Discourse Flow Analysis :: Prototype
Proper Response to Testing (1:2-12)
Boundary Features:
-
Redundant Direct Address: ἀδελφοί μου does not narrow the intended audience with respect to addressees ταῖς δώδεκα φυλαῖς ταῖς ἐν τῇ διασπορᾷ.
-
Genre Change:
-
Hortatory form ἡγήσασθε that shifts from the exposition of greeting.
-
Additional exhortations (vv. 4, 5, 6) shift from 2nd to 3rd person and are drawn from preceding dependent clause content. and lack other boundary markers, hence best understood as secondary and elaborating on the primary (considering trials joy).
-
Discourse Flow:
The primary exhortation challenges the readers to positively embrace trials whereas v. 3 elaborates on the process by which the intended change comes about. Introducing these concepts in the expository elaboration also sets the stage for each to be transformed into an exhortation (vv. 4–11). Their tight integration with the primary exhortation commends construing them as secondary and thus logically dependent on the primary one. The declaration of blessing in v. 12 offers motivational encouragement for the primary exhortation regarding the positive impact of faith testing.
Discourse Flow:
The complex unit describing the value and importance of trials consists of primary and secondary exhortations (hortatory discourse) and supporting expository discourse. Adherence to the secondary exhortations delineate what endurance entails. The cohesion of these exhortations as a complex unit is based on the tail-head linkage of the concepts, where the mention of an action in a dependent clause is followed by the promotion of that action to an exhortation in a subsequent clause.
Discourse Flow:
The complex unit describing the value and importance of trials consists of primary and secondary exhortations (hortatory discourse) and supporting expository discourse. Adherence to the secondary exhortations delineate what endurance entails. The cohesion of these exhortations as a complex unit is based on the tail-head linkage of the concepts, where the mention of an action in a dependent clause is followed by the promotion of that action to an exhortation in a subsequent clause.
Discourse Flow:
The use of the adverbial participle γινώσκοντες “knowing” constrains this what follows to be read as one complex clause rather than as two independent clauses. The participial clause elaborates on the primary exhortation of v. 2 without needing to specify a coherence relation between the two using a connective such as γάρ or ὅτι.
Discourse Flow:
The direct object of ὅτι clause of v. 3b becomes the subject of a 3rd person imperative in v. 4, offering coherent linkage to the opening exhortation. The shift to 3rd person here and in vv. 5 and 6 has two effects:
-
It mitigates the force or directness of the exhortation since endurance is the focus rather than the audience members.
-
It focuses attention on the elements necessary to complete the intended purpose of the trial.
Thus instead of challenging the readers by saying “Finish the work!” or “Endure to the end!” James instead underscores the qualities needed to accomplish this. Placing the attention on the qualities consequently mitigates the attention on the individual who does it. Use of more direct forms of exhortation in shame/honor cultures can be easily construed as disrespectful or condescending.
Secondary exhortation elaborating on the primary exhortation “Consider it all joy…” of v. 2.
Discourse Flow:
This section introduces a secondary exhortation with respect to “Consider it all joy…” of v. 2, but also contains its own embedded primary/secondary pair of exhortations. Verse 5 serves as the primary, more general exhortation to ask for wisdom that is followed by a more specific, secondary one in v. 6a, i.e., to ask in faith without doubting. The use of γάρ constrains what follows (6b-–8) to be construed as support for what precedes (v. 6a).
Secondary exhortation elaborating on the primary exhortation “Consider it all joy…” of v. 2. The conditional clause “If any of you…” serves to introduce new addressees, those lacking wisdom. James may have more directly singled out and exhorted this group (e.g., “You who lack wisdom ask!”). Using the conditional clause has two pragmatic effects:
-
It invites his listeners to self-select themselves into this group.
-
It mitigates the directness of the exhortation, reducing its harshness.
Secondary exhortation elaborating on the primary exhortation “Let him ask…” of v. 5. It addresses the same subset of self-identified listeners, but adds
Discourse Flow:
The exhortation oThe use of γάρ constrains what follows (6b-–8) to be construed as support for what precedes (v. 6a).