James 1 - Study Guide

Verse 1 indicates that this is a letter really to all Christians but James specifically addresses the "twelve tribes" of Israel which certainly could mean that the original intended audience may have been Jews living around 62 A.D. However, for Christians, like all parts of the Bible, this is "the" Word of God and so the audience is clearly all.  

Who is the author of this book?

When Greg Lott and I led the discussion of this book for our Sunday school class the first question that asked was: "Is this James the brother of Jesus Christ?"  I had intended to avoid this question altogether because my goal was to focus on the wisdom found in this book and not the background.  Plus I had skimmed through that discussion in several sources.  While it may or may not have been wrong to avoid the question of whether this James was the brother of Christ, I did something much worse.  I tried to answer the question based on my imperfect memory of what I had skimmed through on this subject.  I remembered that whether this James was or was not the brother of Jesus historically had been hotly argued.  What I recalled was the arguments against this James being the brother of Christ and I muddled through this explanation.  Ironically, my older brother who was in town and in attendance did not call me out in class but waited until after lunch to let me know that his Bible had a pretty good explanation of why the James in question was indeed the brother of Christ.  I have read several scholarly sources since and they all conclude that the James that wrote the book of James in the Bible was the brother of Jesus Christ.  So much for following the wisdom in James about keeping my tongue.

I will say that James did not identify himself in this book as anything but a "servant" "bond servant" or "slave" of the Lord Jesus Christ.  That being the only description in the actual scripture of the book of James makes it sufficient.  For me, this is the perfect word of God and I believe that there is a reason that James did not identify himself as the brother of Christ.  Some theologians will say that it is either because the original audience would have certainly known that this was James the brother of Christ or conversely that James did not want to identify himself or specific people in his audience because of the threat of persecution but while either or even both of these may be true, for me, who James was is not nearly as important as the word of God that is revealed in the short five chapters of James.

The rest of this will be strictly a study guide as the title of this article suggests.  We had a great discussion in our Sunday school class based on these questions but, I am not including our discussion in this guide.

For verses 2-4 and 5-8 ask the questions first and generate some discussion before you read the verses out loud.  Encourage your group members to avoid reading ahead to find out what James has to say about these questions.

Questions for verses 2-4:

Why does God allow bad things to happen to good Christians? (Discuss then read verses 2-4 and discuss some more, as needed.)

Does God test us? Compare verses 2-4 with verses 13-14.  Are these two sets of verses talking about the same thing or not?

Questions for verses 5-8:

When you pray for wisdom, do you always receive it? Can you think of a time when you did or did not receive wisdom after praying for it?

After the discussion, read verses 5-8 aloud and then discuss some more, as needed.

Questions for verses 9-12 - Read verses 9-11 aloud (leave out verse 12 for now).

Why should a rich person take pride in his low position?

Read verses 9-12 aloud.

Does verse 12 explain verses 9-11? How?

Questions for verses 13-15 - Read verses 13-15 aloud.

What is the process that can lead to our ultimate failure and even death?

Questions for verses 16-18 (Discuss the question first and then read and discuss some more, as needed.)

Do we accomplish anything solely by our hard work and our will? (read verses 16-17)

Questions for verses 19 -21 - Read verses 19-21 aloud then discuss.

Have you ever violated this three step advice of "being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry"?  From your experience is it good advice?

Questions for verses 22-25 - Read verses 22-25 aloud then discuss.

When you read the Bible, do you recognize that it reflects who you are or should be?  Do your actions reflect what you read in the Bible?  Have you ever observed others reflecting the words of the Bible by their actions?

Questions for verses 26-27

Read verse 26 then discuss:  Have you ever violated this principle of keeping a tight rein on your tongue?  What was your experience?

Read verse 27 then discuss:  The first part of the advice in this verse instructs us to take care of the needy/helpless/orphans and widows in their distress.  What are some ways that we can take care of the needy?  The second part of the advice in this verse instructs us to keep ourselves from being polluted by the world.  What does this mean?  If we go to the where the "needy" people live how do we avoid being swept up in their world?

James 1: 1-8

James 1: 1-8
¹James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
      To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
      Greetings.
 ²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ⁶But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.


In the first verse James proclaims who he serves - who knows that might not be a bad idea in the letters that we write today.  "Bob Wynn, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ"  may seem a little silly but write that with your own name in place of James' or my name.  There is a reminder and power in that even if we do not write this at the beginning of all our letters or emails. Make no mistake the part that follows is addressed to you and me.  We are part of "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations." Greetings - y'all!


Verses 2-4 are great strengths when you are face with a tough situation.  Next time you face a "trial" try to remember that these times of trial are the very times when you are becoming a mature and finished work.  And remember that God's work is perfecting not simply finishing. When we are going through these times it is sometimes frustrating to be reminded "in the moment" of verses 2-4 and on those occasions (when the perspective of verses 2-4 are kind of frustrating) verses 5-7 are the perfect words.  If you lack wisdom ask for it and truly believe that you will receive it.  I also have found that when I feel like I am "double-minded", like I am being tossed back and forth with waves of uncertainty at the many choice before me, that is the time when I need to stop, pray and remind myself that God is there ready, willing, and able to take on all challenges and all challengers.  All he asks is that I ask for his help and know that I will receive it.   

