James 1:26-27 “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion (toutou thrēskos) is vain. Pure religion (katharos thrēskeia) and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
I think “religion” has, for the most part, has been generally defined today only under the fourth of Webster’s definitions (all religions), having a negative connotation, and needs explained properly again to people in a “word study”. You heard statement said, like: God doesn't want religion; He wants a relationship. General statements lack details. Religion cannot exist without a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. What are the definitions of this word religion? History shows that it’s a good, proper and desirable biblical word when talking about pure “true” religion.
Strong’s Dictionary of Bible Words states that the Greek word “toutou” in verse 26 (above) defined as “this Man’s”, means "from or concerning this person". The Greek word “threskos” in verse 26, defined as religion, means "ceremonious in worship, i.e. pious". The Greek word “Katharos” in verse 27, defined as pure, means "free from impure admixture, without blemish, and spotless". The Greek word “Threskeia” in verse 27, defined as religion, "signifies religion in its external aspect, religious worship". Strong's states that in James 1:26-27 the contrast is set forth between that which is unreal and deceptive, and the pure religion which consists in visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction and in keeping oneself unspotted from the world. James is not herein affirming … these offices to be the sum total, not yet the great essentials, of true religion, but declares them to be the body, the threskeia, of which godliness, or the love of God, is for the informing soul.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on James 1:26-27, asks: How may we distinguish between a vain religion and that which is pure and approved by God? First, what is vain religion? In a worthless religion there is much “show”. When men are more concerned to seem religious than really to be so, it is a sign that their religion is worthless. There are contenders of the faith, and there are pretenders of the faith. In a worthless religion there is much censoring of others. God's desire of reconciliation has the goal of restoring a fallen person in sin to an upright position, holy and blameless before the Lord. When we hear people ready to speak of the faults of others, that they themselves may seem the wiser and better, this is a sign that they have but a worthless religion. The man who has a detracting tongue cannot have a truly humble gracious heart. There is no strength nor power in that religion which will not enable a man to bridle his tongue. In a worthless religion, a man deceives his own heart. When once religion comes to be a worthless thing, how great is the worthlessness!
Secondly, what is true religion? It is the glory of religion to be pure and undefiled. A holy life and a charitable heart show a true religion. That re3ligion is pure and undefiled which is so before God and the Father. Ture religion teaches us to do everything as in the presence of God. Compassion and charity towards the poor and distressed form a very great and necessary part of true religion. By them we are to understand all who are proper objects of charity, all who are in distress. If the sum of religion be drawn up in two articles, this is one – to be charitable and relieve the afflicted. An unspotted life must accompany sincere love and charity. The world is apt to spot and blemish the soul, and it is hard to live in it, and have to do with it, and not be defiled; but this must be our constant endeavor. In this consists pure and undefiled (true) religion.
Noah Webster Jr. was an American lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English-language spelling reformer, writer, editor and author (1758-1843). In his first American Dictionary, he defined the word “Religion”.
Let’s continue this “Word Study” of this great biblical word “Religion” in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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