It was God's purpose to bring us into being [spiritually] by the message of truth, so that we could become a kind of "firstfruits" of those He created. [Note: "Firstfruits" here suggests either that Christians are the best of all of God's creatures (Num. 18:12), or that they were the first to be converted, with many more to come].

Praise and cursing come out of the same mouth! My brothers, these things should not be happening.

Where do conflicts and fights among you come from? Do they not come from your [desire for] pleasures which produces inner conflict?

Come close to God and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinful people [i.e., this is an exhortation to repent of moral and spiritual corruption], and purify your hearts, you double-minded people.

Come on now, you people who are saying, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this [or that] city, spend a year there, do business and make some money."

Come on now, you rich people, cry and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you.