What is this James and pirating all about?
And pirating is to attempt to attack with a purpose to unjustly profit. It is to rob and plunder which belongs to someone else.
I titled this post “Pirate of the soul” because of something James said in James 1, but I felt that I should remind myself of who exactly James is and what the significance of his name is before getting into the whole pirate thing.
Do we know James?
James (or Jacob) was a very popular name in the days of Jesus. In fact, it still is.
The author of the letter in the Bible stuck in there just after the book of Hebrews, merely identifies himself as James. Closer to Jesus, we see that two of His disciples were named James and He also had a younger brother called James. According to tradition the letter we find in the Bible can be ascribed to the latter, who also became a prominent leader of the Christians in Jerusalem.
During the ministry of Jesus, James (the brother) was an unbeliever and at best a sceptic. But once Jesus visited him following His resurrection (1 Cor 15:7), it all changed … and James, having grown up with Jesus, obviously had the Gospel inside-story.
The scene was set
But, let us for one moment consider one fundamental truth that not too many modern people today are willing to acknowledge - words have meaning and words have power. You can take this at a mere superficial level such as when someone hurts or comforts someone else, or at the other end of the scale where it has been scientifically proven that words can kill or make alive (such as numerous tests done on plants, animals and humans). Go on. Google it.
Even the wise Solomon is recorded in Proverbs 18:21, saying Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
So, words and names have meaning and power. We are what we eat and just the same, our words can kill and our words can make alive. It is with His words that Jesus (the Word Who became flesh) healed and it is how He sent us out into this world to take dominion, to heal.
So it is with James.
There is a reason and a lesson wherever you read the name and it is revealed in the Bible for a purpose.
Let's get into it a little deeper
James or Yaʿăqōḇ in the original Hebrew, means to replace and supersede. When we read of this name the first time in Genesis 25 in the Bible, we get to know the twin brother of Esau (ʿēśāv - from the root Hebrew word ʿāśâ, meaning to toil, work, to make do, to press on ...) These were the twin sons of Isaac in the Bible.
But.
Toil and work were replaced.
The birth of these twins are recorded in the Bible for a reason. Something significant happened.
We find the whole story in Genesis 25:26. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob …
Esau was replaced (or superseded) as the first born by the "replacer".
In Hebrew culture the first-born has a specific responsibility.
Before the Levitical priesthood and even today, firstborns had a role of sacrificial service. The Torah required firstborn humans and animals to be "sanctified". Abel is an example of this when he brought the firstborns of his flock as a sacrifice, and the Torah requires firstborns of the flock and herd to be brought as sacrifices. Exodus 13:2, God says to the pre-New-Testament people, Consecrate every firstborn male to me, the firstborn from every womb among the Israelites, both man and domestic animal; it is mine.
Firstborns also get a double share of the inheritance because they will eventually be the next patriarch, which further demands a certain financial obligation to the family.
So, the replacement, Jacob who became Israel, replaced the toiler to become the patriarch of a nation.
What the heck?
Looking at the people making up the family tree of Jesus, you will not find many (if any) firstborns. In contrast, Jesus Himself is the only Firstborn in the genealogy. He is the Firstborn of many - Romans 8:29-30 in the New Living Translation (NLT) says For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself.
Somewhere in all this there should be another replacement that we must take note of. And we’ll come to that.
So, James?
Reading the New Testament, especially the gospels, we discover that Jesus had many disciples (more than 70), but they are narrowed down to 12 that were really close to Him and further to just 3 that were really, really close to him.
Who were these really, really close ones?
Peter, James (not the author of the book) and John.
Why are they significant and what is the pattern?
Well, it’s in their names.
Whenever they are mentioned together, it is in that very sequence - Peter James John. For a reason.
Why?
It is the very sequence of the names that also carries the Gospel message.
How?
In the meaning of their names.
Peter - the rock, (as in 10 commandments engraved on stone)
JAMES - replaced by
John - the Grace of God
It makes a sentence. The rock was replaced by Grace. The law replaced by Grace.
What is the thing about piracy?
And now James and piracy
The one who replaces teaches us about piracy.
In James 1 he says:
James (yaʿăqōḇ - to supplant, replace), a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (Peirasmós - piracy)
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (Just in case you do not understand whence your piracy is coming from so that …)
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Jas 1:-8
You've got Logic. Use it!
It is all about receiving (see this post and this post).
We should never be confused (double minded) when it comes to where temptations (piracy) come from. To be tempted is the Greek word peirasmós - an experiment, attempt, trial, proving all the trials, testing, temptations that go into furnishing a test of one's character. This is the primary meaning here and elsewhere in the Bible.
The word “pirate” originated in the 1300s from the Latin word pirata meaning “sea robber” and was also a Latin synonym for the word “peril.” In Greek, the word came from peirates, meaning “one who attacks.” Pirating is derived from the historic concept of privateering, which is a pirate-like action by a nation …
When the word is used in reference to Satan, it means just that. It brings out that which is evil or that which is soliciting evil, the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy. Satan himself is known as “the tempter” (pirate) (Matthew 4:3). Just as Satan thought he could get Christ to respond to evil, he expects to see us to respond. But because Christ is God, there was nothing in Him which answers to evil. Christ told Satan, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” (Matthew 4:7). Satan was not trying to bring out that which was good in God but was endeavouring to solicit Him to evil. But being all good, Jesus can not be solicited in this way.
And so it is with us.
James goes on …
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Do not err, my beloved brethren. Jas 1:1-16
James above paraphrased with discernment thus reads:
Count it for joy when you are pirated, because you received the mind of Christ to resist the pirate. God is not the pirate, nor can He be pirated. The cause of every man’s robbery sprouts from his own conviction and when those convictions are contrived, they bring separation and separation ultimately brings death. Be sure not to make an error in your perception.
Isn't it amazing how that the Father’s heart is always geared towards His children?
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