THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

THE EPISTLE OF JAMES 

Introduction:

The letter of James is one of seven New Testament letters which are not Pauline, and are addressed to all Christians. The author was certainly not the apostle James, the son of Zebedee, nor James, the brother of the Lord, for it was composed in Greek, with an elegance and eloquence which are incompatible with anyone of a Galilaean background. It was probably written at the end of the First Century A.D. or the beginning of the Second Century. The letter of James reflects the teachings of Judaeo-Christian communities of that time across the whole of the Diaspora, and consists of a number of moral exhortations. It has two main themes: 1) praise of the poor and lowly, who are clearly designated as God's favoured ones; and 2) a strong emphasis on the importance of good works, and the belief that faith without such good works is worthless. Here James appears to be writing in opposition to Paul, for whom faith was preeminent. The Letter of James in its Greek language is a delight to read, and is probably the most eminent of the seven 'catholic' or 'general' epistles.  

Chapter 1.

Salutation.

(1) James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are in the dispersion, greetings!

Faith and Wisdom. 

(2) Consider it all joy, my brothers, whenever you fall foul of various tricks, (3) knowing that the proof of your faith is the acquisition of endurance; (4) but let endurance complete its work, so that you may be perfect and sound in all respects, and lacking in nothing. (5) But, if anyone of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep on asking God, for he gives to everyone unreservedly and without reproachment, and it will be given him. (6) But let him keep on asking in faith, without any doubts at all; for he who doubts is like a surging wave of the sea to one being driven and blown about by the wind. (7) For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (8) (for he is) a man with an unsteady mind and fickle in all his ways.  

Poverty and Riches. 

(9) But let the lowly brother exult in his elevation, (10) and the rich (one) over his lowliness, because he will pass away like a flower of the field. (11) For the sun arose with its scorching heat, and dried up the vegetation, and its flower dropped off and the beauty of its appearance perished; and the rich (man) will also pass away during his journeys across the sea.

Trial and Temptation. 

(12) Happy (is) the man who keeps on enduring temptation, because, when he has become approved, he will receive the crown of life, which he promised to those who loved him. (13) When under trial, let no man say: "I am being tried by God." For God is not to be tried with evil things, nor does he himself try anyone. (14) But each one is put to the test, being drawn out and enticed by his own desire; (15) then the desire, when it is conceived, gives birth to sin. And sin, when it has been accomplished, brings forth death.

(16) Do not be misled, my beloved brothers. (17) Every good present and every perfect gift is from above, for it comes down from the father of the lights (of heaven), with whom there is no variation or shadow of a change. (18) Because he willed (it), he brought us forth by the word of truth, for us to be some of the first fruits of his creatures. 

Hearing and Doing the Word. 

(19) Know (this), my beloved brother; every man must be swift of hearing, slow to speak, and slow to wrath; (20) for man's wrath does not promote the righteousness of God. (21) So, having put away all filthiness and the abundance of wickedness, do you accept with mildness the implanting of the word (in your heart) which can save your souls. 

(22) But you should become doers of the word, and not only hearers, misleading yourselves with false reasoning. (23) For, if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror; (24) for he looked at himself and went away, and at once he forgot what sort of man he was. (25) But he who looks closely into the perfect law that is concerned with freedom and persists in (it), because he has not become a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word, this (man) will be happy in the doing of it. 

(26) If anyone is thinking that he is a formal worshipper, yet he does not bridle his tongue, but goes on deceiving his heart, this (man's) form of worship (is) futile. (27) The form of worship (that is) clean and undefiled in the sight of our God and father is this, to go to the aid of orphans and and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Chapter 2.                                                                                               

Warning against Partiality.

(1) My brothers, you are not holding the faith in the glory of our lord Jesus Christ in relation to your respect for individuals, (are you)? (2) For, if a man, with gold rings on his fingers and in splendid clothing, should enter into your synagogue, then a poor (man) in shabby clothing should also enter. (3) But you might look upon the one wearing the splendid clothing and you might say: "You sit here in this fine place, and to the poor (one) you might say: "You keep standing there, or sit by my foot-stool." (4) Do you not discriminate among yourselves, and have you not become judges taking wicked decisions?  

(5) Listen, my beloved brothers, did not God choose the poor of the world (to be) rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he promised to those who love him? (6) But you have dishonoured the poor (man). The rich oppress you and they drag you into the law-courts, do they not? (7) Did they not defile the fine name which they gave to you? (8) If now you are carrying out the kingly law in accordance with the scripture, "You shall love your neighbour as yourself," you are doing well; (9) but, if you show any favouritism, you are committing a sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. (10) For whoever observes the whole of the law, but stumbles on one (point), he has become guilty of everything. (11) For he who said " Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder;" now, if you do not commit adultery, but you do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. (12) So speak and so do, as (those) who are going to be judged by freedom's law. (13) For judgment (is) without mercy to him who does not practise mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.  

Faith and Works.

 (14) What good (is it), my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? (15) That faith cannot save him, can it? If a brother or a sister are in a state of nakedness, and are lacking daily nourishment, (16) and one of you says to them: "Go in peace, keep warm and well fed," and yet you did not give them the things the body needs, what good (is that)? (17) So too faith, if it has no works, it is dead in itself. 

(18) But a man will say: "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I shall show you my faith through my works. (19) You believe that there is one God, (do you)? You do well; and yet the demons believe and shudder. (20) But you wish to know, do you, you vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? (21) Was not our father Abraham declared righteous by his works, after he had offered up his son Isaac upon the altar? (22) You see that faith cooperated with his works, and by these works his faith was perfected, (23) and the scripture was fulfilled which states that "Abraham put his faith in God, and it was reckoned in his case as righteousness," and he was called "the friend of God."

