James 1

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Main point summary

The Gift of Steadfast Faith under Trials brings Blessing that shows itself as we live out the Word in deed.

Outline

Intro 1:1 Steadfast Joy in Trials - that we may be perfect & complete (1:2-4) Ask in faith to receive, doubting withholds blessing & brings instability. (addresses "... lacking nothing" specifically the lack of wisdom) (1:5-8) Rich, weep for you & you riches will soon pass (addresses the lack of wealth) (1:9-11) Blessed is the one who endures under trials for he will receive the crown of life. Temptations come not from God but from our personal lusts and produces sin with leads to death. (addresses the trials of 1:2-4) (1:12-15) Don't be deceived - Know that every good gift comes from God above, by His word of truth that we should be "First-fruits" (addresses the "perfect" of 1:2-4) (1:16-18) Know! Be quick to listen and slow to speech & anger. Put away evil & Receive! the word which saves & is saving your soul. (1:19-21) Be doers of the word who act and receive a blessing, and not merely deceived hearers (1:22-25) False religion of an uncontrolled tongue is worthless, true religion shows itself in care for the vulnerable & personal holiness. (1:26-27)

Explaination

The Holy Spirit through James calls the Church to a Steadfast Faith in the midst of trials. In these trials there is a promise of blessing and sufficiency, a sufficiency not in ourselves, but through the Lord's perfect blessing and that these trials - if endured rightly - will have a powerful effect for good in the life of the believer and the church. James then addresses specific questions or concerns that might occur in the hearts of his readers. Wisdom is promised to those who ask ( 1:5-8 ) but they must ask in faith trusting that they will in deed receive their blessing. The question of money & prestige is answered with the lowly called to boast in their riches and a stern rebuke to the Rich - who will fade away in the midst of their pursuits ( 1:9-11 ) like grass in the Levant. But what kind of blessing is it to be in persecution? (1:12-18) Steadfastness in trial comes with the promise of the "Crown of Life" to those who love God, that will far exceed in Joy what the persecution costs in this life (1:12-15) see also Heb 12:2), along side this promise is a warning against blaming God for our temptations when the desire that sins works on lies within us and every good and perfect gift (yes, even this persecution) comes from the Father of lights who doesn't vary and change (in character or purpose) and purposes that we should bear fruit (1:16-18). Like Paul, James always links true right-thinking (orthodoxy) with right-practice (orthopraxy). James 1:19-27 leads us in application on how to live out the righteousness of God through controlling or speech and temper (19-21), our words must align with The Word not just in form but in action, lest we deceive ourselves and be like the foolish man who sees his won face in the mirror and promptly forgets who he is. Our faith is a faith the inspires action consistent with our belief ( 1:22-25 ). Grounded on that, our Religion must show itself in how we control our tongue, care for widows an orphans (knowing that this class includes at least these as well as others in need) and keeping ourselves pure, or we show our claim of religion to be false.

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editing

NT

James 1:1-27

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Introduction

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

Ἰάκωβος θεοῦ καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοῦλος ταῖς δώδεκα φυλαῖς ταῖς ἐν τῇ διασπορᾷ χαίρειν.

Steadfast Joy in Trials

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

Πᾶσαν χαρὰν ἡγήσασθε, ἀδελφοί μου, ὅταν πειρασμοῖς περιπέσητε ποικίλοις,

for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

γινώσκοντες ὅτι τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως κατεργάζεται ὑπομονήν·

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

ἡ δὲ ὑπομονὴ ἔργον τέλειον ἐχέτω, ἵνα ἦτε τέλειοι καὶ ὁλόκληροι, ἐν μηδενὶ λειπόμενοι.

Ask in Faith

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν λείπεται σοφίας, αἰτείτω παρὰ τοῦ διδόντος θεοῦ πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς καὶ μὴ ὀνειδίζοντος, καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ·

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

αἰτείτω δὲ ἐν πίστει, μηδὲν διακρινόμενος, ὁ γὰρ διακρινόμενος ἔοικεν κλύδωνι θαλάσσης ἀνεμιζομένῳ καὶ ῥιπιζομένῳ·

For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

μὴ γὰρ οἰέσθω ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος ὅτι λήμψεταί τι παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου

he is a double- minded man, unstable in all his ways.

ἀνὴρ δίψυχος, ἀκατάστατος ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ.

