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electricity. It is there ready to give light, heat and power throughout the
building. Yet nothing will happen unless the switch is turned over, or the
plug inserted. This same power may rage overhead in the form of a
thunderstorm, and the same power may crush and destroy without warning. It
is not however a true symbol of 'the power of God unto salvation' for it is
'unto every one that believeth'.
James does not use the word 'believe' in the passage cited above,
instead he says 'receive'. Now it is well known to Bible students that
'receive' is often a synonym for 'believe' and John 1:12 comes immediately to
mind. It must be recorded however that John 1:12 uses the Greek word
lambano, where James 1:21 uses the Greek word dechomai, and that while both
words are and can be translated 'receive' they have their own distinctive
shade of meaning and this must be perceived before we shall be able to
appreciate the teaching of James on this subject of the 'Effectual Word'.
Thayer, in his lexicon gives under the word lambano, the following
subdivisions:
(1)
To take with the hand. To lay hold of any person or thing in
order to use it.
(2)
To take in order to carry away.
(3)
To take what is one's own, to take to one's self, to make one's
own.
(4)
To take, i.e. to admit, receive.
(5)
To take, the same as: to choose, select.
Under the word dechomai Thayer has the following subdivisions:
(1)
To take with the hand.
(2)
To take up, receive
(a)
Used of a place receiving one;
(b)
To receive, grant access, to a visitor; not to refuse
intercourse or friendship. To receive to hospitality, or
into one's family;
(c)
To receive favourably, give ear to, embrace, make one's
own, approve, not to reject;
(d)
To receive i.e. to take upon one's self, sustain, bear,
endure.
(3)
To receive, get.
It will be perceived that dechomai is a warmer, kinder word than
lambano. The last meaning of dechomai is 'to get', but this is the first
meaning of lambano. Dr. E. W. Bullinger in his Lexicon suggests the
difference between the two words by saying of lambano it means 'to take with
the hand', whereas of dechomai he says 'to receive into one's hands'. The
former word is acquisitive 'getting', the latter is gracious 'accepting'.
The distinction between these two words is observed in such a passage as
Matthew 10:40,41. Rotherham recognizes these two words in his translation:
'He that giveth welcome unto you,
Unto Me giveth welcome ...
He that giveth welcome unto a prophet ... the reward of a prophet shall
receive'.