Bible Study 101:

24. Outline of James

Chapter 1

1: Greeting

  Note: This is James the brother of Jesus

  The epistle is addressed to former Jews converted to Christ

  He can rightly say “twelve tribes,” but does not use word “Jews.”

2–4: Christian attitude in response to testing of faith

  Note: Temptations, Greek, means tests for proving

  Patience, Greek, means enduring with hope

  Perfect work, that is, work of perfecting

  Perfect, Greek, means complete, literally at the end, in the sense of having attained full maturity, not in the sense of sinless

5–8: Asking for wisdom by faith

  Wavering is not faith in any case, not just in asking for wisdom

  Double minded in contrast to single minded, cf. if eye be single

9–11: First mention of major subject of epistle: poor vs. rich, which will be approached from several angles throughout epistle

  Note: implication that testing frequently in area of material needs

12: Completion of thought of 2–4: reward for enduring testing

  Note: Endureth here is same word as patience in verses 3–4

13–15: Mechanism of temptation; effect if not resisted

  Note: God allows testing, but is not Himself the source of testing

  Lust speaks of the flesh, cf. Romans 7, I Corinthians 9:27

16–18 Reason why God not source of temptation: source of every good and perfect gift

  Note: Scriptural support for God being unchanging

  Fact that new birth “begat” is by God’s will, not our own

  Fact that the means of salvation is the Word of God

19–21 Comment on being teachable, slow to wrath

  Note: must be teachable to receive Word unto salvation

22–25: Introduction of subject of acting faith

  Note: Simply hearing is not enough; Word must produce actions

26–27: Outward show of religion not words but deeds

  Note: Outward evidence is necessary, but not “religion,” in sense of ceremonial show

Chapter 2

1–13: Faith without respect of persons

  1–7: Example of how respect of persons is demonstrated

  8–11: Law fulfilled by love; respect of persons a violation; offend in one point guilty of all

  12–13: Law of liberty (love) means mercy, not judging (note that verse 4 says respect of persons is judging)

14–26: Faith without works is dead

  Note: the question here is the faith of the one who could give for benefit of one in need, not faith of the one in need

  Fact that faith alone, unless supported by consistent works, is not sufficient for salvation, verse 19

  Examples of faith demonstrated by works.

  Fact that faith is either present or not, like life is in a body, or not

Chapter 3

1–12: Control of the tongue

  1: Note: “Masters” is dida,skaloi in Greek, meaning teachers

    Fact that teachers are held to higher standard before God

  2–12: Need to control the tongue, danger if not controlled

13–18: Evidence of wisdom, from above or from below

  Note: evidence of wisdom is conversation, or manner of life

  Strife evidence of earthly wisdom: sensual, devilish

  Characteristics of wisdom from above

Chapter 4

1–10: Cause of strife among members of church

  1–3 Greed, envy, desire for material advantage

  4: Friendship with world is enmity with God

  5: Natural fleshly spirit actually desires to envy others

  6–10: How to overcome fleshly striving

11–12: Evil speaking is judging; only God to judge; who are we?

13–17: Humility in making plans for future

  13–16: Compare with Matthew 6:19–34

  17: Head religion without works is (not just vain; it is) sin

Chapter 5

1–6: Further warnings against worldly wealth

  1–3: Compare again with Matthew 6:19–34

  4: Compare with Romans 13:8

7–11: Encouragement to endure; example of endurance

12: Forbidding of oath

13–18: Prayer of faith, elders anointing, confession, for healing

19–20: Encouragement to care for one who sins, to convert