Rich - Weep!

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,

Καυχάσθω δὲ ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὁ ταπεινὸς ἐν τῷ ὕψει αὐτοῦ,

and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.

ὁ δὲ πλούσιος ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ὡς ἄνθος χόρτου παρελεύσεται.

For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

ἀνέτειλεν γὰρ ὁ ἥλιος σὺν τῷ καύσωνι καὶ ἐξήρανεν τὸν χόρτον, καὶ τὸ ἄνθος αὐτοῦ ἐξέπεσεν καὶ ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο· οὕτως καὶ ὁ πλούσιος ἐν ταῖς πορείαις αὐτοῦ μαρανθήσεται.

Blessing on the Steadfast

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Μακάριος ἀνὴρ ὃς ὑπομένει πειρασμόν, ὅτι δόκιμος γενόμενος λήμψεται τὸν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς, ὃν ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

μηδεὶς πειραζόμενος λεγέτω ὅτι Ἀπὸ θεοῦ πειράζομαι· ὁ γὰρ θεὸς ἀπείραστός ἐστιν κακῶν, πειράζει δὲ αὐτὸς οὐδένα.

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

ἕκαστος δὲ πειράζεται ὑπὸ τῆς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας ἐξελκόμενος καὶ δελεαζόμενος·

Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

εἶτα ἡ ἐπιθυμία συλλαβοῦσα τίκτει ἁμαρτίαν, ἡ δὲ ἁμαρτία ἀποτελεσθεῖσα ἀποκύει θάνατον.

Every Perfect Gift

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

μὴ πλανᾶσθε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Πᾶσα δόσις ἀγαθὴ καὶ πᾶν δώρημα τέλειον ἄνωθέν ἐστιν, καταβαῖνον ἀπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς τῶν φώτων, παρ’ ᾧ οὐκ ἔνι παραλλαγὴ ἢ τροπῆς ἀποσκίασμα.

Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

βουληθεὶς ἀπεκύησεν ἡμᾶς λόγῳ ἀληθείας, εἰς τὸ εἶναι ἡμᾶς ἀπαρχήν τινα τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων.

Meekly Receive the Word

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

Ἴστε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί. ἔστω δὲ πᾶς ἄνθρωπος ταχὺς εἰς τὸ ἀκοῦσαι, βραδὺς εἰς τὸ λαλῆσαι, βραδὺς εἰς ὀργήν,

for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

ὀργὴ γὰρ ἀνδρὸς δικαιοσύνην θεοῦ οὐκ ἐργάζεται.

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

διὸ ἀποθέμενοι πᾶσαν ῥυπαρίαν καὶ περισσείαν κακίας ἐν πραΰτητι δέξασθε τὸν ἔμφυτον λόγον τὸν δυνάμενον σῶσαι τὰς ψυχὰς ὑμῶν.

Be Doers of the Word

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Γίνεσθε δὲ ποιηταὶ λόγου καὶ μὴ ἀκροαταὶ μόνον παραλογιζόμενοι ἑαυτούς.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.

ὅτι εἴ τις ἀκροατὴς λόγου ἐστὶν καὶ οὐ ποιητής, οὗτος ἔοικεν ἀνδρὶ κατανοοῦντι τὸ πρόσωπον τῆς γενέσεως αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐσόπτρῳ,

For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

κατενόησεν γὰρ ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀπελήλυθεν καὶ εὐθέως ἐπελάθετο ὁποῖος ἦν.

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

ὁ δὲ παρακύψας εἰς νόμον τέλειον τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας καὶ παραμείνας, οὐκ ἀκροατὴς ἐπιλησμονῆς γενόμενος ἀλλὰ ποιητὴς ἔργου, οὗτος μακάριος ἐν τῇ ποιήσει αὐτοῦ ἔσται.

False & True Religion

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

Εἴ τις δοκεῖ θρησκὸς εἶναι μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ ἀλλὰ ἀπατῶν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

θρησκεία καθαρὰ καὶ ἀμίαντος παρὰ τῷ θεῷ καὶ πατρὶ αὕτη ἐστίν, ἐπισκέπτεσθαι ὀρφανοὺς καὶ χήρας ἐν τῇ θλίψει αὐτῶν, ἄσπιλον ἑαυτὸν τηρεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ κόσμου.