be] alone.


8<br />

CTS Journal 7 (April–June 2001)<br />

BDAG, Robertson, and Moulton-Geden correctly favor<br />

taking monon adverbially, but neither option affects the overall<br />

meaning of John 12:9. 14 Sixty-six uses remain candidates for<br />

adverbial usage.<br />

Unambiguous Adverbial Uses<br />

This article has isolated accusative-neuter-singular forms.<br />

How does one distinguish adverbial uses Any sentence containing<br />

monon that lacks an accusative-neuter-singular substantive<br />

necessarily uses it adverbially. The first chart of the next two charts<br />

identifies definitely adverbial uses. The second contains ones that<br />

are possibly adverbial (requiring further analysis).<br />

Definitely Adverbial Uses (42)<br />

Matthew 5:47; 8:8; 9:21; 14:36; Mark 5:36; Luke 8:50; John 13:9;<br />

17:20; Acts 19:26; 26:29; 27:10; Romans 3:29; 5:3, 11; 8:23; 9:10, <strong>24</strong>;<br />

13:5; 1 Corinthians 7:39; 15:19; 2 Corinthians 7:7; 8:19, 21; 9:12;<br />

Galatians 1:23; 4:18; 5:13; 6:12; Ephesians 1:21; Philippians 1:27;<br />

2:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; 1 Timothy 5:13;<br />

2 Timothy 2:20; Hebrews 9:10; 12:26; James 1:22; 2:<strong>24</strong>; 1 Peter 2:18;<br />

1 John 2:2; 5:6.<br />

Possibly Adverbial Uses (<strong>24</strong>)<br />

Matthew 10:42; 21:19, 21; Mark 6:8; John 5:18; 11:52; 12:9; Acts<br />

8:16; 11:19; 18:25; 19:27; 21:13; Romans 1:32; 4:12, 16, 23;<br />

2 Corinthians 8:10; Galatians 2:10; 3:2; Philippians 1:29; 2:27;<br />

1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2:8; 2 Timothy 4:8.<br />

Moulton and Geden classify all sixty-six references as<br />

adverbial. 15 BDAG categorizes sixty-three of the sixty-six as<br />

14 Both BDAG, 659; Moulton and Geden, Concordance, 656, classify John 12:9<br />

as adverbial.<br />

15 Moulton and Geden, Concordance, 656.


James 2:<strong>24</strong>: Retranslation Required 9<br />

adverbial. 16 Robertson and Blass-Debrunner each classify several<br />

adverbial examples from these (giving no adjectival examples). 17<br />

Simple concordance study reduces the potentially adjectival<br />

uses of monon from sixty-six to twenty-four. These contain<br />

substantives that might agree with an adjectival monon.<br />

The Final Twenty-Four<br />

The mere presence of a noun that could agree with monon<br />

does not prove adjectival usage. Further analysis is necessary.<br />

Matthew 10:42<br />

Bruce Metzger observes, “. . . Matthew uses the adverb<br />

movnon seven times; Mark, twice; Luke, once).” 18<br />

Whoever only gives one of these little ones a cup of cold water to<br />

drink in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by<br />

no means lose his reward (Matthew 10:42).<br />

16 BDAG, 658–59. Ibid., 658, classifies Romans 4:23 as adjectival. It does not<br />

classify Acts 11:19 or 2 Timothy 4:8.<br />

17 Robertson, Grammar, 657, classifies Matthew 8:8; Acts 21:13; 1 John 5:6<br />

adverbially. Ibid., 549, does so for Luke 8:50. Ibid., 659, calls Galatians 1:23<br />

adverbial. Blass-Debrunner, Grammar, 126, classifies Acts 11:19; 1 Timothy<br />

5:13; 2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 12:26; and James 1:22 as adverbial.<br />

18 Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament<br />

(N.p.: United Bible Societies, 1971), 28. Earlier (page 6) this article showed that<br />

Matthew 17:8 and Mark 9:8 are adjectival. Metzger’s tally of ten adverbial uses<br />