James 1: 9-11

James 1:  9-11


⁹The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. ¹⁰But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.


On face these verses seem to be simply saying that we should be viewing our circumstances exactly the opposite of what the world might expect.  If you are in a humble circumstance, be proud of your high position.   If you are rich, be proud of your low position.  What may require a bit more thought is: "Why should the rich man be proud at all?" especially after the description given of him whithering like a shriveled flower.  On the other hand, maybe what these verses are saying is that we should take pride in whatever circumstances that we find ourselves in.  The humble man can already see that his situation is humbling so he merely needs to be reminded that he should hold his head up and not be ashamed.  Whereas the rich man maybe be in a situation where is already proud but for the wrong reason, namely: his material wealth. Both men should take pride in something other than there circumstances because in reality all of us are truly blessed.

James 1: 12-15

James 1: 12-15

 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.


 ¹³When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. ¹⁵Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.


We will all be faced with trials and temptations.  Dr. Pat Day in a recent sermon said that once you make a commitment to Christ and to living for Christ, expect to be challenged by the world.  When you choose life, the world is going to challenge that commitment.  If you choose a living death, you can pretty much watch life pass you by.  These verses tell us that it is not God that is challenging our resolve.  These verses also tell us that if we choose to stand in the face of adversity that the reward is "the crown of life that God has promised to those that love him" and that if we choose the other path of desire we will commit and/or condone sin and that sin with out a doubt leads to death.  

James 1: 16-18

James 1: 16-18


¹⁶Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. ¹⁷Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.


Verse 16 is a warning that few of us realize when "we" have won a victory or "we" have "earned" some wonderful gift or "we" have impressed someone with "our" talent.  Because verse 17 reminds us that "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father . . . ." We have won no victories, or earned anything, nor have we impressed anyone with our talent.  All of these good things are gifts from God and we should be thankful and overjoyed that God has blessed us with these things.  In verse 18 we are reminded that the reason we have been given these good and perfect things is because of our rebirth in Christ (the living "word of truth").  And because of our rebirth through Christ we have also become living gifts ("a kind of firstfruits") of all he created. 

James 1: 19-21

James 1: 19-21


¹⁹My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ²¹Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.


If I had to choose only one part of one verse in this chapter of James as the very most important partial verse it would be "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, . . . ."   What a world this would be if only we could take this advice to heart.  I can think of countless times when I have gotten in trouble as a child and even as an adult because of a lack of these words.  I am repeating "be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" like a mantra to my children because since they are my children, I know that these are words that will serve them well. Verses 20 and 21 explain why you should follow these words. Unfortunately, most of us can come up with some examples of why we should follow these words.

James 1: 22-25 (with Commentary)

<sup>James 1: 22-25


22</sup>Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.²⁵But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.


These are the verses that tell us that reading the word is not enough.  This is the living word of God and you are expected to act upon the directions for living that God provides for you in his Holy word.  "Knowing" and "doing" are very different things.  I may know that I should offer words that build up others.  I know that I should not hesitate to provide assistance to everyone that I possibly can.  Doing those things that I know that I should do makes all the difference.

James 1: 26-27 (with Commentary)

James 1: 26-27
²⁶If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.²⁷Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

For me, verse 26 is a clear reference to verse 19 to be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." And honestly if verse 26 is a reminder intended to emphasize the advice from verse 19, that is sufficient.  However, when I considered verse 26 alone without reference to verse 19; I felt like the message is clearly that an undisciplined approach to religion is an approach that is self deceiving and ultimately worthless.  Such a faith is filled with none of the promises that true and disciplined faith offers.  For many of us keeping a "tight rein" on our tongues is a monumental challenge. Anyone who has spoken without first considering their words can confess that it is usually a bad idea. We should all strive to watch what words come out of our mouths.  When we are about to discuss religion with someone, it is a good idea to pray and meditate before a single word leaves our mouths.  Those that have heard me think out loud know that I will need your prayers that I should take heed to verse 26 of the first book of James.

For me, verse 27 is very plain and straightforward: care for those that are most vulnerable and avoid giving into the ways of this world.  Widows and orphans even today are often the most vulnerable people in the world.  I believe that we should probably extend "widows and orphans" to anyone that seem like they are unable to protect themselves from the predators of this world. The second part of verse 27 "keeping oneself from being polluted by the world" is not a charge to shut ourselves off from this world.  Much of James 1 is in fact dedicated to living your faith through good deeds. I think that this part of the verse is coupled with the first part about protecting those who are vulnerable to remind us not to fall into the "ways of the world" by taking advantage of our position while protecting the weak and innocent.  It also may be a reminder to not fall into a false sense of pride (a worldly way) for the protection/aid/assistance that we have provided to those who are vulnerable.  Remember, taking care of "widows and orphans" is something that the word of God has directed and give the credit and glory to God for the work he has directed through you.  

James 1

James 1 (New International Version)

James 1

 ¹James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
      To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
      Greetings.

Trials and Temptations

 ²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ⁶But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. ⁹The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. ¹⁰But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
 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.
 ¹³When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. ¹⁵Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
 ¹⁶Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. ¹⁷Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Listening and Doing

 ¹⁹My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ²¹Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. ²²Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.²⁵But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
 ²⁶If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.²⁷Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.