james 1

Read James 1 at Bible Gateway.

Jam 1 chiastic structures:

Jam 1:2-17 chiastic structure:

1a) Jam 1:2-8, Endure temptation, but if you lack wisdom, ask it from God, the liberal giver/ the doubting double-minded man;

1) Jam 1:2-4, Temptation + testing produces endurance, to make you perfect + complete;
2) Jam 1:5a, But if any of you lacks wisdom;
3) Jam 1:5b, Let him ask God, who gives to all liberally + without reproach; and it will be given;
4) Jam 1:6-8, The man who doubts is double-minded, unstable + will not receive from the Lord;

1a.1) Jam 1:6a, But let him ask in faith, without any doubting;
1a.2) Jam 1:6b, For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind + tossed;
central axis) Jam 1:7, For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord;
2a.1) Jam 1:8a, He is a double-minded man;
2a.2) Jam 1:8b, Unstable in all his ways;

1b) Jam 1:9-10a, But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position; and the rich, in that he is made humble;

central axis) Jam 1:10b-11a, Because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away. For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes;

2b) Jam 1:11b, So also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits;

2a) Jam 1:12-17, He who endures temptation + do not be deceived, every good gift from God who is does not turn;

1) Jam 1:12-15, Blessed is he who endures temptation, he will be approved;

1a) Jam 1:12a, Blessed is the man who endures temptation;
central axis) Jam 1:12b, For when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love Him;
2a) Jam 1:13-15, What tempts a man;

1a) