James 1:6-8

1:6 But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind. 1:7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, 1:8 since he is a double-minded individual, ¹  unstable in all his ways.

James 1:2

Joy in Trials

1:2 My brothers and sisters, ²  consider it nothing but joy ³  when you fall into all sorts of trials,

James 2:14

Faith and Works Together

2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, ⁴  if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith ⁵  save him? ⁶ 

James 3:16

3:16 For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.

¹ tn Grk “a man of two minds,” continuing the description of the person in v. 7, giving the reason that he cannot expect to receive anything. The word for “man” or “individual” is ἀνήρ (anhr), which often means “male” or “man (as opposed to woman).” But it sometimes is used generically to mean “anyone,” “a person,” as here (cf. BDAG 79 s.v. 2).

² tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited). Where the plural term is used in direct address, as here, “brothers and sisters” is used; where the term is singular and not direct address (as in v. 9), “believer” is preferred.

³ tn Grk “all joy,” “full joy,” or “greatest joy.”

⁴ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.

⁵ tn Grk “the faith,” referring to the kind of faith just described: faith without works. The article here is anaphoric, referring to the previous mention of the noun πίστις (pisti") in the verse. See ExSyn 219.

⁶ sn The form of the question in Greek expects a negative answer.