The Book of James Chapter 1 — a Bible study by Kathy Kearney

Verses 1 – 15

Scripture quote first 15 verses is from the New International Bible.

A Bible study by Kathy Kearney

Outline: from the New Living Bible

1.  The Test of Faith 1:1-18

A.  The Purpose of Tests 1:1-11

B.  The Source of Temptation 1:12-18

2. The Characteristics of Faith 1:19-5:6

A.  Faith Obeys the Word 1:19-27

B.  Faith Removes Prejudice 2:1-13

C.  Faith Proves Itself by Good Deeds 2:14-26

D.  Faith Controls the Tongue 3:1-12

E.   Faith Produces Wisdom 3:13-18

F.   Faith Produces Humility 4:1-12

G. Faith Produces Dependence on God 4:13-5:6

3. The Triumph of Faith 5:7-20

A.  Faith Endures Awaiting Christ’s Return 5:7-12

B.  Faith Prays for the Afflicted 5:13-18

C.  Faith Confronts Wandering Believers 5:19-20

1.    Who was James

2.    There were two disciples named James

3.    Was this James one of them?

4.    There are actually 4 people in the N.T. named James; (1) Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13 – James, the father of Judas (not Iscariot) (2) James, the son of Alphaeus; Mat. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13, elsewhere called James the younger – Mark 15:40, James the son of Zebedee, brother of John, and James the half brother of Jesus; Galations 1:19

Acts 12:2 James, brother of John, son of Zebedee

Luke 6:15 James the son of Alphaeus

Galations 1:19 reference to another James, the Lords brother.

James

According to the writings of Josephus, this James (the half brother of Jesus) was martyred about 64 or 66 AD.  He was thrown down from the pinnacle of the temple, but did not die from the fall. As he lay there, praying for his tormentors as had Stephen, the crowd stoned him to death.

Chapter 1

Vs. 1          James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the 12 tribes scattered among the nations.

James makes no mention that he is the half brother of the Lord.  He is a servant.  He is writing to the Jewish believers scattered among the nations.

According to Paul’s writing in Galatians, James was considered one of the leaders in Jerusalem.

Vs. 2-12 deal with trials

(2) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

(3) because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

(4) Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

(5) 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 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.

(7) That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;

( he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

(9) The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.

(10) But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.

(11) For 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.

(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.

James

Our pastor told us of a man who attends our church, who I will only identify as Joe.  Joe is actually a member of another church and owns a sign painting business.  The pastor’s wife (Joan) actually met Joe first and told the pastor, “you have to meet this guy, and there’s something different about him.”  Well, the pastor made a point of meeting Joe and noted the same thing. Joe was full of joy, not the artificial kind but real joy. The pastor said as he got to know Joe better, he realized that he had problems just like everyone else. One day he asked Joe what made him so happy all the time. Joe said, ‘the first time I went to church the pastor preached that we should GLORY in our afflictions.  Joe said, pastor, you don’t spell GLORY – GROWL, so I just gave my problems to the Lord and the results are what you see.”

What is the difference between a trial and a temptation? Trials are outside, temptations are from within.

When does a trial become a temptation?

A/   you see something you think you either need, or deserve – you think about it for a while and then decide to do something about it -

B/  you don’t have much money (a trial), a friend offers to let you have some dope that you can resell and solve your problem (you think) – (a temptation)

C/ you don’t have a boyfriend/girlfriend (a trial), a friend offers to fix you up with a friend who is really cute (they are not a believer) – you begin to think that it would be OK (a temptation).

How are we to consider trials? Vs. 2 –  As an opportunity for joy (NLT), Pure Joy (NIV),  All Joy (NAS)

What is the purpose of trials? Vs. 3  To test our faith.

Trials develop what? Patience/perseverance (NIV)  Endurance (NAS)

Why do we need patience/perseverance, or endurance?

To make us mature. Vs. 4   Paul refers this life as a race. We need both patience and endurance to run the race.

