You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! Truth to Learn Faith is necessary for salvation, but what you have faith in is crucial, and the proof of that faith will be your good works. Behind the Words The word here translated as...
James 2:18 – Evidence in Action
But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Truth to Learn Good works are the evidence of our salvation. Behind the Words The word translated “someone” is the Greek word...
James 2:17 – Works of Evidence
So also faith, if it should not have works, is dead by itself. Truth to Learn A living, breathing faith in Christ is always accompanied by good works, for these works are the evidence that it is a living faith. Behind the Words “So also” is translated from houtōs kai,...
James 2:16 – Are You Rich?
and one of you should say to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," but you would not give to them the things which are needed for the body, what is the gain? Truth to Learn True faith in Christ is made evident by what we do, not what...
James 2:15 – The Invisible Poor
If a brother or sister is naked and should be lacking daily food, Truth to Learn We often don’t even notice those members of our church having the greatest needs. Behind the Words “If” is translated from the Greek word ean, which is used here (along with the subjunctive mood...
James 2:14 – Profitable Works
What is the gain, my brothers, if someone should say he has faith and not have works? Is that faith able to save him? Truth to Learn There is no evidence of saving faith unless it is demonstrated by works. Behind the Words “Gain” is translated from the Greek word...
James 2:13 – Merciless Judgment
For judgment will be without mercy to the one not having shown mercy. Mercy rejoices over judgment. Truth to Learn Our merciful actions in this life will have eternal results. Behind the Words The word “judgment” is translated from krisis, which literally refers to a separation, hence a dividing between...
James 2:12 – Active Evidence
So speak and so do as those who are about to be judged by the law of liberty. Truth to Learn Our words and actions should be an indication of the freedom we have in Christ. Behind the Words “So” is a translation of the Greek word houtōs, which is...
James 2:11 – Transgressing the Law
For He who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. Truth to Learn In God’s courtroom no sin is greater than any other. Every sin carries...
James 2:10 – Guilty of All
For whoever shall keep the whole law, but stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all of them. Truth to Learn Even a single little accidental sin condemns us as unrighteous. Behind the Words The Greek verb translated “shall keep” is tereō which is the word used of...
James 2:9 – Sinful Favoritism
but if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. Truth to Learn When we show special attention to those who are rich and powerful, we are sinning! Behind the Words “But if you show partiality” is a conditional clause, which, based on the grammatical...
James 2:8 – Love Others
If indeed you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; Truth to Learn The greatest thing we can do for others is to love them like we love ourselves. Behind the Words “Fulfill” is the word teleō, which means...
James 2:7 – Blasphemous Wealth
Don’t they blaspheme that beautiful name by which you are called? Truth to Learn The conversation of the rich and famous is more an indication of their devotion to God (or lack thereof) than their wealth. Behind the Words The word “blaspheme” is not a translation but a transliteration. That...
James 2:6 – Worldly Irony
But you dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Truth to Learn It’s ironic that we tend to give the most consideration for the people who care the least about us. Behind the Words The Greek word that is translated here...
James 2:5 – Poor Heirs
Listen, my beloved brothers: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those loving Him? Truth to Learn If God has chosen the poor and the weak to be His children, why do we put...
James 2:4 – No Discrimination
have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil reasonings? Truth to Learn Judging a person by how they dress and how wealthy they are is selfish and evil. We need to learn to not judge people by their outward appearance. Behind the Words The phrase, “have...
James 2:3 – Partial Greeter
and you should look upon the one wearing the fine clothes and should say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and should say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here under my footstool," Truth to Learn Christians need to become “money blind” and treat...
James 2:2 – Apparel Judgment
For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine clothing, and there should also come in a poor person in filthy clothes, Truth to Learn Wealth or poverty should not be sources of differentiation within the church. Behind the Words The word translated “assembly”...
James 2:1 – Impartial Faith
My brothers, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. Truth to Learn Do not show favoritism based on outward appearances. Behind the Words The word translated “Lord” is kurios, which comes from the noun kuros, meaning “might or power.” The word...
James 1:27 – Unselfish Light
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to watch over orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. Truth to Learn The true outward expression of a Christian life is to care for the needs of others and not be...
James 1:26 – Tongue Control
If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Truth to Learn Controlling what we say and how we say it is a clear indication of the degree to which we are submitted to...
James 1:25 – Blessed Performance
But he who having looked closely into the perfect law of liberty and having continued looking closely, not having become a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. Truth to Learn God will look favorably on the performance of those...
James 1:24 – Absentminded Professor
for he studied himself, has gone away, and immediately forgot what kind of person he was. Truth to Learn Hearing or reading God’s Word will have no effect on our lives unless we put it into practice. Behind the Words In the previous verse we looked at the word for...
James 1:23 – Studious Reflection
Because, if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man studying his natural face in a mirror; Truth to Learn We can learn a lot about God and about ourselves by looking intently into the Word of God. Behind the Words The...
James 1:22 – Perfect Practice
But become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Truth to Learn No one ever coined the phrase, “listening makes perfect.” That’s because it is only through practice that we improve on anything that we do. Behind the Words The word translated “become” is a form of...
James 1:21 – Discard Filth
Therefore having laid aside all filthiness and abundance of wickedness, receive in meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. Truth to Learn We need to rid ourselves of our sinful thoughts and actions and let the Word of God grow in our hearts. Behind the Words...
James 1:20 – Bad Example
Truth to Learn We should not be easily angered because it does not show the world the type of godly example that we should be. Behind the Words In the previous verse we looked at the Greek word orgē, which refers to “violent passions.” It is most likely derived from...
James 1:19 – Ears Open, Mouth Closed, Without Anger
Know this, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; Truth to Learn Your hearing will do you much more good in your walk with God than your mouth will. Behind the Words There is a variant reading in the first part...
James 1:18 – New Birth
Having desired it, He brought us forth by the word of truth, for us to be a certain first fruit of His creatures. Truth to Learn Our salvation is the greatest example of the goodness of God and His desire to give us good things. Behind the Words The words...
James 1:17 – God’s Perfect Gift
Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Truth to Learn God cannot be the source of our temptation because He only gives what is good. Behind the Words...
James 1:16 – Perfect Love
Do not be led astray, my beloved brethren. Truth to Learn Seek the truth and do not let yourself be led astray, because God loves you with a perfect love. Behind the Words The word translated “be led astray” is a form of planaō which means “to cause to roam...