NOTES ON JAMES

James 1:5-6 gives "without finding fault," unlike us. Reference to Solomon?

James 1:14-15 This is the opposite of the process described in James 1:2-4. It is similar to the 

progression found in Job 31:1-12.

James 1:18 first fruits = set apart and holy; also the promise of things to come

James 1:20 your anger, i.e. human anger vs. righteous anger

James 1:26-27 religious = given to religious observances.

v. 27. This is not exhaustive, but it shows the two basic aspects of true religion

James 2:1 may be translated "our Lord Jesus Christ, the glory."

James 2:14-26 Faith and works. Discuss the supposed contradiction with Paul's teachings (see Romans

3:27-4:3; Hebrews 11:17-31).

Paul speaks to the source (God and our relation to Him); James talks of the effect.

Paul-God's perspective; James-man's perspective. James is not talking about justification (our standing 

before God), but about validation (proof to men and ourselves).

Faith = intellectual assent, belief (to James); = working, living thing (to Paul, see Galatians 5:6)

"Works" of James = Paul's fruit of the Spirit; "works" of Paul = shallow observances done in an 

attempt to earn salvation.

James 2:19 "God is one" is similar to the creed recited by both Jews and Muslims.

19b. see Matthew 8:29

James 3:6-7 see Proverbs 26:20-21.

James 3:18 Peace is active.

James 4:1 rare Greek word for "cove"

James 4:4 lit. adulteresses, as in Ezekiel and Jeremiah.

James 4:5-6 No exact scriptural reference in v. 5; Numbers 11:29 comes the closest. One may delete 

the quotation marks in v. 5 since the reference may actually be to v. 6 instead.

James 5:6 Sirach 34:21-22-"The bread of the needy is the life of the poor; whoever deprives them of it 

is a man of blood. To take away a neighbor's living is to murder him; to deprive an employee of his 

wages is to shed blood."

James 5:7 In Israel, October-November was the time for early rain and April-May for the late rain.

James 5:13-20 See Hebrews 10:24-25.

James 5:14 Note the reference to plural eldership in a congregation. They do it in the name of the Lord 

so that the glory will not go to a “healer” instead of God.

James 5:15 "Save" and "raise" can be understood as spiritual rather than physical events. That makes 

sense as a proverbial wisdom statement also. We need to remember the context in James on the 

purpose of suffering and the importance of patience.