The Epsitle of James: a Commentary | Page 2

beauty is
destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away
even while he goes about his business.
12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because
when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life
that God has promised to those who love him.
13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting
me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt
anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil
desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after
desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it
is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every good and
perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of
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the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting
shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of
truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be
quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life
that God desires. 21Therefore, 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.
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive
yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the
word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks
at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes
away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the
man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives
freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he
has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not
keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his
religion is worthless. 27Religion 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.
1:1 Formal greetings
'James' is a true epistle, beginning true to the style of
its day: the writer gives us his credentials and tells us
to whom he is writing, and addresses his recipients.
'The Lord Jesus Christ'. There may be no formal
theology in 'James', but we find it skin-deep. James is
the servant of Jesus, who is:
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a. Lord.- one who is head, and the Greek kurios
ascribes deity. (The Christians suffered Roman
persecution because they refused to say Caesar
Kurios)
b. Christ- the anointed one; a word equally
translatable as 'Messiah'
1:2-12 The need for patience and prayer
Before launching into his main argument, James
highlights two areas of importance for the Christian
disciple: patience and prayer. Faith is bound to be
tested; by world, flesh and devil (all will be considered,
especially in a concentrated section 4:4-10). Our own
flesh can 'persecute' us in the sense of causing trial.
Satan will certainly wreak all the havoc he can.
For the world, status is all-important. If we follow the
way of faith, we must be prepared for loss of worldly
status. For God chooses the weak things of this world,
and the foolish. (1 Cor 1:20,27-28)
Perseverance will be rewarded. The reward is the
'crown of life' (v12) which far outweighs any worldly
trial. And our belief needs to be steadfast and rock-
like. Otherwise all the tempests of life will push us this
way and that, and may cause our downfall (Matt 7:24-
27). No! We are to ask God, who is gracious and
generous.
v2 'trials' These are the trials and temptations allowed
by God and which 'work together for our good' (Rom
8:28)
v3 'develops perseverance'. The word for 'develop' is
an intensive word- a total development
'to persevere' (upomeno) is to 'bear up under
suffering'. We may do so in the knowledge that 'you
will receive what God has promised' (Heb 10:36)
The testing of faith produces character (Rom 5:3-5;
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where the same word is used for 'perseverance')
v4 'must finish' - a continuous tense
'mature and complete' 'mature' (teleios) comes from
the sense of perfection, not lacking (especially in
goodness, cp Matt 5:48). 'complete' backs this up.
v5 'ask God'- an ongoing asking; the continuous tense
reflects Matt 7:7
v6 'not doubt'- diakrino implies a sense of judgment.
Our asking of God must be in simple faith, not judging
the outcome, nor his generosity! (cp Matt 21:21)
v8 'double minded'. This is a literal translation di-
psukos. It is no use being in two minds!
v9 We are reminded here of Matt 23:12 ('Whoever
exalts himself will be humbled; whoever humbles
himself will be exalted) We are to choose the low
position for ourselves.
v12 If we have the lowly position we are actually
'blessed', makarios, (root mak, large): pronounced
and happy largesse. And of what does that consist?
Our reward: the 'crown of life' (stephanou tes zoes).
1:13-16 Temptation, sin and death
James now uses a play on words to change tack.
From what he has said so