James

similar list 2 Peter 1:5-9

Vs. 5  What does wisdom have to do with patience or endurance?

That is what Solomon prayed for in 1 Kings 3:9 – God commended him for it.  Wisdom is something we should always pray for. Wisdom to make the right choices in life.

James says if anyone lacks he should ask. We all lack, therefore we should ask.

Vs. 5 also contains a promise. It will be given generously and without any reproach.  Is James talking about everyday wisdom, or just for spiritual purposes?

Vs. 6  Faith is the foundation of this building.  Hebrews 11:6

James compares a person without faith as like a wave tossed by the sea.

Vs. 7   He calls a person who asks, then doubts as double minded.

What does it mean to be a double-minded person in everyday English.

How about a person who goes to church and goes through the motions because he thinks God will make him rich?

Vs. 7  How does God respond to this type of person?  He doesn’t.

Vs. 8  James says this type of person is what?  Unstable in all he does.

Vs. 9-11

The Living Bible translates vs. 9 as “the brother who doesn’t amount to much”. I don’t like this paraphrase because if this is one of your trials (money) you don’t need someone saying that God says you don’t amount to much.

What is the high position?  In Christ all are equal.  Galatians 3:28

Why should someone who has a lot of money consider himself in a low position?  Because God doesn’t care how much money you have.

In fact the more you have the more responsible God will hold you accountable for how you used it.  (Ross Perot in the Billy Graham autobiography)  Billy Graham told of in his early ministry he was invited to Ross Perot’s home for lunch. Ross Perot complained that he had had several of the well-known preachers to lunch and all they ever wanted to talk about was how much money he should give to them. Graham told Perot that he was different and would not ask for money, to which Perot said ‘good’.  Billy Graham said Ross Perot had not given his ministry one dime, either then or later. Yet here is a very wealthy man who makes a Christian profession. I don’t know if he really is or not.

Verses 12-15   The source of temptation

Vs. 12          What does the person receive when he has stood (perseveres) under trial? The crown of life.

During this period of history, literally hundreds of thousands of Christians perished by violent means because of their faith. At the beginning of the study we told of the traditional teaching of how this Apostle died. This was his trial and he obviously stood up under it as he prayed for his persecutors.

Vs. 13-15   Subject is temptation

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 desire, he is dragged 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.

The New Living Bible translates vs. 13: “no one who wants to do wrong” — In other words – they choose to want what God says not to desire.

Does God ever tempt anyone?  NO

What in us causes us to be tempted?  Our sin nature.

What is the progression of temptation?  The same as with Eve. Genesis 3:6

1.    Even though it isn’t listed, the first step was she listened to the tempter.

2.    Then she looked at the fruit (she contemplated if it were possible that God lied.)

3.    Then she took from the tree and ate it.

4.    Then she gave some of it to her husband (no doubt she told him to look at her, she had not died.

5.  Thus, he was lured to try it for himself.

6.  All their offspring was contaminated.   Psalm 73:15 (a warning)

When a person decides to sin, (Esau is a good example) first he took the birthright lightly, and if you follow his line, you find that they all became idol worshipers and thus were rejected by God.

If a man or woman decides to commit adultery, rob a bank, take narcotics, or any number of things that Scripture say is wrong, he pollutes his entire genealogy.  It’s true that at any point, any individual can choose to accept Christ and break that chain, but it is harder. If you follow the lines of any renowned atheist you will find that not many of them amounted to much.  But if you follow the lines of any of the renowned religious leaders you will find that from that line will come preachers, prominent musicians, great doctors and judges.  This is something for you to verify on your own time, but it is generally true. (See – “A Godly Heritage” in the index page of articles).

A classic example in our current culture is promiscuous sex. We see it everyday in our advertisements, sit-coms like Frazier, and Friends.  It’s everywhere. What does God say? Proverbs 5:3 on, 6:27, 7:6 on.