James 1 Study Notes

1:1 The use of servant indicates James’s humility and total devotion in service to his Lord. As a “servant” of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, James’s words bear authority, for he does his master’s bidding and speaks as his representative (2Pt 1:20-21). The twelve tribes dispersed abroad refers to Jewish Christians scattered outside of Israel.

1:2 The phrase whenever you experience various trials assumes that trials are a normal part of the Christian life. In fact, trials are a given for a faithful disciple (2Tm 3:12). The Jewish wisdom tradition held that the experience of “trials” was proof of a person’s faithfulness. Joy suggests an eschatological (end times) hope of deliverance from trials. The joy with which a believer endures trials in the present is a sign of their hope for future relief.

1:3 Because you know explains why they can have great joy amid various trials. Knowledge that the testing of your faith produces endurance is the basis for joy. Endurance is the ability to persevere through increasing levels of testing or suffering.

1:4 Endurance indicates that further work must be done for the purpose of making the believer mature and complete, lacking nothing. Immaturity and incompletion are not acceptable long-term states for the Christian disciple.

1:5 The world’s harsh treatment tempts us to withdraw and refuse to expose our lack of wisdom for fear of being shamed by our peers, but God gives to all generously and ungrudgingly. Thus he who lacks wisdom should ask God freely.

1:6-8 A person should ask for wisdom in faith without doubting. The basis for confidence here is not just the fact that we exercise faith, but the person in whom we place our faith—God.

1:9-11 James offered two illustrations of people facing trials: the brother of humble circumstances (the poor) and the rich. In relation to eternity, neither the poor nor the wealthy have anything to boast about; they are equals before God.

1:12 Blessed reflects the understanding that a person who walks in the paths set by the Lord sees his plight in terms of the eschatological hope that awaits him. Set within this context, his current troubles seem fleeting.

1:13-18 The term trial (v. 13) connects this group of verses to the preceding section (vv. 2-12). God’s relationship to temptation is made clear by two kinds of statements. On the one hand, there are assertions that clarify what God is not or does not do: God is not tempted . . . and he himself doesn’t tempt. On the other hand, there are assertions as to what things do come from God: every good and perfect gift.

1:13-14 The twofold negative stance (God is not tempted and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone) emphatically denies that God leads people into temptation. The source of temptation is one’s own evil desire. “Desire” focuses on the immediacy that carnal desire creates, spurring a person to act, to be drawn away and enticed like a fish is baited to bite a hook and is then pulled from the water.

1:17 Father of lights refers to God (v. 5), who created the lights that rule days and seasons (Gn 1:14-19). Who does not change like shifting shadows alludes to the fact that God’s nature is unchanging and that his promises are secure.

1:18 Word of truth refers to the gospel, by which new birth comes. Firstfruits refers to the best that the harvest produces. God gives good gifts that yield wondrous fruit, not temptation that leads to death through wayward desires.

1:19-27 The focus of this section is on proper Christian conduct, especially regarding use of the tongue.

1:19-20 Proverbs has much to say on controlling the tongue to prevent outbursts of anger (e.g., Pr 10:19; 17:27-28). James reminds believers of the virtue of being quick to listen and slow to speak to avoid unrighteous anger.

1:21 Implanted word refers to the gospel as received by the believer.

1:22 The presence of the “implanted word” should produce more than idle listening. True worship leads to putting gospel exhortations into action.

1:23-25 In the contrast between the hearer of the word who looks at his own face in a mirror and yet forgets, and the doer of the word who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, the distinction is found in whether the one who looks allows “the perfect law of freedom” (the gospel) to shape his life’s course. The person who hears and does “the word” puts faith into action and is blessed; his worship influences his life.

1:26-27 James made an observation about true religion. Just as the hearer looks in a mirror and forgets his own face, so the person who refuses to hold his tongue is deceived about his faith. He hears and talks, but he does not act on what he has heard. James’s definition of pure and undefiled religion is based on action, not heedless hearing and meaningless lip service. Care for orphans and widows has always been a special concern of God’s (e.g., Ex 22:22-24; Dt 10:18; Is 1:17).