Chapter 1

Greeting

1. James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:  Greetings.

See Epistle Structure article.

Questions:

• Who is the author of this letter?
• To whom is it being sent? In what way are we the recipients of this letter also?
• How does the author describe his relationship with Jesus? What can we learn from this?

Commentary:

 “James…”

For details of authorship please see the Introduction. I will be assuming here that the author is James of Jerusalem and kinsmen of Jesus.

“…servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…”

If the James here is the James identified above, this introduction speaks volumes about his humility. Rather than claiming his superiority of leader of the Church in Jerusalem or relation of Jesus, he simply identifies himself as a “servant”.

The Greek word used here is doulos which means “bond-servant”, which is “one who has given himself up to another’s will”.

He relates himself to Jesus not by flesh and blood.

“servant of God” was a title given to David, Moses, the prophets and now all Christians, especially Apostles.

The word “Lord” in Greek is Kyrios. In the LXX it is the word used for Yahweh, thus pointing to Jesus’ divinity.

“…scattered among the nations…”

The word used here in the original text is diaspora. Originally Jews, now Christians.

Trials & Temptations

2-4. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Questions:

• Why does James call the recipients “brothers and sisters”?
• How should “trails of many kinds” be received? Why?
• What is the sequence that James outlines?
• Can you think of an example of a “trial” that you have undergone where it resulted in your personal growth/

Commentary:

He says “when trials”, indicating that it’s inevitable. These “trials” might not just be religious persecutions, but also poverty.

The word “brothers” appears 15 times.

The “brothers” are Christians”.

“…trials of many kinds…”

This is extremely broad.

“…the testing of your faith produces perseverance…Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete”

This is the sequence that James outlines.

Perseverance is not just passive endurance, but patience and steadfastness.

Go wants us to be “fully developed, complete, not deficient in any way”.

 

Wisdom

5-8. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Questions:

• What help does God promise?
• How should we ask for Wisdom? Why?
• What actually is this wisdom? See Proverbs 2:1-5

Commentary:

He might be talking about “wisdom” in relation to the sufferring of which he has just spoken.

What is “wisdom”? Kingdom eyes. Fixes concupiscence. See Proverbs 1:2-3.

God “generiously” gives. He WANTS to.

The “waves” thrown up by the sea are surf cf Ephesians 4:14.

Someone who is of “two mintes” is unsure of whether to trust God OR himself. Inconsistent.

Riches

9-12. Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Questions:

• What does James say about wealth and poverty?

Commentary:

The mention of “humble circumstances” again points to poverty being a trial. However he then talks about the lot of the “rich”, indicating that riches could also be seen as a trial.

He makes the point that riches are temporary.

In this passage uses a semetic contrast. The poor and the rich should have the same attitude. The problem of suffering experienced by righteous in contrast with the prosperity of evil is examined in the Old Testaments (Psalms and Job in particular), but only fully revealed in Jewsus Christ, where we find the redemptive value of suffering and heavenly reward.

Note he talks about “when” trials come, which again shows it’s inevitable.

The “crown” which is referenced is an atheletic crown.

Trial & Temptation

13-18. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Questions:

• What does James say about the source of temptation?
• Trial vs. Temptation, Outside vs Inside
• In Greek, “peirasmos“
• How does James describe the process of temptation?
• How did Jesus resist His own trials and temptations? Through Scripture (Mt 4:1-11) and prayer (Mt 26:36-46)
• What did Paul say about temptation? 1 Cor 10:13, 2 Cor 12:7-10
• What does “Father of lights” mean? Sun, moon & stars
• What does “first fruits” mean? The first sheaf to thank the Lord & offered for an abundant harvest (Leviticus 23:9-11)

Commentary:

God cannot be tempted by evil, the proof is in Matthew 4:1-7.

The phrase “attracted and seduced” is a fishing term referring to bait.

The sequence of sin here is the same as it was for Adam, David etc:

1. Desire
2. Sin (through complicity)
3. (spiritual) Death

 

Receiving the word

19-21.  My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 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.

Questions:

• What does this mean?
• What’s the problem with anger?
• Where is God’s word described as a seed? Mt 13:1-9,23

Commentary:

“…”

 

Doing the word

22-27. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Questions:

• What does it mean to be “a hearer only”?
• Explain “the mirror”. A mirror tells the truth about the way things are. Act on what you see…
• How might “looking into the law that gives liberty” be turned into a devotional practise?
• What three things make up “pure religion”? Religion in Greek is “threskeia“

Commentary:

1. Controlled tongue (shows the heart)
2. Care of widows and orphans (corporal work of mercy)
3. Remain unstained by the world (meaning?)

Questions

1:1 What doe you learn about the person who sent this letter? To whom is James writing?

1:2 What does James tell those people to do?  What does that really mean? What do you think about that?

1:3 What is the consejuence of considering trials to be “pure joy”?

1:5 What is it that God can give to people? Who is it that should ask? why might it be just those people? What will God not tell you when you ask for this?

1:6 What must you do when you ask God for something? What must you not do? When you doubt, what are you like? What do you think about ithat?

1:7 What happens if you doubt? What would you think about that?

1:9 What should the poor person do? What will God do for that person?

1:10 What should the rich person be glad about? Why is that? What do you think about that? How does James describe the rich? Does that mean riches are bad?

1:12 Whom does James say that God blesses? What reward will they receive?

1:13-15 What do you learn about “trials” that tempt  you? So, what tempts you? What is the order of events with temptation and sin? Think of a sin of yours. What led you to do it? What bad results might follow such a sin?

1:16-17 What is it that we must “not make a mistake” about? What do you learn about differences between God and the sun, moon, and stars?

1:18 What is it that God chose to do for us?

1:19-21 What do you learn about how you should listen? What happens when you become angry? How do you chagne as you get angry? How might you change the way you behave when you are angry?

1:22 What mistake should you not make? How will you avoid that mistake? What will you do in a different way today?

1:26-27 What do you learn about being “religiouws”? How does James describe the religion that our Father, God, accepts? How would someone know that you have true religion?

Introduction | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5