James formally introduces this letter in verse 1. Writers often began letters in this way in the ancient Near East.
These two words occur together in (James 1:12-13). Both words speak of a person who is able to choose between doing something good and doing something evil. The difference between them is important. God is testing the person and wants him to do what is good. Satan is tempting the person and wants him to do what is evil.
The crown that a man who passes the test receives is a reward, something that people who do something especially good receive. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=other#reward)
James uses many metaphors in this chapter, and you will need to understand the material on the metaphor page before you can translate them well. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
It is not clear to whom James wrote this letter. He calls himself a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, so he was probably writing to Christians. But he calls his readers "the twelve tribes in the dispersion," words which usually refer to Jews. It is possible that he is using the words as a metaphor for "all people whom God has chosen" or that he wrote the letter at a time when most Christians had grown up as Jews.
| >>
The apostle James writes this letter to all the Christians. Many of them were Jews, and they lived in many different places.
The phrase "this letter is from" is implied. Alternate translation: "This letter is from James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
Possible meanings are 1) this is a synecdoche for Jewish Christians, or 2) this is a metaphor for all Christians. Alternate translation: "to God's faithful people" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
The term "dispersion" normally referred to the Jews who were scattered in other countries, away from their homeland, Israel. This abstract noun can be expressed with a phrase with the verb "scattered." Alternate translation: "who are scattered around the world" or "who live in other countries" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)
This is a basic greeting, such as "Hello!" or "Good day!"
"My fellow believers, think of all your different kinds of troubles as things to celebrate"
The expressions "the testing," "your faith," and "endurance" are nouns that stand for actions. God does the testing, that is, he finds out how much the believers trust and obey him. Believers ("you") believe in him and endure suffering. Alternate translation: "when you suffer hardships, God is finding out how much you trust him. As a result, you will become able to endure even more hardships" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)
Here endurance is spoken of as if it were a person at work. Alternate translation: "Learn to endure any hardship" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-personification)
able to trust in Christ and obey him in all circumstances
This can be stated in the positive. Alternate translation: "having all that you need" or "being all that you need to be"
"ask God for it. He is the one who gives"
"gives generously and does not rebuke any"
"God will give it to him" or "God will answer his prayer"
"with complete certainty that God will answer"
Anyone who doubts that God will help him is said to be like the water in the ocean or in a large lake, which keeps moving in different directions. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-simile)
This page has intentionally been left blank.
The word "double-minded" refers to a person's thoughts when he is unable to make a decision. Alternate translation: "cannot decide if he will follow Jesus or not and is unstable" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Here this person is spoken of as if he cannot stay on one path but instead goes from one to another. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
"the believer who does not have much money" or "the believer whom other people consider unimportant"
Someone whom God has honored is spoken of as if he were standing in a high place. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
The words "let" and "boast" are understood from the previous phrase. Alternate translation: "but let the rich man boast of his low position" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-ellipsis)
"but the man who has a lot of money"
A rich believer should be happy if God causes him to suffer. Alternate translation: "should be happy that God has given him difficulties" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-ellipsis)
Rich people are spoken of as being similar to wild flowers, which are alive for only a short time. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-simile)
A flower that is becoming less beautiful because it is decaying is spoken of as if its beauty were dying. Alternate translation: "it is no longer beautiful" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Here the flower simile is probably continued. As flowers do not die suddenly but instead fade away over a short time, so also the rich people may not die suddenly but instead take a little time to disappear. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-simile)
A rich man's activities in daily life are spoken of as if they are a journey that he is making. This metaphor implies that he is giving no thought to his coming death, and that it will takes him by surprise. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
James reminds the believers who have fled that God does not cause temptation; he tells them how to avoid temptation.
