Grace Abounds

We have no "autograph" copies of the bible, meaning no texts written in the original author's hand (or any other kind of autograph, for that matter - how much would Paul's autograph fetch on ebay). When biblical scholars compare ancient manuscripts, especially the odlest copies, they find minor differences between the texts. This week, we find out how one letter can make a big difference in the translation of the Bible.

In verse 2 of James 4, beginning with the scholar Erasmus, scholars have recognized that the word for envy turns into the word murder if one letter is left out. Even a conservative commentator like Calvin thought that this was likely an omission in the text. Bringing the text once again to the thorny problem of envy.

Grace is the antidote to sin. We talk much about sin, without giving it a definition. Literally, the word for sin means "to miss the mark," as an arrow would fall short of a target. Before reading James's definition of sin in verse 17, compare, contrast, and consider Paul's definition in Romans 14.23.