Jameschapter 1
27 verses · BSBJames book hub →
A.Count It Joy: Trials, Patience, and Wisdom for the Askingvv. 1-8
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
B.The Rich Man Fades Like a Flower in the Grassvv. 9-11
9 The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
C.God Tempts No One; Every Good Gift Comes Downvv. 12-18
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.
D.Be Doers of the Word, Not Hearers Onlyvv. 19-27
19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls. 22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. 23 For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, 24 and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Chapter summary
'James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion', then the hardest counsel in the New Testament: 'Count it all joy… when ye fall into manifold temptations; knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience' (1:2-3).
Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴
Chapter summary
'James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion', then the hardest counsel in the New Testament: 'Count it all joy… when ye fall into manifold temptations; knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience' (1:2-3).
Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴
'James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion', then the hardest counsel in the New Testament: 'Count it all joy… when ye fall into manifold temptations; knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience' (1:2-3). Let him that lacketh wisdom ask of God, 'who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not', but ask in faith, for the doubter is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind. Lust conceives and brings forth sin, and sin full-grown brings forth death, whereas 'every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights' (1:17). Be doers of the word, not hearers only.
Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.
Context
Epistle · James — James overview
- A. 1–8 Count It Joy: Trials, Patience, and Wisdom for the Asking
- B. 9–11 The Rich Man Fades Like a Flower in the Grass
- C. 12–18 God Tempts No One; Every Good Gift Comes Down
- D. 19–27 Be Doers of the Word, Not Hearers Only
Top cross-references8 chapters ▾
1 Peter 14 verses
- 1 Peter 1:1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen
- 1 Peter 1:6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
- 1 Peter 1:23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
- 1 Peter 1:24For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
- Read 1 Peter 1 →
Ephesians 43 verses
- Ephesians 4:22to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
- Ephesians 4:26“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,
- Ephesians 4:29Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
- Read Ephesians 4 →
John 32 verses
- John 3:3Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
- John 3:27John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
- Read John 3 →
Matthew 72 verses
- Matthew 7:11So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
- Matthew 7:26But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
- Read Matthew 7 →
4 more chapters this one speaks with
1 Peter 51 verse
- 1 Peter 5:10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.
- Read 1 Peter 5 →
John 131 verse
- John 13:17If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
- Read John 13 →
Ezekiel 121 verse
- Ezekiel 12:15And they will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries.
- Read Ezekiel 12 →
James 11 verse
- James 1:12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- Read James 1 →
Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.