"The man who endures testing is fortunate" or "The man who endures testing is well off"
remains faithful to God during hardships
he has been approved by God
Eternal life is spoken of as if it were a wreath of leaves placed on the head of a victorious athlete. Alternate translation: "receive eternal life as his reward" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God has promised to those who love him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"when he desires to do something evil"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God is trying to make me do something evil" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "No one can make God desire to do evil" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"and God himself does not try to persuade anyone do evil"
A person's desire is spoken of as if it were someone else who was tempting him to sin. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-personification)
Evil desire continues to be spoken of as if it were a person who could drag away someone else. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-personification)
attracts, persuades someone to do evil
Desire continues to be spoken of as a person, this time clearly as a woman who becomes pregnant with a child. The child is identified as sin. Sin is a female baby that grows up, becomes pregnant, and gives birth to death. This chain of metaphors is a picture of someone who ends up dying both spiritually and physically because of his evil desires and his sin. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-personification and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
"Do not let anyone deceive you" or "Stop deceiving yourselves"
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. James uses them to emphasize that anything good that a person has comes from God. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublet)
God, the creator of all the lights in the sky (sun, moon, and stars), is said to be their "Father." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
This expression pictures God as an unchanging light. This is in contrast to the sun, moon, and stars that appear to move in the sky and sometimes are darkened. Alternate translation: "God always stays the same. He does not change like shifting shadows" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-simile)
The word "us" refers to James and his audience. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-exclusive)
God, who brought us eternal life, is spoken of as if he had given us birth. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Possible meanings are 1) "the message about the truth" or 2) "the true message."
James is using the traditional Hebrew idea of firstfruits as a way to describe the value of the Christian believers to God. He implies that there will be many more believers in the future. Alternate translation: "so that we would be like an offering of firstfruits" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-simile)
Possible meanings are 1) "Know this" is a command to pay attention to what I am about to write or 2) "You know this" is a statement saying that I am about to remind you of something that you already know.
These sayings are idioms that mean people should first listen intently, and then consider carefully what they say. Here "slow to speak" does not mean speaking slowly. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
"not get angry quickly"
When a person is always angry, he cannot do God's work, which is righteous.
Sin and evil are spoken of here as if they were clothing that could be taken off. Alternate translation: "stop doing all filthy sins and stop doing abundant amounts of evil" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Here the expressions "sinful filth" and "evil" share similar meanings. James uses them to emphasize how bad sin is. Alternate translation: "stop doing every kind of sinful behavior" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublet)
Here "filth," that is, dirt, stands for sin and evil. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
"Without pride" or "Without arrogance"
The expression "implant" means to place one thing inside of another. Here God's word is spoken of as if it were a plant made to grow inside believers. Alternate translation: "obey the message God has spoken to you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
What a person is saved from can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "save you from God's judgment" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
Here the word "souls" refers to persons. Alternate translation: "yourselves" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
"Be people who follow God's instructions"
"fooling yourselves"
In the phrase "but not a doer" the words "is" and "of the word" are understood from the previous phrase. The noun "doer" can also be expressed with the verbs "do" or "obey." Alternate translation: "For if anyone listens to God's word in the scriptures but does not obey the word" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-ellipsis)
"the message"
A person who hears God's word is like someone who looks in the mirror. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-simile)
The word "natural" clarifies that James is using the ordinary meaning of the word "face." Alternate translation: "his face"
It is implied that though he may see that he needs to do something, such as wash his face or fix his hair, he walks away and forgets to do it. This what a person who does not obey God's word is like. Alternate translation: "then goes away and immediately forgets to do what he saw he needed to do" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-simile)
This expression continues the image of the law as a mirror. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-simile)
The relationship between the law and freedom can be expressed clearly. Here "freedom" probably refers to freedom from sin. Alternate translation: "the perfect law that gives freedom" or "the perfect law that makes those who follow it free" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God will bless this man as he obeys the law" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"thinks he worships God correctly"
Controlling one's tongue stands for controlling one's speech. Alternate translation: "what he says" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
gets someone to believe something that is not true
Here "heart" refers to his belief or thoughts. Alternate translation: "himself" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
"he worships God uselessly"
James speaks of religion, the way one worships God, as if it could be physically pure and unspoiled. These are traditional ways for Jews to say that something is acceptable to God. Alternate translation: "completely acceptable to our God and Father" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-doublet and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
"the orphans"
The fatherless and widows are suffering because their fathers or husbands have died.
Sin in the world is spoken of as something dirty that can stain a person. Alternate translation: "to not allow the evil in the world to cause oneself to sin" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)