Thematic Bible




James 1:1 (show verse)

[This letter is from] James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, [who sends] greetings to the twelve tribes which are scattered throughout the world. [Note: This refers to Christians, probably of Jewish descent].

James 1:2 (show verse)

Consider it [an occasion for] much joy, my brothers, when you experience various trials,

James 1:3 (show verse)

because you [should] know that when your faith is tested, it produces perseverance.

James 1:4 (show verse)

And you [should] allow your perseverance to complete its work, so that you will be perfect and complete, [and] not lacking in anything.

James 1:5 (show verse)

But if any one of you lacks wisdom, he should pray to God, who gives to everyone generously and does not begrudge [the person who asks], and it will be given to him.

James 1:6 (show verse)

But he should ask in faith, without doubting, because the person who doubts [that he will receive wisdom] is like an ocean wave that is driven and tossed by the wind.

James 1:7 (show verse)

For that [doubting] person should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord [through prayer],

James 1:8 (show verse)

because he is double-minded and undecided in all that he does [i.e., he cannot make up his mind and follow through about anything].

James 1:9 (show verse)

But the person [who must live] in humble circumstances should be happy over being lifted up [spiritually by God].

James 1:10 (show verse)

And the wealthy person [should be happy] that he is humbled [by God], because he will pass away like a flower [blossoming] from grass.

James 1:11 (show verse)

For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass [so that] its flower [blossoms] fall off, and its beautiful appearance is destroyed. In the same way, the wealthy person will fade away as he goes about his business [affairs].

James 1:12 (show verse)

The person who perseveres under trials is blessed, because when he has been approved by God, he will receive the crown of [never ending] life, which God has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:13 (show verse)

No one should say when he is tempted, "God is tempting me," because God cannot be tempted by evil and He does not tempt anyone.

James 1:14 (show verse)

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own evil desire.

James 1:15 (show verse)

Then, when the evil desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And when sin is fully grown, it produces [spiritual] death.

James 1:16 (show verse)

[So], do not be deceived, my dearly loved brothers.
No Themes for this verse.

James 1:17 (show verse)

Every good thing that is given and every perfect gift [received] is from above, coming down from the Father of [heavenly] lights, with whom there can be no change or shifting shadow [i.e., God always remains the same].

James 1:18 (show verse)

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].

James 1:19 (show verse)

You people [already] know this [or, "you should know this"], my dearly loved brothers. However, every person should be quick to listen, slow to talk and slow in becoming angry.

James 1:20 (show verse)

For the anger of people does not produce what God considers to be right.

James 1:21 (show verse)

Therefore, you should put away [from you] all moral filth and overflowing wickedness and humbly receive the word [of God], planted within you [by the Holy Spirit. See John 16:8], which is capable of saving your souls.

James 1:22 (show verse)

But you should not deceive yourselves by just listening [to God's word] instead of doing what the word teaches.

James 1:23 (show verse)

For if anyone is [only] a listener to the word and does not practice it, he is like a person who sees his natural face in a mirror,

James 1:24 (show verse)

and [then after] he sees himself, [he] goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

James 1:25 (show verse)

But the person who looks closely into the perfect law that brings freedom, and continues to do so, is not a listener who forgets [what he hears], but someone who does the work [it requires]. This person will be blessed for doing so.

James 1:26 (show verse)

If anyone considers himself to be religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, this person is self-deceived and his religion is worthless.

James 1:27 (show verse)

Religion that is pure and uncorrupted in the eyes of [our] God and Father involves taking care of orphans and widows in their distress and keeping oneself unstained by the world.