James Chapter 1

Distributed by: KJV Bible Studies

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Introduction: We begin a new study this week on the book of James. In the New Testament, there are four men identified with the name of James. It is believed that the author of this book was most likely the half brother of Jesus Christ, since he possessed all of the qualities of the author. We find he was the one James referred to by his name alone in Galatians and Acts, and was apparently well known to the scattered believers.

James was a leader in the Jerusalem church, and grew up in Nazareth. He moved to Capernaum when Jesus began His public ministry, but like the other half brothers of Christ, did not truly believe in Jesus as Lord until the end of Christ’s earthly ministry. It is believed that the book of James was one of the earliest books written and was addressed to the 12 scattered tribes of Israel.

Early tradition holds that James was martyred in about A.D. 62 and that this epistle was written some years prior to that. The focus is upon ‘Messianic synagogues.’ As the infant church developed initially through the Jewish Diaspora, assemblies of believing Jews still referred to their congregations as ‘synagogues,’ especially east of Palestine. It is of interest that the word translated as “assembly” in James 2:2 is in fact ‘synagoge’ or ‘synagogue.’

The epistle therefore is quite Jewish in character. In content, it is one of the most elementary of the New Testament epistles. The epistle is practical in nature. It begins with why there is testing of faith. He then deals with partiality in the church, the hazards of the tongue, worldliness, the danger of affluence, preparation for the Lord’s return, and finally, effective prayer.

I. Purpose of Testings

James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

As mentioned in the introduction, James is the author of this book and he identifies himself as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. He addresses the letter to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad. We know that 10 of the tribes (those making up the northern kingdom of Israel), were scattered before the Babylonian captivity. The final two, Judah and Benjamin, were scattered after Christ’s death.

As noted in the introduction above, the inspired author, James, likely was the half-brother of Jesus. Though the writer could have identified himself as the ‘brother of Jesus,’ he rather more humbly referred to himself simply as “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” God places great emphasis on humility.

The epistle will clearly show that its intended readership were assemblies of believers, likely Jewish in character. In as much as Paul was the apostle to the gentiles and took the gospel to the west, it may well be that James, like Peter, was an apostle to the substantial Jewish settlements still located to the east where the Babylon empire once was.

It should be remembered that only a small percentage of the Jews transplanted there by the Babylonians returned during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. There remained Jewish communities in that region throughout most of the twentieth century. James sends greeting. The word so translated, (cairw) chairo, literally means to ‘rejoice’ and was an idiomatic form of greeting in that day.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

James exhorts the brethren to count it all joy when they fall into temptations. He goes on to explain why in verse 3, as those temptations try our faith and teach us patience.

James wastes no time in going directly to his first topic of discussion. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.”

Implied here is that his intended audience of believers were probably facing trials in their Christian walk. Trouble and trials are never encouraging and most difficult to hide. One may remain silent but their countenance will speak with out inquiry or provocation. James, with the wisdom of spiritual maturity, counsels them to be glad when various testing overwhelms.

He refers to faith for the first of twelve times in the epistle. The fact is that the trial of our faith develops patience. The word so translated (‘upomonh hupomone) conveys the sense of ‘endurance,’ ‘steadfastness,’ and ‘perseverance.’

And so we see here that God allows trials to develop the virtue of spiritual perseverance. It is a mark of spiritual maturity. As difficulties arise in the Christian life, we ought rather than becoming discouraged, to rejoice therein.

Such trials will produce greater spiritual maturity. God knows that and therefore allows such testing.

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