(24) You see that a man is justified by his works, and not by his faith alone. (25) And in the same manner, was not the harlot Rahab justified by her works, after she had welcomed the messengers and sent (them) out by another way? (26) For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Chapter 3.

The Tongue.

(1) Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment; (2) for we all stumble many times. If anyone does not stumble in speech, this man (is) perfect and able to curb the whole of his body also. (3) And, if we put bits into the mouths of horses, so that they may obey us, we also manage the whole of their body; (4) behold the ships also, so very big though they are, and they are driven by harsh winds, (and yet) they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the desire of the man at the helm wishes; (5) so too the tongue is (but) a little member and boasts of great (things).

See what a small size of fire can set such a big forest alight. (6) And the tongue is also a fire, and the tongue is constituted as a world of unrighteousness among our members, for it defiles the whole of our body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set aflame by Gehenna. (7) For every kind of wild beast, and bird, and creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed, by mankind; (8) but no man can tame the tongue; (it is) an unstable evil, full of deadly poison. (9) With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse the men who have come into existence "in the likeness of God." (10) Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. 

There is no need, my brothers, for these (things) to go on happening in this way. (11) No fountain causes the sweet and bitter (water) to bubble out of the same opening, (does it)? (12) My brothers, a fig-tree cannot produce olives, or a grape-vine figs, (can it)? Neither can salt water produce sweet (water). 

The Wisdom from Above.   

(13) Who (is) wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his works (are carried out) in the mildness of wisdom. (14) But, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and falsify the truth. 

(15) This wisdom is not (that which) comes down from above, but (is) earthly, sensual, (and) demonic; (16) for where (there is) jealousy and selfish ambition, there (there is) disorder and every vile deed. 

(17) But the wisdom from above is, first of all, chaste, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, (and) undisguised; (18) but the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

Chapter 4.

Friendship with the World.

(1) What is the source of those wars, and what is the source of those fights among you? Does not that conflict in those members of yours come from this source, from your pleasures (that is)? You long for (something), and yet you do not have (it); you kill for and strive for (something), and yet you do not obtain (it); you go on fighting and waging war. You do not have (it), because you do not ask for it; (3) you ask and you do not receive, because you ask for something inappropriate, so that you may spend (it) on your pleasures. 

(4) (Adulterers and) adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world means enmity with God? So, whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (5) Or do you think that the scripture says in vain: "(It is) with a tendency to envy that the spirit that dwells within us keeps on longing"? (6) But he gives more grace; so it says: "God resists the haughty ones, but gives grace to those who are humble." 

(7) So, subject yourselves to God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you; (8) draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse you hands, (you) sinners, and purify your hearts, (you) waverers. (9) Suffer distress, and weep and wail; let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to dejection; (10) humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you. 

Judging a brother.

(11) Do not speak against one another, brothers; he who speaks against a brother or judges his brother speaks against the law and judges the law; but, if you judge the law, you are not one who makes law but a judge. (12) There is one law-giver and judge, who is able to save and to destroy you; but who are you (to be) the one judging your neighbour?  

Warning against Boasting.

(13) Come now, (you) who say, "Today or tomorrow we shall go to this city and shall spend a year there, and we shall do business and make money." (14) (You are) one of those who does not know what their life (will be like) tomorrow; for you are a mist that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. (15) Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills (it), we shall both live and do this and that." (16) But now you take pride in vain-boasting; all such pride is evil. (17) Therefore, to him who knows (how) to do good, and doesn't do it, it is a sin.  

Chapter 5.

Warning to the Rich.

(1) Come now, (you) rich (men), weep and howl over the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. (3) Your gold and silver are corroded and their rust will act as a testimony against you, and will consume your flesh; you have stored up (something) like fire in these last days. (4) Look! the wages of the labourers who have mowed your fields, which are held up by you, are crying out, and the cries of the reapers have entered into the ears of Lord Sabaoth (i.e. the Lord of Hosts); (5) you have lived in luxury on the earth, and you have lived riotously and have fattened your hearts on the day of slaughter. (6) You have condemned and you have murdered the righteous (one). He is opposing you, (is he) not?  

Patience and Prayer.    

(7) Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord, Look! the farmer is awaiting the precious fruit of the earth, exercising patience over it until it receives (the rain), early and late. (8) Be you patient also, set firm your hearts, for the coming of the Lord had drawn near. 

(9) Do not moan against one another, brothers, so that you are not judged; look! the judge has been standing before the doors. (10) Brothers, take as an example of the suffering of evil and of the exercising of patience the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. (11) Look! we call those who have endured as blessed; you have heard of the patience of Job, and you have seen from the outcome provided by the Lord that the Lord is full of compassion and merciful. 

(12) But above everything, my brothers, do not swear, neither by heaven, nor by earth, nor by any other oath, but let your "Yes" mean 'yes' and your "No" mean 'no', so that you do not fall under judgment (i.e. into hypocrisy).

(13) Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray! Is anyone in good spirits? Let him play an instrument! (14) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call the elders of the assembly to (him), and let them pray over him, anointing (him) with oil in the name of the Lord; (15) and the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and, if he may have committed sins, it will be forgiven him. 

(16) So fully confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The entreaty of a righteous (man), when it is in operation, has much force. (17) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and yet, in prayer, he prayed that it might not rain, and it did not rain for three years and six months; (18) he prayed again, and the sky gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit. 

(19) My brothers, if anyone among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, (20) let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins.