James 1 – Shortcode

Endurance and Wisdom

(Parallel teachings: Romans 5:3–5; 1 Peter 1:6–7)
(Thematic parallels: Job chapters 1-42 )

• 1 James, a slave of God and of the Anointed Lord Jesus, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion,^fn“the Dispersion” refers to the Jews who were spread across – i.e. dispersed – throughout the Roman Empire. greetings.
• 2 My brothers, consider it all joy when you fall into various trials,
• 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
• 4 And let endurance have its perfect work so that you might be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
• 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask for it from God^fnquotation/allusion to Proverbs 2:6 – the One giving generously to all and not criticizing – and it will be given to him.
• 6 Yet let him ask in faith, doubting nothing.  For the man doubting is *like a sea wave, being blown by the wind and being tossed by the breeze.
• 7 For that man must not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
• 8 That man is double-minded, unstable in all his ways.
• 9 But let the brother of a low position boast in his high position,
• 10 and let the rich man boast in his lowness because he will pass away like a grassy flower.
• 11 For the sun rose with its scorching heat and withered the grass, and its flower fell, and the beauty of its appearance perished.^fnquotation/allusion to Isaiah 40:6-8, Job 14:2, and Psalm 103:15-16 (also quoted/alluded to by 1 Pet 1:24-25); also quite possibly an allusion to the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:2-23, Mark 4:3-20, and Luke 8:4-15  In this way also, the rich man will wither in his pursuits.
• 12 Blessed is the man who endures a trial, because after having become approved, he will receive the crown of life that [the Lord] promised to the men ^loving Him.
• 13 Let no one who’s being tempted say: “I’m being tempted by God.”  For God is unable to be tempted by evil, and He Himself tempts no one.
• 14 But each man is tempted, being drawn away and enticed by his own cravings.^fn“cravings” is literally “craving”
• 15 Then having conceived, a craving gives birth to sin; and having been accomplished, sin gives birth to death. ^CFParallel teachings (that sin causes death): Romans 5:12, 6:16, 6:23, 7:5, 7:13. See also 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 (death is God’s enemy, and He will defeat it).
• 16 Don’t be misled, my beloved brothers.

Doers of the word

(Parallel teachings: Matthew 7:21–27)

• 17 Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights^fnquotation/allusion to Genesis 1:3, 14-18 and Psalm 136:7-9. Also possibly to Job 38:7, which connects the morning stars with the “son of God”, which is a title of angelic beings in the Old Testament (perhaps mostly clearly in Job 1:6) with whom there’s no change or shifting shadow.
• 18 And having been resolved, He birthed us by the word of truth,^fnquotation/allusion to Genesis 1:26-27, and the broader creation narrative in Genesis 1 (also quoted/alluded to by John 1:1-3) for us to be a kind of firstfruit^fnquotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Leviticus 23:10-11, and Exodus 23:19 (also quoted/alluded to by 1 Cor 15:20, 23; Rom 8:23) of His creatures.
• 19 [So then,] *know this, my beloved brothers, and let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger,^fnquotation/allusion to Proverbs 17:27, Proverbs 14:29, and possibly Ecclesiastes 5:1-2
• 20 for man’s anger doesn’t produce God’s righteousness.
• 21 Therefore, having set aside all filthiness and abundant wickedness, welcome the implanted word^fn“the implanted word” is a possible quotation/allusion to Ezekiel 36:26-27 and Jeremiah 31:33 (also quoted/alluded to by Hebrews 8:8-12, 10:16-17) in gentle strength,^fn“gentle strength” this Greek word is often translated “meek” or “gentle”.  However, it doesn’t mean the absence of power as “meek” would suggest. Instead, it specifically refers to strength or power that is gently exercised, without undue harshness. i.e., someone who is strong but applies their strength gently. the word able to save your souls^fn“soul” this Greek word (ψυχή/psuché) refers to the animating force of living things, and thus can also refer to its life, or to the whole of any person or creature, including animals (e.g. fish in Rev 8:9; see also Gen 1 and footnotes). It’s virtually identical in meaning to the Hebrew word “נֶפֶשׁ/nephesh”. It’s frequently used as an emphatic reference to a person’s whole self, including longings, deep emotions, and inner life. (e.g. Ps 42:11) Note: while “soul” has some overlap in meaning with “spirit”, the words have distinct meanings and usages throughout scripture. For example, lions tear apart a soul in Psalm 7:2, and a “dead soul” is mentioned in Leviticus 21:11; “spirit” has no analogous usages, and it returns to God at death (Ecc 12:7; Acts 7:59). See also: Hebrews 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
• 22 And become doers of the word, and not hearers only (who are deceiving themselves.)
• 23 Because if someone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this man is *like a man considering his natural face in a mirror.
• 24 For he considered himself, and *departs, and immediately he forgot what kind of man he was.
• 25 But the man who carefully inspected the perfect law (the law of liberty) and remained in it didn’t become a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work.  This man will be blessed in his deeds.^fn“deeds” is literally “doing”
• 26 If someone [among you] appears to be religious while not bridling his tongue (but deceiving his heart), this man’s religion is worthless.
• 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to look after the fatherless^fn“fatherless” could also be translated “orphan” and refers to anyone who has lost father or both parents. Since an orphan is fatherless by definition, “fatherless” was chosen to capture both meanings. and widows in their distress,^fnquotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 10:18 and Isaiah 1:17, and possibly Deuteronomy 24:19-21 and to keep yourself unsullied by the world.