This exegetical study of “A Philological and Rhetorical Analysis of James 3:16: Investigating a Proposed Wordplay on Παῦλος” is based on a b-greek discussion from August 27th, 2013. The initial inquiry proposes a potential wordplay within the phrase πᾶν φαῦλον πρᾶγμα (“every worthless thing”) in James 3:16, suggesting a hidden allusion to Παῦλος (“Paul”), thus rendering the phrase as “every Paul-ish thing.”
The main exegetical issue centers on the viability of this proposed phonetic and semantic substitution. This involves evaluating the linguistic plausibility of such a wordplay, considering the alliterative and assonantic features of the text, and assessing the rhetorical implications of James potentially embedding a polemical reference to Paul. The discussion explores the rarity of Greek words rhyming with φαῦλος, the grammatical challenges of substituting a proper noun for an adjective, and the broader contextual question of whether the Epistle of James implicitly engages with Pauline theology in such an acrimonious manner.
ὅπου γὰρ ζῆλος καὶ ἐριθία, ἐκεῖ ἀκαταστασία καὶ πᾶν φαῦλον πρᾶγμα. (Nestle 1904)
Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):
- Nestle 1904 reads ἐριθία, whereas SBLGNT 2010 reads ἐριθεία. This is a common orthographical variant for the noun meaning “selfish ambition” or “strife.”
Textual Criticism (NA28): The textual tradition for James 3:16 is remarkably stable, with the primary variant being the spelling of ἐριθία/ἐριθεία, which does not impact the phrase πᾶν φαῦλον πρᾶγμα. Thus, the reading of the critical editions like NA28 aligns with the Nestle 1904 text for the phrase under examination.
Lexical Notes (KITTEL, BDAG):
For φαῦλος (adjective): BDAG defines φαῦλος, η, ον as “pertaining to being of poor quality, worthless, base, evil, bad.” It is used to describe morally corrupt actions or persons. Its cognate verb πράσσω (“to do, practice”) often appears with φαῦλος in the New Testament (e.g., John 3:20, 5:29). The original discussion notes its use in the LXX, particularly in Proverbs, Job, and Sirach, mostly in the sense of “worthless.” Classical Greek usage, as identified in the discussion (e.g., Aristophanes, Plato, Xenophon), also supports meanings like “trifling, light, small, unimportant.”
For πρᾶγμα (noun): BDAG defines πρᾶγμα, ατος, τό as “that which is done, deed, act, transaction” or “matter, affair, thing.” It can refer to a concrete object or an abstract concept. In conjunction with φαῦλος, it clearly denotes a “worthless matter” or “evil deed.” KITTEL would provide further historical and theological nuances for both terms, tracing their semantic development across Greek literature and the biblical corpus. The combination φαῦλον πρᾶγμα is rare in the NT/LXX but attested in classical literature with consistent meanings of triviality or worthlessness.
Translation Variants with Grammatical & Rhetorical Analysis
The phrase under consideration is πᾶν φαῦλον πρᾶγμα. Literally, this translates to “every worthless thing” or “every evil deed.” The initial discussion highlights the alliterative qualities of this phrase, with πᾶν and πρᾶγμα both starting with a ‘p’ sound, flanking φαῦλον, which starts with a ‘ph’ sound (pronounced similarly to ‘p’ in Koine Greek). Furthermore, the shared ‘ah’ vowel sound across all three words (πᾶν, φαῦλον, πρᾶγμα) creates an assonantic effect, contributing to the phrase’s rhythmic and memorable quality. This rhetorical feature is consistent with James’s known sophisticated Greek style, often employing alliteration, assonance, and word pairings/triplets (cf. James 1:2: πειρασμοῖς περιπέσητε ποικίλοις).
The proposed wordplay posits a phonetic substitution of φαῦλον with Παῦλον, rendering the phrase “every Paul-ish thing.” While the phonetic similarity (especially in Koine pronunciation) is acknowledged, several grammatical and contextual challenges arise. Grammatically, Παῦλον is the accusative singular of the masculine proper noun Παῦλος. For it to function adjectivally to modify the neuter noun πρᾶγμα, it would require an adjectival ending, such as Παύλειον (“Pauline”). The suggestion that wordplays bypass grammatical rules, while sometimes true for humor, becomes a significant hurdle in serious exegetical interpretation, particularly if it fundamentally alters the lexical category (noun for adjective) and gender/case agreement within a declarative statement.
Rhetorically, for such a wordplay to be effective and intended by James, two conditions would likely need to be met: first, a clear contextual indication of an anti-Pauline sentiment that would motivate such a subtle insult; and second, the expectation that the audience would readily perceive this nuanced, grammatically irregular allusion. While the relationship between James 2:14-26 and Pauline theology (particularly Romans and Galatians on faith and works) has long been debated, the Epistle of James does not explicitly name or directly polemicize against Paul. The argument for an “echo chamber” of Pauline teachings suggests an implicit engagement, but an intentional, grammatically anomalous pun against a specific individual would be a more direct and arguably “catty” form of polemic, which some scholars find uncharacteristic of James’s typical rhetorical strategy, which focuses more on abstract theological and ethical principles rather than explicit personal attacks.
Conclusions and Translation Suggestions
The proposed wordplay on Παῦλος in James 3:16, while philologically interesting due to phonetic similarities and James’s rhetorical style, faces significant challenges in terms of grammatical regularity and contextual plausibility. While the possibility of an underlying polemical tone in James’s work regarding certain interpretations of Pauline theology is a subject of ongoing scholarly debate, the textual evidence within James 3:16 itself strongly favors a straightforward understanding of πᾶν φαῦλον πρᾶγμα.
The phrase clearly participates in James’s sophisticated Greek, exhibiting alliteration and assonance that would have been noticeable to a Hellenistic audience. However, these rhetorical devices do not necessitate a hidden meaning beyond the conventional lexical value of φαῦλος. The absence of explicit textual cues for a personal attack, coupled with the grammatical irregularity of substituting a masculine proper noun for a neuter adjective, renders the proposed wordplay highly improbable as James’s intended meaning.
Based on this analysis, the following translation suggestions for James 3:16 are offered:
- “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every worthless thing.”
This translation prioritizes lexical accuracy and clarity, reflecting the common understanding of φαῦλος and πρᾶγμα. - “For where there is envy and factionalism, there also is instability and all manner of base deeds.”
This variant emphasizes the moral and ethical implications of φαῦλον πρᾶγμα (“base deeds”) and attempts to capture some of the rhythmic quality through synonym choice. - “For where there is jealousy and strife, there is disorder and every ‘Paul-ish’ thing.”
This hypothetical translation acknowledges the phonetic similarity for the sake of exploring the proposed wordplay, but it is presented with the critical caveat that it is linguistically and contextually unsupported as James’s intended meaning.