James - Chapter 1, Part 1
JAMES 1:1-18
1:1 GREETINGS:
James is the Greek version of the common Hebrew name Jacob.
The road to faith for James is captivating. At first the family of Jesus, including James was hostile to the ministry of Jesus. John 7:5 teaches:
“For neither did his brethren believe in him.”
Some of those close to Jesus even tried to stop his ministry. Mark 3:21 teaches:
“And when His friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him, : for they said, He is beside himself”.
Yet following the ascension of Jesus, these were among the strongest believers. Acts 1:14 tells us:
“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren”.
For James himself, this turn toward faith likely started from the moment when Jesus appeared to him after his rising as taught in 1 Cor 15:7:
“After that, he was seen of James, then of all the apostles”.
James emerges as the leader of the church in Jerusalem. It is to James that Peter reports after his miracle release from prison (Acts 12:17). It is James who presides over the first Jerusalem council, which is to decide the important issue of whether to admit Gentiles to the church (Acts 15:13-21).
James is consulted by Paul during Paul’s first trip to Jerusalem after his conversion (Gal 1:19). Later James joins in the official recognition of Paul’s call as the apostle to the Gentiles (Gal 2:8-10).
It is to James that Paul brings the collection for the poor (Acts 21:17-19). We know that James was a strict Jew, following closely Mosaic law (Gal 2:12), yet he did back Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles (Acts 21:17-26).
James was martyred in 62 AD. The high priest, Annas the Younger seized James and demanded that he renounce his faith in Christ in front of a large crowd. James fearlessly not only did not renounce but rather used the moment and the large crowd to witness strongly for Jesus and His gospel. He was thrown down and beaten with clubs and then stoned to death.
It has been written that during his leadership of the Jerusalem church, he was known as James the Righteous. He was said to have knees as worn and calloused as a camel from his constant prayer.
After his death, the church in Jerusalem splintered, and with the coming of the Roman armies shortly thereafter, the members fled to Pella in Jordan, never to return.
We should note that James does NOT introduce himself as an apostle nor as a church leader in 1:1, but rather indicates his humility by calling himself only a servant of God.
In this first chapter, James has many topics he wishes to include in his teaching to the Jews who have scattered. In quick sequence James:
Encourages his readers to respond positively to their trials (1:2-4).
Exhorts them to ask in faith for wisdom (1:5-8).
Comforts the poor and warns the rich (1:9-11).
Gives a blessing on Christians who endure the trials (1:12).
Warns believers not to blame God for temptations (1:13-15).
Reminds that all good gifts, including new birth, come from God (1:16-18).
Warns about the sins of speech (1:19-20).
Exhorts believers to be obedient to the word they have received (1:21-25).
Reminds of the essence of true religion (1:26-27).
Now in 1:2-18 James presents what is called a “double opening” by giving his initial themes twice, in verses 2-11 and again in verses 12-27. These three themes are testing, wisdom, and riches.
1:2
James says that believers should view the difficulties of life with enthusiasm because the outcome of those trials will be to their benefit.
This view is called “pure joy” and is not just a feeling but is rather active acceptance of adversity. Remember the thought of Job as he reminded us that from God comes blessings but also difficulty.
James introduces the term “my brothers” and this term indicates the letter is not for the world but for members of the church. James is not urging Christians to seek out trials, but rather to accept a new way to react to the trials of life that surely will come. Let us not forget these were believers under strong persecution.
1:3
One reason that the Christian can rejoice with trials is because immediate good comes with the pain. One true virtue that results from this type of Christian life is that endurance or perseverance through the trying of faith will bring patience.
1:4
Perfection (meaning completion not meant to reflect one who is without sin) comes through patient effort through time. It is not automatic.
1:5
Wisdom as described here is not just accumulated knowledge. It is understanding how to turn trials into pure joy. It is God given insight which leads to right living. Notice that James clearly teaches that we must ask for wisdom. Remember “ye have not because ye ask not”.
