Lexical Summary dipsuchos: Double-minded Original Word: δίψυχος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance double minded. From dis and psuche; two-spirited, i.e. Vacillating (in opinion or purpose) -- double minded. see GREEK dis see GREEK psuche HELPS Word-studies 1374 dípsy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dis and psuché Definition of two minds, wavering NASB Translation double-minded (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1374: δίψυχοςδίψυχος, διψυχον (δίς and ψυχή), double-minded; a. wavering, uncertain, doubting: James 1:8 (οἱ δίψυχοι καί οἱ δισταζοντες περί τῆς τοῦ θοῦ δυνάμεως, Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 11, 2 [ET]; ταλαίπωροι εἰσιν οἱ δίψυχοι, οἱ δισταζοντες τήν ψυχήν (others τῇ ψυχή), ibid. 23, 3 [ET]; μή γίνου δίψυχος ἐν προσευχή σου, εἰ ἔσται ἤ οὐ, Apostolic Constitutions 7, 11; μή γίνου δίψυχος ἐν προσευχή σου, μακάριος γάρ ὁ μή διστασας, Ignatius ad. Heron. 7; (cf. references in Muller's note on the Epistle of Barnabas, 19, 5 [ET])). b. divided in interest namely, between God and the world: James 4:8. Not found in secular writings. (Philo, fragment 2:663). Double-mindedness describes the internal division that renders a person spiritually unstable, hesitant, and ineffective in faith and practice. The expression appears twice in the Epistle of James to warn believers against wavering between devotion to God and allegiance to competing desires. Occurrences in the New Testament • James 1:8 – “He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” Old Testament Roots Though the exact term is unique to James, the concept echoes earlier Scripture. Israel is censured for a “divided heart” (Hosea 10:2). Elijah confronts those “limping between two opinions” (1 Kings 18:21). The Psalms commend an undivided heart set on God’s statutes (Psalm 119:113; Psalm 86:11). These passages prepare the biblical storyline for James’s direct challenge: wholehearted allegiance is the only acceptable response to the covenant God. Theological Significance 1. Faith and Doubt: In James, double-mindedness stands opposite steadfast faith. In the context of prayer for wisdom (James 1:5-8), it depicts a requester who alternately trusts and distrusts God, nullifying his petitions. Historical Context and Early Church Understanding James addresses Jewish-Christian assemblies scattered among the nations (James 1:1). Living under social pressure and material lure, early believers faced the temptation to vacillate between faith in Christ and self-preservation. Patristic writers, such as Clement of Rome and Hermas, echoed James by urging unwavering fidelity and warning that divided hearts imperil salvation. Pastoral and Discipleship Application 1. Examination: Leaders should help believers identify competing allegiances—wealth, status, or fear—that fracture devotion. Relation to Sanctification and Prayer Single-hearted devotion is essential to progressive sanctification. As believers respond to the Spirit, integrity replaces inner conflict, enabling fruitful prayer and stable conduct. James 5:16 correlates righteous living with effective petition, contrasting the frustration experienced by the double-minded. Warnings and Promises • Warning: Unstable ways impede spiritual progress and jeopardize witness (James 1:8). Related Concepts in Scripture • Heart Circumcision – Deuteronomy 30:6; Romans 2:29 Conclusion Double-mindedness exposes a fracture between professed faith and practical loyalty. James, standing in the prophetic tradition, summons believers to decisive, wholehearted devotion to the Lord, promising intimacy with God and stability in all their ways. Englishman's Concordance James 1:8 Adj-NMSGRK: ἀνὴρ δίψυχος ἀκατάστατος ἐν NAS: [being] a double-minded man, unstable KJV: A double minded man [is] unstable INT: [he is] a man double-minded unstable in James 4:8 Adj-VMP Strong's Greek 1374 |
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