James 4:1-10, Are our bodies “vile”?

WORD STUDY: "vile" (tapeinosis)

Phil.3:21: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, acc. to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." (KJV)

·                   Versions: NASV, NEB: humble state’ NKJV, Williams, RSV: lowly; Phillips: wretched; Beck: humble.

·       Concordance study:

o   Paul's usage:

1.    2Cor.12:21: Paul would be humbled by God

2.    Phil.2:8: Christ humbles self, became obedient

3.    Phil.3:21: God to change our "vile" bodies to be like his glorious one

4.    Col.2:18: voluntary humility, worshipping angels; things done in sincerity

5.    Col.2:23: hypocritical actions have a show of wisdom in humility

6.    Col.3:12: put on humbleness of mind

o   General Epistles:

1.    Jas.4:6: God gives grace to humble (1Pet.5:5)

2.    Jas.4:10: humble selves in presence of Lord & he'll exalt

3.    1Pet.5:6: God exalts the humble

In these passages the idea of vile, for the most part, is absurd.  Only when Paul talks about hypocrites in Colossians is anything evil or vile associated with the term. We would not be exhorted to "vileness of mind"; God wouldn't give grace to the "vile", etc.

·       Vincent: from "vile body" to "body of our humiliation." AV seems to reflect contempt of the body (Col.1:22). Nothing God made is vile.

·       Vine: "humiliation" or "low estate". "Vile" means bad, evil, dirty.

·       Interpretation: This verse does not label our bodies as dirty, filthy, for God does not create dirty, filthy bodies. Rather, the translation might be "lowly bodies" or "humble bodies" or (best) "the body of our humiliation". Our bodies are submissive, that is, confined to finite existence. But when all other things are brought into submission to his, then our bodies will be glorious rather than in humiliation.