{{ Introduction to James 50-52 AD

            This letter was most likely written about the same time the letter in Acts 15 was sent to all the congregations from the apostles in Jerusalem. That letter told the Gentile Christians and the Jewish Christians that only four things from the Law (Old Testament) were to be obeyed. Jews who had known the Law all their lives could not keep it. The Gentiles not be able too. But under the Law of Freedom neither group of people have to obey Old Testament under the New Testament.

            So James is fast-paced written to an general Christian audience and encourages all to not have a “faith only,” or a “works can save you” type attitude but to have both. James has more commandments (short and simple) per page than any other letter: Do not be a hearer only but be a doer. To believe (have faith) is to have works. Do not blame God for your lack of self-control. Listen. Practice mercy. Do not be prejudiced. Do not ignore the poor, etc. The classic “faith only” can never save you rebuke because even “demons believe” is in 2:19. James tells us how to live as Christians. He tells it “like it is.”}}

            {Note: Mark and Matthew were written at about the same time as James, or slightly before. This help explain a lot of questions why Matthew is written to the Jews and Mark was written to the Greeks.}

             ^1:1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes, the ones in the dispersion, hail to you^°!

             ^1:2 My brethren, deem^° it with all joy, whenever you^° fall into various temptations, ^1:3 knowing that the proving of your^° faith {Or: belief; and throughout the N.T.} is working out endurance. ^1:4 But let endurance have its complete work, in-order-that you^° may be complete and whole, deficient in nothing.

             ^1:5 But if anyone of you^° is deficient of wisdom, let him ask from God, the one giving to all in liberally and does not reproach any, and it will be given to him. ^1:6 But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing. For^* the one who is doubting himself has resembled a wave of the sea being blown by the wind and tossed around. ^1:7 For^* do not let that man assume that he will be receiving anything from the Lord; ^1:8 an indecisive man is restless in all his ways.

             ^1:9 But let the humble brother boast in his elevation, ^1:10 but the rich brother in his humbleness, because like the flower of grass, he will pass-away. ^1:11 For^* the sun rose together-with the burning heat, and dried up the grass, and its flower fell off and the beauty of its face perished. So will the rich man also fade-away in his pursuits.

             ^1:12 The fortunate man who is enduring temptation, because when he became approved, he will be receiving the crown of life, which the Lord promised to the ones who love^* him. ^1:13 Let no one say while he is tempted, I am tempted from God, for^* God is not temptable from evils, and he himself tempts no one. ^1:14 But each person is tempted, while he is lured out and is enticed by his own lust. ^1:15 Thereafter, when conceived, it bears sin, and sin, after it was matured, gives-birth to death. ^1:16 Do^° not be misled, my beloved brethren!

             ^1:17 Every good act of giving, and every complete gift, is from above, descending from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change or a shadow of turning. ^1:18 After he willed it, and gave-birth to us with the word of truth, ^*that^* we might be a certain first-fruit of his created things.

             ^1:19 So-then my beloved brethren, let every man be quick ^*that^* he may hear, be slow ^*that^* he may speak, and slow to wrath. ^1:20 For^* the wrath of man is not working out the righteousness of God. ^1:21 Hence, after placing away from yourselves all filthiness and the abundance of malice, accept^° the implanted word in meekness, the one which is able to save your^° souls.

             ^1:22 But become^° doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. ^1:23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one has resembled a man considering his face (which was his from birth) in a mirror. ^1:24 For^* he considered himself, and has gone away and immediately forgot what sort of man he was. ^1:25 But he who peered into the complete law, the law of freedom, and has remained in it, this one did not become a forgetful hearer, but a doer of work, this one will be fortunate in his doing^* {Or: practice; action}. {1Co 13:10}

             ^1:26 If anyone among you^° thinks himself to be outwardly religious, though he does not bridle his tongue but is deceiving his heart; this one’s religion is futile.

            ^1:27 A clean and undefiled religion with our God and Father is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unstained from the world.

             {Many try to use the other meaning of this Greek word: ‘oversee’ for ‘visit’. The ‘orphans’ can be the ‘fatherless’. See the section ‘Greek History During New Testament Times.’}