James 1

King James Version

Full text for James Chapter 1

1¶ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

2¶ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

8A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.

9Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

10But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

11For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

13¶ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

16Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

19¶ Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain.

27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

James addresses the scattered tribes, urging them to find joy in trials, as they develop patience. He emphasizes asking God for wisdom in faith and warns against being double-minded. The chapter clarifies that God does not tempt, but rather lust leads to sin. It concludes by stressing the importance of being a doer of God's word, not just a hearer, and defines pure religion as active charity and personal purity.

Medium Summary

James, a servant of God, greets the scattered twelve tribes, encouraging them to embrace trials with joy, understanding that such tests of faith cultivate patience, leading to spiritual completeness. He instructs believers to ask God for wisdom in faith, without wavering, as God gives generously and without reproach. The epistle contrasts the fleeting nature of worldly wealth with eternal spiritual blessings, highlighting that enduring temptation brings the crown of life. James clarifies that God does not tempt with evil, but rather, individuals are tempted by their own lusts, which lead to sin and death. He asserts that all good gifts come from the unchangeable Father of lights, who begat believers by the word of truth. The chapter strongly advocates for being swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath, urging readers to be active doers of the word, not merely hearers, and defines pure religion as caring for the vulnerable and maintaining personal holiness.

Long Summary

James, identifying himself as a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, addresses the twelve tribes dispersed abroad, offering a greeting. He immediately exhorts his brethren to consider it pure joy when they encounter various trials, explaining that the testing of their faith produces steadfast patience. This patience, he states, must be allowed to complete its work so that they may become perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Furthermore, James encourages anyone lacking wisdom to ask God, who gives generously and without reproach, provided they ask in faith, without wavering, for a double-minded person is unstable and will receive nothing. He then contrasts the spiritual exaltation of the humble with the transient nature of the rich, whose earthly glory fades like a flower. A blessing is pronounced upon those who endure temptation, promising them the crown of life from the Lord. James clarifies that God is not the source of temptation, as He cannot be tempted by evil nor does He tempt anyone; rather, each person is tempted when drawn away by their own lust, which, when conceived, brings forth sin, and sin, when finished, brings forth death. He reminds them that every good and perfect gift originates from the unchangeable Father of lights, who, by His own will and the word of truth, begat believers to be a kind of firstfruits. The apostle then shifts to practical living, urging believers to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath, as human anger does not produce God's righteousness. He calls for the laying aside of all moral impurity and wickedness, and the meek reception of the engrafted word, which has the power to save their souls. Crucially, James emphasizes the necessity of being doers of the word, not just hearers, warning that mere hearing without doing is self-deception, akin to a man who forgets his reflection after looking in a mirror. Conversely, he who diligently looks into the perfect law of liberty and perseveres as a doer will be blessed in his actions. Finally, James defines true religion: it is not merely outward show or an unbridled tongue, but rather actively caring for the fatherless and widows in their distress and keeping oneself unstained by the world.

Core Concepts

  • Joy in TrialsBelievers are encouraged to find joy in various temptations and trials, understanding that these experiences test faith and develop patience, leading to spiritual completeness.
  • Wisdom and FaithThe chapter teaches that wisdom can be freely obtained from God by asking in faith, without wavering, for a double-minded person is unstable and receives nothing.
  • Source of TemptationIt clarifies that God does not tempt with evil; instead, individuals are tempted by their own lusts, which, when conceived, bring forth sin and ultimately death.
  • Divine Generosity and ImmutabilityGod is presented as the giver of every good and perfect gift, the unchangeable Father of lights, who begat believers by His own will and the word of truth.
  • Doers of the WordA central theme is the imperative to be active doers of God's word, not merely passive hearers, as only doing leads to blessing and avoids self-deception.
  • True ReligionPure and undefiled religion is defined by practical acts of charity, specifically visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction, coupled with personal purity from worldly defilement.
  • Patience and PerfectionThe development of patience through trials is presented as essential for believers to become perfect and complete, lacking nothing in their spiritual walk, receiving the crown of life for enduring.