1:1 From James, 4 a slave 5 of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. 6 Greetings!
1 tn The word “only,” though not in the Greek text, is supplied in the English translation to bring out the force of the Greek phrase.
2 tn Grk “but the body of Christ.” The term body here, when used in contrast to shadow (σκιά, skia) indicates the opposite meaning, i.e., the reality or substance itself.
3 tn The genitive τοῦ Χριστοῦ (tou Cristou) is appositional and translated as such: “the reality is Christ.”
4 tn Grk “James.” The word “From” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.
5 tn Traditionally, “servant” or “bondservant.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.
6 tn Grk “to the twelve tribes in the Diaspora.” The Greek term διασπορά (diaspora, “dispersion”) refers to Jews not living in Palestine but “dispersed” or scattered among the Gentiles.
7 tn Grk “the fruit of righteousness,” meaning righteous living as a fruit, as the thing produced.
8 tn Grk “is sown.”
9 tn Or “for,” or possibly “by.”