Discovery BoxJames 1:3-27
Context1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 1:4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything. 1:5 But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. 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.
1:9 Now the believer 2 of humble means 3 should take pride 4 in his high position. 5 1:10 But the rich person’s pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow. 6 1:11 For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. 7 So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away. 1:12 Happy is the one 8 who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God 9 promised to those who love him. 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, 10 and he himself tempts no one. 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. 1:15 Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death. 1:16 Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters. 11 1:17 All generous giving and every perfect gift 12 is from above, coming down 13 from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change. 14 1:18 By his sovereign plan he gave us birth 15 through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
1:19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! 16 Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. 1:20 For human 17 anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. 18 1:21 So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly 19 welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls. 1:22 But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves. 1:23 For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone 20 who gazes at his own face 21 in a mirror. 1:24 For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets 22 what sort of person he was. 1:25 But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, 23 and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out – he 24 will be blessed in what he does. 25 1:26 If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile. 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before 26 God the Father 27 is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
[1:8] 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).
[1:9] 2 tn Grk “brother.” Here the term “brother” means “fellow believer” or “fellow Christian” (cf. TEV, NLT “Christians”; CEV “God’s people”). The term broadly connotes familial relationships within the family of God (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.a).
[1:9] 3 tn Grk “the lowly brother,” but “lowly/humble” is clarified in context by the contrast with “wealthy” in v. 10.
[1:9] 4 tn Grk “let him boast.”
[1:9] 5 tn Grk “his height,” “his exaltation.”
[1:10] 6 tn Grk “a flower of grass.”
[1:11] 7 tn Or “perishes,” “is destroyed.”
[1:12] 8 tn The word for “man” or “individual” here is ἀνήρ (anhr), which often means “male” or “man (as opposed to woman).” However, as BDAG 79 s.v. 2 says, here it is “equivalent to τὶς someone, a person.”
[1:12] 9 tc Most
[1:13] 10 tn Or “God must not be tested by evil people.”
[1:16] 11 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.
[1:17] 12 tn The first phrase refers to the action of giving and the second to what is given.
[1:17] 13 tn Or “All generous giving and every perfect gift from above is coming down.”
[1:17] 14 tn Grk “variation or shadow of turning” (referring to the motions of heavenly bodies causing variations of light and darkness).
[1:18] 15 tn Grk “Having willed, he gave us birth.”
[1:19] 16 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.
[1:20] 17 tn The word translated “human” here is ἀνήρ (anhr), which often means “male” or “man (as opposed to woman).” But it sometimes is used generically to mean “anyone,” “a person” (cf. BDAG 79 s.v. 2), and in this context, contrasted with “God’s righteousness,” the point is “human” anger (not exclusively “male” anger).
[1:20] 18 sn God’s righteousness could refer to (1) God’s righteous standard, (2) the righteousness God gives, (3) righteousness before God, or (4) God’s eschatological righteousness (see P. H. Davids, James [NIGTC], 93, for discussion).
[1:21] 19 tn Or “with meekness.”
[1:23] 20 tn The word for “man” or “individual” is ἀνήρ (anhr), which often means “male” or “man (as opposed to woman).” However, as BDAG 79 s.v. 2 says, here it is “equivalent to τὶς someone, a person.”
[1:23] 21 tn Grk “the face of his beginning [or origin].”
[1:24] 22 tn Grk “and he has gone out and immediately has forgotten.”
[1:25] 25 tn Grk “in his doing.”
