Journal: Conspectus
Volume: CONSPECTUS 35:1 (Apr 2023)
Article: The Destructive Power Of The Tongue As A "Verbum Inefficax:" A Canonical-Literary Reading Of James 3:1–12 Through The Lens Of Speech-Act Theory
Author: Daniel T. Lioy

Conspectus 35:1 (April 2023) p. 25

The Destructive Power Of The Tongue As A Verbum Inefficax: A Canonical-Literary Reading Of James 3:1–12 Through The Lens Of Speech-Act Theory1

Dan Lioy

The Institute of Lutheran Theology; South African Theological Seminary

About The Author

Prof. Dan Lioy (Ph.D., North-West University) is a Senior Research Academic at South African Theological Seminary (in South Africa), a Professor of biblical theology at the Institute of Lutheran Theology (in South Dakota, USA), and a Dissertation Advisor in the D.Min. program at Portland Seminary (in Oregon, USA). Professor Lioy is active in local church ministry, being rostered with the North American Lutheran Church. He is widely published, including a number of academic monographs, peer-reviewed journal articles, and church resource products. [email protected]

This article: https://www.sats.ac.za/conspectus/destructive-power-tongue-verbum-inefficax https://doi.org/10.54725/conspectus.2023.1.2

Abstract

The major premise of this journal article is that human speech is either categorized as a verbum efficax or a verbum inefficax. On the one hand, as argued in section one, human speech as a verbum efficax is efficacious. Yet, as argued in section two, human speech as a verbum inefficax is inefficacious. In terms of methodology, section one puts forward an introductory thesis by concisely overviewing speech-act theory, especially as it relates to the efficacious proclamationof the gospel. Next, section two articulates a subsequent antithesis (i.e., how speech can be harmful) by examining James 3:1–12 through the lens of speech-act theory. This includes elucidating the passage’s rhetorical and literary structure, along with expositing its content by using speech-act theory as the primary heuristic filter. Lastly, section three offers a concluding synthesis by maintaining that while human speech as a verbum efficax promotes human flourishing in all areas of life, human speech as a verbum inefficax fosters the atrophying of humanity’s existence.

Keywords

human speech, verbum efficax, verbum inefficax, speech-act theory, James 3:1–12

Conspectus 35:1 (April 2023) p. 26

1. Introductory Thesis: Human Speech As A Verbum Efficax

In recent decades, specialists in biblical and theological studies have wrestled with the value of utilizing the principles and tools of speech-act theory to interpret the texts of the Judeo-Christian canon. The historical development and objective...