in Matthew, Mark, and Luke agrees with this author’s counts.<br />

Adverbial<br />

Adjectival<br />

Matthew 5:47; 8:8; 9:21; 10:42; 4:4, 10; 12:4; 14:23;<br />

14:36; 21:19, 21 7 17:8; 18:15; <strong>24</strong>:36 7<br />

Mark 5:36; 6:8 2 4:10; 6:47; 9:2, 8 4<br />

Luke 8:50<br />

+ 1<br />

4:4, 8; 5:21; 6:4; 9:18,<br />

36; 10:40; <strong>24</strong>:12, 18 + 9<br />

10 20


10<br />

CTS Journal 7 (April–June 2001)<br />

The word order of Matthew 10:42 is a bit ambiguous. Monon<br />

does not lie next to the verb and a genitive separates it from the<br />

accusative-neuter-singular noun. It could modify the noun or the<br />

verb. Before choosing the word closer to monon, another factor is<br />

pertinent. An adverbial phrase, in the name of a disciple, follows<br />

monon. Although that phrase is further from gives. . . to drink than<br />

monon, still modifies the verb. The person gives a drink in the<br />

name of a disciple. Adjectival use of monon is possible, but it<br />

seems adverbial: One merely showing Christian hospitality<br />

(nothing more) will have eternal reward.<br />

Acts 8:16 and 18:25<br />

In Acts 8:16 monon precedes de (“but”) as the first word in its<br />

clause, because de can never be initial. Thus, monon is as close to<br />

the verb as possible, but as far as possible from to onoma (“the<br />

name”). It is adverbial.<br />

[The Holy Spirit] had fallen upon none of them, but they had only<br />

been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 8:16).<br />

Acts 18:25 sets monon between the verb and its direct object:<br />

epistamenos monon to baptisma Iwannou (“only knowing<br />

John’s baptism”). Monon is neither attributive nor predicate to to<br />

baptisma. It is adverbial.<br />

[Apollos] taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he only<br />

knew the baptism of John (Acts 18:25).<br />

Matthew 21:19; Acts 11:19; and Mark 6:8<br />

Ouden (“nothing”) could formally agree with monon<br />

(Matthew 21:19). Yet, it lies outside of the clause containing ei<br />

mh. . . monon (“except only”). Monon is adverbial.<br />

He found nothing on it [the fig tree] except only leaves.


James 2:<strong>24</strong>: Retranslation Required 11<br />

Acts 11:19 has ton logon (“the word”), which could (under<br />

other circumstances) agree with monon. No form agrees with<br />

monon, so it adverbially modifies the verb.<br />

Now those who were scattered. . . traveled. . . preaching the word<br />

to no one but only the Jews (Acts 11:19).<br />

Mark 6:8 uses the same ei mh. . . monon (“except only”)<br />

phrase as Matthew 21:19. It also resembles the ei mh monon of<br />

Acts 11:19. In those passages, monon was necessarily adverbial,<br />

because the only accusative-neuter-singular substantive was<br />

outside of the target phrase. Here, the substantive lies within it: ei<br />

mh rabdon monon (“except only a staff”).<br />

He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except only a<br />

staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— but to<br />

wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics (Mark 6:8–9).<br />

Word order alone cannot decide this. However, the ei mh. . .<br />

monon construction is an established adverbial usage.<br />

Adverbial Usages With Negatives<br />

Sixteen of the twenty-four remaining candidates belong to<br />

one of BDAG’s adverbial subcategories: “. . . used w. negatives:<br />

. . . ouj (or mh;). . . m., ajllav kai; not only. . . , but also. . .” 19<br />

1. You will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also. . . it<br />

[removing the mountain] will be done (Matthew 21:21b).<br />

2. He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His<br />

Father (John 5:18).<br />

3. Jesus would die for the nation, and not only for that nation, but<br />

also that He would gather together. . . . (John 11:51–52).<br />

4. They came, not only because of Jesus, but also that they might<br />

see Lazarus (John 12:9).<br />

5. Not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute,<br />

but also the temple. . . may be despised (Acts 19:27).<br />

19 BDAG, 659.


12<br />

CTS Journal 7 (April–June 2001)<br />

6. I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem<br />

for the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 21:13).<br />

7. Those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only<br />

do the same but also approve of those who practice them<br />

(Romans 1:32).<br />

8. [Abraham is] the father of circumcision to those who not only<br />

are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the<br />

faith [of Abraham] (Romans 4:12).<br />

9. The promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who<br />

are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of<br />

Abraham. . . . (Romans 4:16)<br />

10. It was not written for his sake alone. . . , but also for us<br />

(Romans 4:23–<strong>24</strong>).<br />

11. It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and<br />

were desiring to do a year ago; but now you also must<br />

complete the doing of it (2 Corinthians 8:10–11).<br />

12. I do not only pray for these, but also for those who will believe<br />

in Me through their word (John 17:20).<br />

13. Our gospel not only came to you in word, but also in power,<br />

and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance (1 Thessalonians<br />

1:5).<br />

14. In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver,<br />

but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for<br />

dishonor (2 Timothy 2:20).<br />

15. He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours<br />

only but also for the whole world (1 John 2:2).<br />

16. This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not<br />

only by water, but by water and blood (1 John 5:6).<br />

Six (of sixteen with this construction) separate the negative<br />

from monon. They are still adverbial. None has a substantive for<br />

which monon could be a predicate or attributive adjective.<br />

1. Jesus would die for the nation, and not only for that nation, but<br />

also that He would gather together . . . (John 11:51–52).<br />

2. I do not only pray for these, but also for those who will believe in<br />

Me through their word (John 17:20).<br />

3. Our gospel not only came to you in word, but also in power, and<br />

in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance (1 Thessalonians 1:5).


