The Cries Have Been Heard, with Grant Flynn: James 5:4
Nov 20, 2023
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Grant Flynn, Visiting Assistant Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, discusses the cries of the harvesters in James 5:4, highlighting the exploitation of workers by wealthy landlords. He explores connections between biblical passages, emphasizing the cultural context and textual alignment. The podcast also addresses the importance of staying sharp in the Greek language and the eschatological perspective of James.
James 5:4 highlights the cries of exploited workers for justice and the beginning of their deliverance.
James 5:1-6 condemns wealthy landlords who hoard wealth and exploit employees, drawing references from Old Testament passages.
Deep dives
Exploitation of Workers in James 5:4
In James 5:4, the passage addresses the rich people who hoard their wealth and exploit their employees. James specifically mentions the workers who mowed the fields and were not paid, emphasizing their cries for justice. The Greek text helps us understand the language used, including the allusion to Psalm 18:6, where James shifts from the future tense form to the perfect tense form, indicating that the harvesters' deliverance has already begun with the inauguration of the last days brought by Jesus' death and resurrection.
Agricultural Culture and Landlords in James 5:1-6
James 5:1-6 addresses the first-century agricultural culture, where landlords would acquire land and make the original owners work as tenants under their own ownership. This passage specifically condemns the actions of wealthy landlords who exploit their employees and hoard their wealth. The Greek text helps us understand the nuances of the accusations and the references made by James, including the use of the divine title 'Lord of hosts' and the connection to Old Testament passages like Isaiah 5:9 and Psalm 18:6.
In James 5:4, James writes according to the NIV, “The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.” This language echoes Ps. 18:6 (LXX Ps. 17:7) and Isa. 5:9. One verb, borrowed from the Greek version of Ps. 18, is changed from a future to a perfect tense form. There are historic shifts behind that small change. Dr. Grant Flynn is Visiting Assistant Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College. His Ph.D. (Wheaton Graduate School) dealt with lament in the Epistle of James.