1:1 From James, 1 a slave 2 of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. 3 Greetings!
2:1 My brothers and sisters, 4 do not show prejudice 5 if you possess faith 6 in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 7
5:7 So be patient, brothers and sisters, 12 until the Lord’s return. 13 Think of how the farmer waits 14 for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient 15 for it until it receives the early and late rains.
1 tn Grk “James.” The word “From” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.
2 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.
3 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.
1 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.
2 tn Or “partiality.”
3 tn Grk “do not have faith with personal prejudice,” with emphasis on the last phrase.
4 tn Grk “our Lord Jesus Christ of glory.” Here δόξης (doxhs) has been translated as an attributive genitive.
1 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.
1 tn Grk “Behold! We regard…”
2 sn An allusion to Exod 34:6; Neh 9:17; Ps 86:15; 102:13; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2.
1 tn Grk “anointing.”
1 tn Grk “brothers”; this phrase occurs again three times in the paragraph. See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.
2 tn Or “advent”; or “coming” (also in v. 8).
3 tn Grk “Behold! The farmer waits.”
4 tn Grk “being patient.”