James Chapter 1

From The Open Bible Project

The Letter from James

1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings.

• (a) That is, written to no one man, city, or country, but to all the Jews generally, being now dispersed.
• (b) To all the believing Jews, whatever tribe they are from, dispersed throughout the whole world.

1:2 Count it all joy, my [1] brothers [See James Footnotes 1], when you fall into various temptations,

• (1) The first place or part concerning comfort in afflictions, in which we should not be cast down and be faint hearted, but rather rejoice and be glad.
• (c) Seeing their condition was miserable because of the scattering abroad, he does well to begin as he does.
• (2) The first argument, because our faith is tried through afflictions: which ought to be most pure, for so it suits us.

1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

• (3) The second, because patience, a surpassing and most excellent virtue, is brought about in us by this means.
• (d) That by this your faith is tried, that is, those various temptations.

1:4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

• (4) The third argument, proposed in manner of an exhortation, that true and lasting patience may be discerned from false and temporary. Affliction is the instrument God uses to polish and refine us. Therefore through the work and effect of afflictions, we are perfected in Christ.

1:5 But 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.

• (5) An answer to a private objection; It is easily said, but not so easily done. He answers that we need, in this case, a different type of wisdom than the wisdom of man, to determine those things that are best for us, since they are disagreeable to the flesh: but we shall easily obtain this gift of wisdom, if we ask correctly, that is, with a sure confidence in God, who is entirely bountiful and liberal.
• (e) By wisdom he means the knowledge of that doctrine previously mentioned, that is, why we are afflicted by God, and the fruit we reap from affliction.

1:6 But 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.

• (f) Why then, what need is there of another mediator or priest?
• (6) A digression or going aside from his matter, as compared to prayers which are conceived with a doubting mind, but we have a trustworthy promise from God, and this is the second part of the epistle.

1:7 For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.

1:8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

• (g) In all his thoughts and his deeds.

1:9 But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position;

• (7) He returns to his purpose repeating the proposition, which is, that we must rejoice in affliction, for it does not oppress us, but exalt us.
• (h) Who is afflicted with poverty, or contempt, or with any kind of calamity.

1:10 and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.

• (8) Before he concludes, he gives a doctrine contrasted to the former: that is, how we ought to use prosperity, that is, the abundance of all things: that is, so that no man pleases himself, but rather be humble.
• (i) Who has all things at his will.
• (9) An argument taken from the very nature of the things themselves, for that they are empty and unreliable.

1:11 For 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 also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits.

• (k) Whatever he purposes in his mind or does.

1:12 Blessed is the man 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.

• (10) The conclusion: Therefore we must patiently bear the affliction: and he adds a fourth argument, which comprehends the sum of all the former, that is, we gain the crown of life in this way, yet by grace according to the promise.
• (l) Affliction, by which the Lord tries him.

1:13 Let 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.

• (11) The third part of this epistle, in which he descends from outward temptations, that is, from afflictions by which God tries us: to inward, that is, to those lusts by which we are stirred up to do evil. The sum is this: Every man is the author of these temptations by himself, and not God: for we carry in our bodies that wicked corruption, which seeks opportunity forever, to stir up evil in us, from which eventually proceeds wicked behaviour, and in conclusion follows death, the just reward of them.
• (m) When he is provoked to do evil.
• (12) Here a reason is shown, why God cannot be the author of evil behaviour in us, since he does not desire evil behaviour.

1:14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

1:15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.

• (n) By sin, in this place, he means actual sin.

1:16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers.

• (13) Another reason taken from opposites: God is the author of all goodness, and so, since he is always like himself; how then can he be thought to be the author of evil?

1:17 Every 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.

• (o) From him who is the fountain and author of all goodness.
• (p) He goes on in the metaphor: for the sun by his many and various kinds of turning, makes hours, days, months, years, light and darkness.

1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

• (14) The fourth part concerning the excellency and fruit of the word of God, The sum is this: we must listen to the word of God most carefully and diligently, seeing it is the seed, through which God by his free favour and love has begotten us to himself, picking us out of the number of his creatures. The apostle condemns two faults, which greatly trouble us in this matter. For we so please ourselves, that we would rather speak ourselves, than hear God speaking. Indeed, we are angry when we are reproached and ignore it. Opposed to these faults, he sets a peaceable and quiet mind, and such as desires purity.
• (q) This is what Paul calls gracious favour, an good will, which is the fountain of our salvation.
• (r) As it were an holy type of offering, taken out of the remnant of men.

1:19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;

1:20 for the anger of man doesn't produce the righteousness of God.

• (s) That which God appoints.

1:21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to [2] save your souls [See James Footnotes 2].

• (t) By meekness he means modesty, and anything that is contrary to a haughty and proud spirit.

1:22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

• (15) Another admonition: therefore God’s word is heard, that we may model our lives according to the laws it contains. 16 He adds reasons, and those most weighty: first, because they that do otherwise seriously harm themselves.

1:23 For 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;

• (17) Secondly: because they lose the most important use of God’s word, if they do not use it to correct the faults that they know.
• (u) He alludes to that natural stain, which is contrary to the purity that we are born again into, the living image which we see in the law.

1:24 for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

1:25 But 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.

• (x) Behaviour: for works show faith.

1:26 If 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.

• (18) The third admonition: the word of God lays down a rule to not only do well, but also to speak well.
• (y) The fountain of all babbling, cursed speaking, and impudence is this, that men do not know themselves.

1:27 Pure 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.

• (19) The fourth: the true service of God exists in charity towards our neighbours, especially those who need the help of others (fatherless and widows), and purity of life.
• (z) To care for them and to help them as much as we can.