1:6
Asking must be done in faith and that faith must not waver. James here provides one of his strongest teachings, which is that unanswered prayer is connected to the quality of the asking, not to the unwillingness of God to give.
Remember Isaiah 59:2 which teaches that it is our sins which hide the face of God from us.
1:7
The man who wavers in faith or has not cleared his own sin through sincere confession seeking forgiveness shall not receive anything from the Lord. This short verse should cause each of us to pause, ponder, and pursue change in our relationship with the Lord. Remember the parable of the talents taught that those who seek and accept His wisdom will be granted more wisdom.
1:8
James brings forward one of his most famous themes, which is the double mindedness of man. To doubt is to be of two minds, to be torn between believing and unbelieving, to have both positive and negative thoughts concerning faith. Such a man is unstable not just in faith, but in all his ways.
This issue is one which to a greater or lesser degree occupies the mind of each follower. We must overcome the carnal and worldly within our life and focus upon the spiritual and holy things in order not to remain double minded. Saint Augustine was among the best examples of this issue of being of two minds as he early in his spiritual life fought hard again the sin of lust and finding himself unable to contain his lust wrote the following prayer:
“O Lord, grant me purity, but not yet”.
1:9
Those who are poor in a material and social sense are looked down upon because they have little. These should actually rejoice or take pride in their adversity. While they are poor in worldly goods, they are rich in their new position as children of God. They truly have the higher position in the coming kingdom and should take joy in that fact.
1:10-11
Those who are now rich in worldly goods are made low and is reminded that he is like the flower of the grass, passing away with time. The goods of this world provide no security toward the life eternal. To James, the rich are outside the community of the Lord and actually oppress believers.
James here reverses the long accepted belief in Jewish life that riches are God’s blessing and favor. We will see this reversal again in 2:9. James returns the readers to the OT scripture of Isaiah 40:6-8 which teaches that the grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of God remains forever.
1:12
Happy is he or she who has withstood the trials of life to the end and has endured in faith.
Here James joins with Peter (1 Peter 1:6-7) and Paul (Romans 5:1-5) to announce the final reward for those who endure in faith, a crown of life. Crowns were typically given in the early days to winners of races or athletic events. Those winners had to endure through difficulty, pain, & training to gain the crown. James teaches us that believers should expect no less difficulty, pain, & training to gain our crown. It is reserved for those who remain in faith to the end.
1:13-15
Endurance is not the only option. For some there is also failure. Now James examines the causes of that failure.
The focus shifts from enduring outward trials to enduring inward trials, resisting inward temptations. Notice how perfectly James presents the reaction of many who (even today) blame God for their submission to temptations of evil.
James provides a stair step of progression in temptation for our consideration. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and is enticed. (Remember Adam & David as examples to us that all are tempted). (Remember Job who endured to the end in faith),
Notice how James uses the comparison of one who allows himself to be seduced and submits to the seduction, conceiving a child that is called sin, which when it is finished, brings forth spiritual death. Paul uses this exact example of the chain from desire to death in Romans 7:7-12.
Mark spoke strongly of this matter in 7:21-23 showing that the true source of evil is a person’s own inner inclination:
“All these evil things come from within and defile the man”.
Those who fail to conquer these evil parts of our spirit are clearly said by James to receive the opposite of the crown of life. This opposite is death.
1:16-18
James sends his clearest and brightest warning:
“DO NOT ERR, MY BELOVED BRETHREN”.
God does not send the test. He sends the gift of wisdom to help us meet the trials that will surely come.
He is the creator of the stars and all heavenly lights. While the stars shift and change and turn and fall into shadow, He does not. He never changes nor falls into shadows of turning.
Now James says that the Gospel has begotten us. (Remember the teaching of Jesus to Nicodemus, ye must be born again). The word of truth makes us the first fruits of all His creatures. In the early days of sacrifice, it was the first fruits that were the very best and these were to be offered up as an acceptable sacrifice. The symbol here is that the harvest is His, not ours.
