James1
World English Bible · Public Domain
1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings.
2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,
3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.
7For that man shouldn’t think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
8He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position;
10and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.
11For the sun arises with the scorching wind and withers the grass; and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So the rich man will also fade away in his pursuits.
12Blessed is a person who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord promised to those who love him.
13Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.
14But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed.
15Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. The sin, when it is full grown, produces death.
16Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers.
17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow.
18Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
19So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
20for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.
21Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.
23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror;
24for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.
26If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
27Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for James 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: How to apply to God under troubles, and how to behave in prosperous and in adverse circumstances. (1–11). To look upon all evil as proceeding from ourselves, and all good from God. (12–18). The duty of watching against a rash temper, and of receiving the word of God with meekness. (19–21). And of living according thereto. (22–25). The difference between vain pretences and real religion. (26, 27).
vv1-11
Christianity teaches men to be joyful under troubles: such exercises are sent from God's love; and trials in the way of duty will brighten our graces now, and our crown at last. Let us take care, in times of trial, that patience, and not passion, is set to work in us: whatever is said or done, let patience have the saying and doing of it. When the work of patience is complete, it will furnish all that is necessary for our Christian race and warfare. We should not pray so much for the removal of affliction, as for wisdom to make a right use of it. And who does not want wisdom to guide him under trials, both in regulating his own spirit, and in managing his affairs? Here is something in answer to every discouraging turn of the mind, when we go to God under a sense of our own weakness and folly. If, after all, any should say, This may be the case with some, but I fear I shall not succeed, the promise is, To any that asketh, it shall be given. A mind that has single and prevailing regard to its spiritual and eternal interest, and that keeps steady in its purposes for God, will grow wise by afflictions, will continue fervent in devotion, and rise above trials and oppositions. When our faith and spirits rise and fall with second causes, there will be unsteadiness in our words and actions. This may not always expose men to contempt in the world, but such ways cannot please God. No condition of life is such as to hinder rejoicing in God. Those of low degree may rejoice, if they are exalted to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom of God; and the rich may rejoice in humbling providences, that lead to a humble and lowly disposition of mind. Worldly wealth is a withering thing. Then, let him that is rich rejoice in the grace of God, which makes and keeps him humble; and in the trials and exercises which teach him to seek happiness in and from God, not from perishing enjoyments.
vv12-18
It is not every man who suffers, that is blessed; but he who with patience and constancy goes through all difficulties in the way of duty. Afflictions cannot make us miserable, if it be not our own fault. The tried Christian shall be a crowned one. The crown of life is promised to all who have the love of God reigning in their hearts. Every soul that truly loves God, shall have its trials in this world fully recompensed in that world above, where love is made perfect. The commands of God, and the dealings of his providence, try men's hearts, and show the dispositions which prevail in them. But nothing sinful in the heart or conduct can be ascribed to God. He is not the author of the dross, though his fiery trial exposes it. Those who lay the blame of sin, either upon their constitution, or upon their condition in the world, or pretend they cannot keep from sinning, wrong God as if he were the author of sin. Afflictions, as sent by God, are designed to draw out our graces, but not our corruptions. The origin of evil and temptation is in our own hearts. Stop the beginnings of sin, or all the evils that follow must be wholly charged upon us. God has no pleasure in the death of men, as he has no hand in their sin; but both sin and misery are owing to themselves. As the sun is the same in nature and influences, though the earth and clouds, often coming between, make it seem to us to vary, so God is unchangeable, and our changes and shadows are not from any changes or alterations in him. What the sun is in nature, God is in grace, providence, and glory; and infinitely more. As every good gift is from God, so particularly our being born again, and all its holy, happy consequences come from him. A true Christian becomes as different a person from what he was before the renewing influences of Divine grace, as if he were formed over again. We should devote all our faculties to God's service, that we may be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.
vv19-21
Instead of blaming God under our trials, let us open our ears and hearts to learn what he teaches by them. And if men would govern their tongues, they must govern their passions. The worst thing we can bring to any dispute, is anger. Here is an exhortation to lay apart, and to cast off as a filthy garment, all sinful practices. This must reach to sins of thought and affection, as well as of speech and practice; to every thing corrupt and sinful. We must yield ourselves to the word of God, with humble and teachable minds. Being willing to hear of our faults, taking it not only patiently, but thankfully. It is the design of the word of God to make us wise to salvation; and those who propose any mean or low ends in attending upon it, dishonour the gospel, and disappoint their own souls.
Key Words
Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos): Jacobus, the name of three Israelites
δοῦλος (doûlos): a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency)
θεός (theós): figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
κύριος (kýrios): supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
Χριστός (Christós): anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
δώδεκα (dṓdeka): two and ten, i.e. a dozen
φυλή (phylḗ): an offshoot, i.e. race or clan
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
Cross References
James 1Parallel logic: tribulation produces patient endurance (patience) and tests faith.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallels the contrast between merely hearing the law and actually doing/obeying it.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Jesus' warning against building on sand by hearing His words but not doing them.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The trial of faith, more precious than gold, yields praise and endurance.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Direct echo of the prophetic imagery comparing human frailty and wealth to grass that withers.
Supported by John Calvin
Exhorts laying aside all malice/guile, echoing the call to put away all filthiness.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Explicates James's theme of the unbridled tongue as a mark of empty religion.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Confirms the source of wisdom: the Lord gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Solomon's prayer of faith for wisdom to govern, which God answered liberally without upbraiding.
Supported by JFB
Christ's promise that those who ask will receive from a generous Father.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God's unchangeability: 'I am the Lord, I change not,' mirroring 'no variableness, neither shadow of turning.'
Supported by Matthew Henry
Regeneration linked directly to the will of God, not of human flesh.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Being born again not of corruptible seed, but by the word of God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophetic description of those who listen to God's words but do not practice them.
Supported by John Calvin
Addresses the theme of self-deception in relation to hearing and true wisdom.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Echoes the promise of being blessed in one's deeds by being a doer.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Connects directly to the key phrase 'law of liberty' used elsewhere in James.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Asking in prayer believingly, contrasted with wavering or doubting.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Believers redeemed from among men to be the dedicated 'firstfruits' unto God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Exhortation to be swift to hear and cautious in speech when approaching God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Exposes self-deception where a person thinks himself to be something when he is nothing.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Pronounces a blessing specifically upon those who hear the word of God and keep it.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Old Testament command to keep the tongue from evil, paralleling the need to bridle it.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel command to not be conformed to, or spotted by, the surrounding world.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies James as an apostle of the circumcision ministry to the Jews.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The promised 'crown' given to those who love the Lord's appearing.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The direct theological link between sin's maturity and its consequence: death.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Highlights Christian liberty in contrast to legal bondage, relating to the law of liberty.
Supported by JFB
Connects walking at liberty with diligently seeking and keeping God's precepts.
Supported by Matthew Poole