The basics of Community Confession from James 5:16

We will look at its nature in this post and in the next post will look at its purpose in community. 

Context

The letter of James is an ice bath of truth. Even a light reading of James will expose areas of sin in a Christian's life. By the time one reads 5:16, James has spent the last four and a half chapters uncovering hidden sins; point out sin of omission and instructing the community in the way of Jesus. It is fitting that in his concluding remarks to the community, he calls for confession and prayer.  

In 5:14-15, James encourages his readers to pray for the sick. He describes a particular situation and instructs a course of action for such a situation. Reminding them god can do great things with simple faith. In verse 16, James steps back but reminds on the subject making a more general application to the whole community.[1] Two textual reasons in support of the above view: 1.) Verse 16 begins with "therefore" often used in N.T. to denoting a general application building off of previous content, in this case the particular encouragement to pray for the sick. 2.) The movement of language from “elder” in v.14, to “one another” in v. 16, points to James having the whole community in view. 

1. The Nature of Confession 

Confession has Jewish roots. James’ audience was familiar with the idea of confession so he did not need to explain it. The practice is clearly laid out in Lev 5:5. McKnight explains, “ The command to "confess," so foreign to much of the church today, characterized the life of ancient Israel...Confession was a commonplace ... James's words then are not a new instruction; they speak of an old practice of admitting one's guilt before God and others and now urge the same on the messianic community.” [2]

Confession is commanded. Both pray and Confess in v.16 are in the imperative mood, often called the mood of command. James was not suggesting but commanding confession.  It is the tenancy in humanity to want to hide from other the sins that shame us. We put on a good face but behind silence and a smile is a shameful secret sin. James understands that tenancy so he commands confession and prayer. If they were suggestions we would only confess things like, “I sometime neglect my duties because I reading my Bible TOO much.”  

Confession is agreeing with God. The Greek word for confess in the verse is can be understood as ‘confess, profess, acknowledge openly,” at is most basic it means “to agree.”[3] Simply stated Confession is agreeing with God that you’ve sinned.  Confession is a communal practice. James’ use of “one another” highlights that confession and prayer as communal practices all Christians should engage in frequently.

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[1] Luke Timothy Johnson, The Letter of James, the Anchor Bible, Vol. 37A  (Garden City: Doubleday, 1995). pg. 335

[2] Scot McKnight, The Letter of James, New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2011),   pg. 445

[3] The Greek word is ἐξομολογέω,  transliteration is exomologeô  Strong’s # "1843".