CHAPTER 1
SALUTATION
James 1:1
Author
Verses 1a: James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The book opens by mentioning the standard items: (1) author, (2)readers/hearers, (3) greetings. The author is James, the son of Josephand Mary, the half brother of Jesus.
Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3 present a list of Jesus' half-brothersas James, Joses, Simon, and Judas (Jude). The name James is Jacob,named after the Hebrew patriarch Jacob. He is also known as "Jamesthe Just," because of his piety. He assumes that the readers alreadyknow his identity. He must have been someone well-known in theearly church. It is James, the brother of our Lord, who could assumesuch recognition.
What would it be like to have Jesus in the family? Bruce Barton etal. answered that question: "Because there is so little information inScripture about Jesus' early years, we can only speculate about what itwould be like to have Jesus as a son or as an older brother. But suchwas the experience of James, the author of this book that bears hisname." Surely Mary and Joseph knew who Jesus was and must haveexplained His identity to the rest of the family. But James and othersiblings including Jude did not believe in Him. As John says, "Foreven his own brothers did not believe in him" (John 7:5). But thingschanged when James met the risen Lord. Jesus appeared personally toJames, His half brother (1 Corinthians 15:7).
In spite of that unique relationship with Jesus, James does notintroduce himself as the brother of our Lord possibly because of hishumility. Also, he did not introduce himself as "a pillar of the church."Rather, he calls himself simply as a servant of God and a servant ofthe Lord Jesus Christ. The Greek word translated "servant" is doulos,which refers to a slave. Total obedience is the work, utter humility isthe position, and unshakable loyalty is the relationship that a masterexpects from a slave. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Caleb, Joshua,Job, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Amos were all designated servants of God.Paul, Peter, Timothy, and Jude were also called servants of God. Jamesdoes not claim he was an apostle, although Paul regards him as onein Galatians 1:19. James and Jude were not among the Twelve, andtherefore they do not call themselves apostles.
Jesus is not just the promised Messiah, but also the Lord to whomservice is due. The word "Jesus" means "The Lord is salvation." Theword "Christ" mean the Messiah, the anointed One. As the popularchorus puts it:
Jesus is the sweetest Name I know
He's always just the same
Oh praise His Holy Name
That is the reason why I love Him so
Jesus is the sweetest Name I know.
James was a Jew; his Christianity never rose much above Judaism.Paul, Peter, and other apostles went off around the world preachingthe gospel, but James stayed put teaching and leading the motherchurch at Jerusalem. He remained as a leader of the Jerusalem churchuntil his martyrdom. "It has been said that Paul was the apostle offaith, John the apostle of love, and James the apostle of works."
Recipients
Verses 1b: To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
James assumes that the readers/hearers know him and his credentialsvery well. The recipients of the letter are identified as "the twelvetribes scattered among the nations." This refers to those areas outsidePalestine where the people of Israel (the original twelve tribes) werescattered. The network of Jews scattered throughout the world servedas the stepping stone for the spread of the gospel. In almost everytown Paul and others visited, the presence of a Jewish communitygave them a platform for preaching the good news. Apparently, Jamesis writing to Jewish Christians. As the next verse shows, James isaddressing his letter to the brethren. "The twelve tribes" no longerexist physically, but this has become a technical term used to denotethe people of God, the church.
Greetings
Verses 1c: Greetings.
In this case, the Greeting is simple It is not as elaborate as the greetingformula commonly used in Paul's epistles. James uses the Greek wordchairein, which literally means "rejoice," to convey a sense of joy. Hebegins on a note of joy or happiness. He expects what he writes togladden his readers/hearers. Whatever the circumstance in which wefind ourselves, we can rejoice and face the future with confidence.
CHAPTER 2
TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONSPart 1
James 1:2-11
How to Profit from Trials
Verses 2-4: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials ofmany kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, notlacking anything.
2 James loves the phrase "my brothers and sisters;" he uses it againand again; he never addresses the readers/hearers in any other way.He accepts the readers as fellow members of one spiritual communityof faith. He apparently expects believers to think of each other asbrothers and sisters. As Alec Motyer rightly said, "The first priorityfor the church in the world, under the Lordship of Christ, is thatChristians must look after themselves."
