Epistle of James: Chapter 1

James 1 3 main points of the letter which fall under the Law of
liberty/Royal Law 


·      How to face trials (and their
purpose)


 ·      Wisdom from above (not the
World) 


·      Love for brothers and sisters
(speak in love, care for the poor, no favoritism or
hierarchy) 


1:2-4 


Joy 


Purpose of trials 


Perfection. This is not moral perfection (watch our perfection
episode). This is about wholeness. The word here is teleios- the
goal. In a sacrificial context it’s something fit to offer to
God.  


Completeness. Becoming fit for service in humility.


 Lacking Nothing. If we meet our testing in the right way,
if day by day we develop this unswerving constancy, day by day we
will live more victoriously and reach nearer to Jesus Christ
himself. 


1:5-8 


Proverbs 9:10- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom. 


What is wisdom? Wisdom from a biblical perspective begins with
following the God who has now revealed himself in Jesus
Christ 


James bases the request for wisdom in God’s character… “who gives
to all generously and without reproach” 


Luke 11:11-13 


This has more to do with doubting God’s character than with
doubting that God will answer them. Wisdom comes from knowing
God’s nature Ex 34:6-7 


James describes this person as double minded or double souled.
There is a civil war going on inside. 


1:9-11 


The upside-down kingdom


 In Jesus’ teaching, Matthew and Luke’s versions of the
first beatitude (Mt 5:3, Lk 6:20) combine to show that the “poor”
who are blessed are both the economically marginalized and those
who trust in God as their only hope. 


The rich person must look beyond his wealth. The rich in
scripture are often linked to those who trust in themselves or
their possession rather than God for their deliverance. Wealth
also came with social honor and status in the Roman world. James
is cutting down the notion of hierarchy in the church based on a
status. 


James draws on Isaiah 40:6-8 to point out that his money and
possession are temporary and will fade away. 


1:12-18 


Blessed Verses 13-15 talk about how a trial or test can turn into
a temptation when faced without joy and wisdom James talks about
the life cycle of sin.  In V16 James says do not be
deceived. Again, James is basing everything on God’s character
because he continues in 17-18 to show that God is only good and
the giver of good gifts. V18 connects our new birth to Wisdom
(the word of truth) who is Jesus and our purpose in Him. 1:19-26
James returns to the topic of wisdom from above vs. worldly
wisdom and applies to the love of neighbor in verses 19-27. There
are 3 parts to this section: 19-21, 22-25, and 26. V19 introduces
the section about being quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to
anger. 20-21 expounds on slow to anger, 22-25 is about being
quick to hear, 26 is about being slow to speak. The perfect Law
of liberty (James 2:8) James speaks about the necessity of
orthopraxy (correct action) this is based in orthodoxy (correct
belief). If one only has orthodoxy this is worthless religion.
1:27 James contrasts V27 with V26 and describes what pure
religion (devotion and worship) looks like. James lists 2 things
of what pure religion is: visiting orphans/widows and remaining
unstained by the world. James clarifies that social justice is
very important but not by itself sufficient for “true religion”.
The second crucial aspect is to keep yourself unstained by the
world. World (kosmos) is used 3 other times in James (2:5; 3:6;
4:4) and each time it is talking about the fallen world systems.
These 2 tasks must be held in balance- serving the needy and
personal/communal purity.