Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls, James 1:21.
We looked briefly at lay apart all filthiness in the verse, and we commented that it is the first half of the admonition. The second part tells us to, lay aside all superfluity of naughtiness. Here we have two words that the new versions have avoided at all costs and as a result, give us a different command.
NIV: Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
ESV: Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Thanks to these two versions, we now know what the verse does not say. What then is superfluity? It is the root word of superfluous, something that is not needed. Superfluous is the adjective, superfluity is the noun. The Apostle Paul when considering how the Corinthians had shown themselves willing to give abundantly, called his charge to them superfluous. It wasn't really needed. It was unnecessary because they already were obeying it. For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:, 2nd Corinthians 9:1.
What then is naughtiness? It is a noun that comes from the adjective naught. And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren, 2nd King 2:19. The context shows us that there were springs of water but that the water was bad. Jeremiah outright defines the word. One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad, Jeremiah 24:2.
Something that is naught or naughty is something bad. What James is telling us is that we are to lay aside all superfluity of naughtiness. In other words, the useless and often redundant bad things in our lives. Church members today are utterly wrapped up in junk that cannot profit and is utterly useless to the Kingdom of God, their spiritual welfare and is in fact harming them.
I am not against video games on phones. I have however observed people who are bogged down in them. They have become naughty and they are useless to those people. There are readers of this blog who have weirdo little habits that they would be ashamed to be seen doing in public. Get rid of that naughty superfluous junk! Our King James Bible did not call it rampant or prevalent as the two silly bibles called it. Our bible said that if its redundant or not needed and it is bad, get rid of it.