The Epistles · Chapter 1 of 5

James 1

James writes to scattered believers, teaching that trials, met with joy, produce endurance and maturity. He urges asking God for wisdom in unwavering faith, warns the double minded, and traces how desire, unchecked, breeds sin and death. Every good gift descends from the unchanging Father of lights. True faith listens, restrains anger, receives the implanted word, and acts, caring for widows and orphans.

What happens in James 1

Opening as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, James greets believers scattered abroad and immediately reframes suffering: count trials as joy, because tested faith works patience, and patience matured leaves a person complete. When wisdom is lacking, he says, ask God, who gives generously and without reproach, but ask in faith, since the doubter is tossed like a wave and receives nothing. He levels rich and poor before the fading grass of mortality, and blesses the one who endures temptation with the crown of life.

He insists God tempts no one; rather desire conceives sin, and sin matured brings death. All genuine good comes down from the Father of lights, in whom is no shifting shadow, who birthed us by the word of truth. So be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, and become doers of the word, not forgetful hearers. Pure religion visits the afflicted and keeps itself unstained.

James 1 in context

James, traditionally the brother of Jesus and a leader in the Jerusalem church, writes to Jewish Christians dispersed across the empire, likely one of the earliest New Testament letters. His style echoes wisdom literature and the Sermon on the Mount, pressing practical holiness.

Chapter one sets the letter's agenda: faith proven under pressure, and belief that shows itself in conduct rather than in words alone.

Main themes of James 1

James 1 (KJV)

1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. 27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Verses to carry from James 1

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”James 1:5

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”James 1:17

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”James 1:22

Reflection

Consider one trial you are carrying now. James does not tell you to enjoy it, but to look for the work God may be doing through it, and to ask him plainly for the wisdom you lack. Then choose one thing you have heard from him and simply do it today.

A prayer from James 1