The first subject James deals with is the problem of trials. WhenJames says, "Count it pure joy," he is echoing what Jesus said, "Blessedare you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kindsof evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because greatis your reward in heaven" (Matthew 5:11, 12). This is a joy that onlythe Lord Himself can give. James says we should count it joy in themidst of trials. In other words, James says, "Cheer up, trials are goodfor you." As John Blanchard said, "Trials are sent by God in order tomake a person stand; temptations are sent by Satan to make a personfall. In testing you, God is aiming at your development; in temptingyou, Satan is aiming at your disgrace."
How can we consider trials a reason for joy? Joy is not the naturalresponse anyone would have toward trial or trouble. Our attitudetoward trials and response to them reveal our spiritual condition. AfterPaul and Silas were cast into prison at Philippi, they started prayingand singing hymns of praise to God (Acts 16:24, 25). As Paul andSilas, real Christians can find joy in trials because they are instrumentsin God's hands to prove the genuineness of our faith. As Bruce Bartonet al. said, "Joy is God-oriented rather than event-oriented because itcenters on God and his presence in our experience." We can rejoicein trials because we know that all things work together for good forthose who love God (Romans 8:28).
Some trials we face are self-caused. Lust draws us away from theLord and we reap what we sow. Other trials are spiritual; we facethem because we live the godly life. Jesus said to His disciples, "`Aservant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they willpersecute you also" (John 15:20). Job is a classic example of a saintwho went through a tough, spiritual, and physical trial. He lost hiswealth, health, and family. He came out of the trials a wiser and betterman. We face the trails of life by following what Paul wrote, "Notemptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what youcan bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out sothat you can endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
3 Why does God allow us to go through trials? There are at least fourreasons. First, trials or troubles are part and parcel of life. "Trials arenot electives in God's school; they are required courses." Job said,"Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble" (Job 14:1).Since our life is expected to be full of trouble, we expect occasionaltrouble in our family, at the workplace, at the church, and in thesociety. How we handle the troubles or trials will reveal whether ourfaith is living or dead, genuine or imitation.
Second, God allows trials in our lives to reveal whether we reallylove Him. This is a testing of our faith. Abraham's willingness tosacrifice his only son showed how much he loved God. Just as goldis tested and purified by fire, believers are tested and purified bytrials. God sends trials our way because He loves us (Hebrews 12:7, 8;Proverbs 3:11,12; Job 5:17).
Third, God allows trials in our life so that we can help othersin their trials (Luke 22:31, 32). Paul wrote, "Praise be to the Godand Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion andthe God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so thatwe can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselvesreceive from God" (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4).
Fourth, the testing of our faith is good for us. It developsperseverance in us. We become mature—meaning that we becomecomplete, perfect or full-grown. Although we cannot be perfect inthis life, reaching perfection should be our goal (Genesis 17:1).
4 Perseverance produces a whole person, recognized by the followingthree characteristics:
• Mature: This implies that we are experienced, seasoned andready to do God's work. Testing is a process which must go onuntil full maturity is achieved. Mature Christians are the end-productof trials. God cannot use immature people.
• Complete: This means that we are thoroughly developed andmature in many areas of life. Testing produces perseverance,which in turn produces wholeness. Wholeness of the Christianis a major concern of James.
• Not lacking anything: This means we are complete in all essentialareas of life. Trusting in God's faithfulness, we have all thatwe need. We may not achieve perfection until the culminationof the new age of salvation. Only then will we lack nothing inour array of virtues.
God cannot carry out His "mature and complete" work inus without our cooperation. Christians must endeavor to achievewhatever degree of perfection is possible, leaving the rest for Christ.
How to Obtain Wisdom
Verses 5-8: If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generouslyto all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, youmust believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of thesea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anythingfrom the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
5 The second topic James deals with is wisdom. Apparently, wisdomhelps people in enduring trials. Wisdom may be regarded as the abilityto apply what we know to the problems of life. An intelligent personmay have good ideas, but a wise person translates those ideas intoaction. In all areas of application, wisdom can be improved. Wisdomis the fruit of experience; it ripens with years of experience. This iswhy older people are often wiser than youths. The Bible is full of wiseadmonitions. It deals with all aspects of human life—our secular life,our social life, our sex life, and our spiritual life.
