James 1: Be doers of the word

Where James 1 sits

In the story

Act VI, Church: Acts–Jude · Jerusalem, c. AD 30–62

In the Bible

New Testament · Letters · chapter 1 of 5 in James

In James

Receive the word and do it, 1

Before

James opens here

After

James 2: Faith without deeds is dead

James 1 summary

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, greets the twelve tribes of the Dispersion, God's people scattered among the nations. He tells them to count it pure joy when trials of many kinds come, because the testing of faith produces perseverance, and perseverance, allowed to finish its work, makes them mature and complete, lacking nothing. Anyone who lacks wisdom should ask God, who gives generously and without reproach, but he must ask in faith, for the doubter is like a wave tossed by the wind, a double-minded man unstable in all his ways. The poor brother should exult in his high position and the rich in his humbling, because the rich man will fade like a flower in the scorching sun. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life promised to those who love God. No one should say that God is tempting him: God cannot be tempted by evil and tempts no one, but each person is lured by his own desire, and desire conceives and gives birth to sin, and sin full-grown gives birth to death. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, who never changes, and by His own will He gave us birth through the word of truth, as firstfruits of His creation. So they must be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger, put away all filth, and humbly accept the word planted in them, which can save their souls. They must be doers of the word and not hearers only, or they deceive themselves like a man who sees his face in a mirror and forgets it; the one who looks into the perfect law of freedom and keeps doing it will be blessed. Religion that cannot bridle the tongue is worthless; pure religion before the Father cares for orphans and widows in their distress and keeps itself unpolluted by the world.

James 1 in context

Speaking

James, most plausibly the Lord's brother and Jerusalem church leader, who identifies himself as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ (1:1)

Written for

“The twelve tribes of the Dispersion” (1:1): Christians addressed through Israel's dispersion language, likely predominantly Jewish believers, many pressed by trials and economic oppression (1:2, 9–11; 2:6)

Around it

The opening introduces concerns that recur through the letter, without supplying a rigid outline: trials and endurance (5:7–11), wisdom (3:13–18), poor and rich (2:1–13; 4:13–5:6), the tongue (3:1–12) and hearing and doing (2:14–26)

The sections of James 1

1. To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion
   1:1
2. Consider it pure joy
   1:2–4
3. He should ask God
   1:5–8
4. Like a flower of the field
   1:9–11
5. The crown of life
   1:12–15
6. Every good and perfect gift
   1:16–18
7. The word planted in you
   1:19–21
8. Doers of the word, and not hearers only
   1:22–25
9. Pure and undefiled religion
   1:26–27

Around James 1

Read alongside

• Matthew 7
• Matthew 5
• Romans 5
• 1 Peter 1
• Isaiah 40
• Romans 2

Chapters that point here

• Exodus 22
• Judges 14
• 2 Samuel 24
• Job 36
• Proverbs 1
• Proverbs 7
• Proverbs 9
• Proverbs 15
• Proverbs 18
• Isaiah 58
• Ezekiel 33
• 1 Timothy 5

Questions on James 1

1. What does the testing of faith produce, and what does perseverance lead to (1:3–4, 12)?

2. Which saying at the end of the Sermon on the Mount does 1:22–25 echo?

3. Which word links 1:4 to 1:5, and what does the link teach about trials and wisdom?

The answers are in TheoMaps Challenges.