James 2:<strong>24</strong>: Retranslation Required 13<br />

4. In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but<br />

also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor (2<br />

Timothy 2:20).<br />

5. He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only<br />

but also for the whole world (1 John 2:2).<br />

6. This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only<br />

by water, but by water and blood (1 John 5:6).<br />

James 2:<strong>24</strong> resembles the six (and the sixteen). The difference<br />

is that it does not have alla (“but”). Despite a separation of the<br />

negative and monon, the verse contains no word that can agree<br />

with monon in case-gender-number. It is adverbial, as are the<br />

preceding six examples. Thus, the following translation is<br />

untenable:<br />

A man is justified by works, and not by faith only.<br />

Rather, the word only is adverbial.<br />

A man is justified by works, and not only [justified] by faith.<br />

This in turn is more easily understood as:<br />

A man is not only justified by faith, but also by works.<br />

Conclusion<br />

The Greek is perfectly clear: Monon in James 2:<strong>24</strong> is an<br />

adverb. The translation ought to be: You see then that a man is not<br />

only justified by faith, but also by works. Thus, James speaks of<br />

two justifications: one by faith (before God) and another by works<br />

(before men). This is quite consistent with verses 21 and 23. Verse<br />

21 signals that he had two justifications: Was not Abraham our<br />

father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the<br />

altar The question expects an affirmative answer. Verse 23a<br />

indicates the fulfillment of Genesis 15:6: Abraham believed God,<br />

and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Thus, verse 23a<br />

speaks of Abraham’s justification by faith. Verse 23b indicates the


14<br />

CTS Journal 7 (April–June 2001)<br />

fulfillment of a second Old Testament truth: And he was called the<br />

friend of God (2 Chronicles 20:7 and Isaiah 41:8). Verse 23b<br />

speaks of that justification by works before men. In other words,<br />

an adverbial translation of monon is quite consistent with context.<br />

On the other hand, both the German and the English have<br />

missed the clear adverbial sense of the Greek (and even the Latin).<br />

These translations do not continue the sense of verses 21 and 23.<br />

Rather, they introduce the foreign notion of a single justification<br />

by two criteria: faith plus works. It is time to abandon<br />

ecclesiastical tradition and allow James to make his point<br />

unhindered: Abraham had two distinct justifications. James wants<br />

his readers to also have a second justification. When Christians use<br />

the doctrine that they believe, they gain a testimony with people.<br />

James 2:15–16 show that ministry to people cannot happen unless<br />

we are justified by works in their eyes.<br />

Appendix<br />

Monon<br />

The form monon appears seventy-three times in the New<br />

Testament. This pool contains both adjectival and adverbial uses.<br />

Matthew 5:47; 8:8; 9:21; 10:42; 14:36; 17:8; 21:19, 21; Mark 5:36; 6:8;<br />

9:8; Luke 8:50; John 5:18; 8:29; 11:52; 12:9; 13:9; 16:32a; 17:3, 20; Acts<br />

8:16; 11:19; 18:25; 19:26, 27; 21:13; 26:29; 27:10; Romans 1:32; 3:29;<br />

4:12, 16, 23; 5:3, 11; 8:23; 9:10, <strong>24</strong>; 13:5; 1 Corinthians 7:39; 15:19; 2<br />

Corinthians 7:7; 8:10, 19, 21; 9:12; Galatians 1:23; 2:10; 3:2; 4:18; 5:13;<br />

6:4, 12; Ephesians 1:21; Philippians 1:27, 29; 2:12, 27; 1 Thessalonians<br />

1:5, 8; 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; 1 Timothy 5:13; 2 Timothy 2:20; 4:8;<br />

Hebrews 9:10; 12:26; James 1:22; 2:<strong>24</strong>; 1 Peter 2:18; 1 John 2:2; 5:6;<br />

Jude 1:4.<br />

Forms other than Monon<br />

Forty-one (or forty-two) uses of monos appear in forms that<br />

have non-adverbial usage. These are strictly adjectival.


James 2:<strong>24</strong>: Retranslation Required 15<br />

Matthew 4:4, 10; 12:4; 14:23; 18:5; <strong>24</strong>:36; Mark 4:10* CT/MT ; 6:47; 9:2;<br />

Luke 4:4, 8; 5:21; 6:4; 9:18* CT/MT , 36; 10:40; <strong>24</strong>:12, 18; John 5:44; 6:15,<br />

22; 8:9, 16; 12:<strong>24</strong>; 16:32b; Romans 11:3; 16:4, 27; 1 Corinthians 9:6;<br />

14:36; Philippians 4:15; Colossians 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 3:1; 1 Timothy<br />

1:17; 6:15, 16; 2 Timothy 4:11; Hebrews 9:7; 2 John 1:1; Jude 1:25;<br />

Revelation 9:4 TR ; 15:4.<br />

—End—<br />

John Niemelä received a B.A. (University of Minnesota), and<br />

earned the Th.M. and Ph.D. degrees in New Testament Literature<br />

and Exegesis from Dallas <strong>Theological</strong> <strong>Seminary</strong>. John is<br />

Professor of Hebrew and Greek at <strong>Chafer</strong> <strong>Theological</strong> <strong>Seminary</strong>.<br />

His email address is language@chafer.edu.

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