Fount of Knowledge

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Thu 28 August 2003 8:07 pm

And comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17) Saint James here assures us that not only has God been the giver of good things in the past, but also that God will always be the giver of good things, and will never stop giving to those who seek, because God is unchanging. God said "I am the Lord, I change not" (Mal. 3:6), and God is always eager to give us that which is needful (Lk. 11:19; Matt. 7:7-8; cf Matt. 25:15). Therefore, whenever anyone lacks knowledge, they must look to themselves for the reason, whether it was kept from them because of some fault, or just because it was not profitable for them to have. It must be acknowledged as truth, though, that God always gives to those whom ask rightly (which also means that they ask for that which is profitable for their souls and not harmful to others).

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Thu 28 August 2003 8:08 pm

Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. (James 1:18 ) But we also see that this knowledge does not come fully to everyone in every place. For James here alludes to the fact that one must be baptized and a member of the Church to fully receive that which God wishes to give us. We must be "brought forth by the word of truth" in baptism into the Church (cf Rom. 6), that we might become "a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people" (1 Pet. 2:9). Indeed, though we have not spoken of it yet, the epistle of James assumes that those who are being spoken to are within the Christian community (cf James 2:1-3, 15-16; 5:14-16, 19-20), and we cannot understand the words of James to be applicable to those outside the Church. This may seem like a strange understanding of this passage, but in fact it is the most natural understanding, for the passage speaks of Jesus Christ, and our own salvation, and therefore that which unites the two, the theanthropic body of Christ, is in actuality an important element. It answers the unasked question: "How, or where, exactly does he bring us forth as a kind of firstfruits?"

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Sun 14 September 2003 12:06 am

Sorry for the delay... I'm at a split in the road, and trying to decide whether to continue this. Should it really be me that is writing on subjects such as this? Please suffer me as I continue to ponder this question...