James teaches that God is the source of wisdom (Greek, sophia)and if we lack it we should ask Him. "The fear of the LORD isthe beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). "Asking for wisdom isultimately asking to be like Christ." James repeats Christ's teachinghere: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believethat you have received it, and it will be yours" (Mark 11:24). Like allof God's best gifts, wisdom usually does not come automatically. Wemust seek it. The story of Solomon clearly illustrates the need forpraying and specifically asking for wisdom (1 Kings 3:7-9). All of usneed wisdom from God, but there are those who are wise in their owneyes and do not recognize the need for wisdom in their lives. Wisdomis the skill we can all develop. It is a virtue we can all cultivate.
Our need of asking God for wisdom is mandatory, not optional.Not asking is a sign of doubting and lack of dependence on God.When we ask, God gives ungrudgingly, with no strings attached.God's bounty is inexhaustible; He gives wisdom generously to all.
6 We must ask God without doubting that He can give wisdom. Faithexcludes doubting. God is not some vending machine into which weput a prayer request and out comes whatever we choose. God will notrespond to the person who doubts. He who doubts is like "a waveof the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." Such a person is up oneday and down the next in his/her spiritual life. He is like the ancientIsrael hesitating between two opinions (1 Kings 18:21). He is like theLaodicean Christians who are neither hot nor cold (Revelation 3:16).
7 Such a person cannot receive anything from the Lord. Why? Thatperson is not operating in faith and without faith it is impossible toplease God (Hebrews 11:6). God's answers do not follow the lawsof chance and probability. God is not a liar; He will do what Hepromises. God is the One who means what He says and says what Hemeans. James Coffman said, "A firm and unwavering faith in God andin Christ Jesus underlies every Christian hope, every gospel promise.Waverers must inevitably forfeit their enrollment among the saints inlight."
8 He is a double-minded person, unstable in all his ways. The Greekword dipsychos which is translated "double-minded" literally means"two-souled," "with divided soul." James may have coined the wordbecause it is found in no other book in the NT and he uses it againin 4:8. A double-minded person is torn in two directions and cannotmake up his mind. Life must continue and cannot stand still. If hefails to make a decision, circumstances make the decision for him.
His indecision is a decision. Such a person is a doubter who keeps alloptions open just in case God "disappoints." He is Mr. Facing-both-waysin Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.
How to be Rich and Poor
Verses 9-11: Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their highposition. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they willpass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withersthe plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, therich will fade away even while they go about their business.
9 James introduces a third topic—the rich and the poor. He givespractical advice to those who are rich and those who are poor.For most people, happiness goes hand in hand with prosperity,as do poverty and misery. Both poverty and wealth can be tests ofcharacter.
James refers to the poor as "believers in humble circumstances."Although a common bond in Christ exists, their attitudes to moneyare different. One may be regarded as economically poor whenone finds it hard to meet one's basic needs Not one makes povertya choice or lot. Poverty comes as a result of making a combinationof wrong choices. But the poor person should take pride in his highposition. The only thing we are allowed to boast about is knowingGod (Jeremiah 9:23, 24).
10 Riches are acquired through hard work. It is God's perfect will thatbelievers should be rich, while it is God's permissive will that theyare poor. This will become evident in the next statement. God says:"However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the landthe LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, hewill richly bless you, if only you fully obey the LORD your God andare careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today....If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns ofthe land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardheartedor tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lendthem whatever they need" (Deuteronomy 15: 4,5,7,8). We see fromthis scripture that poverty is God's permissive will, while riches andwealth are God's perfect will. The Bible nowhere condemns richesbut warns against the danger of prosperity (Deuteronomy 8:17, 18;Matthew 13:22; Jeremiah 9:23) It is not money but the love of moneythat is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Although the rich are greatin this world, they are made equal with the poor in God's world. Sothe rich should take pride in their low position.
11 Just as anybody, the rich man fades away and he is no more. Life isuncertain. James says that the rich person may fade away "even whenhe goes about his business." As the poor Christian forgets all thematerial poverty, the rich Christian should forget his material riches.The two are equal in the sight of God.
Note that reference is made to the rich man himself; nothing issaid about his wealth. He will pass away while being busy pursuingmaterial wealth. The rich will die just like the poor.
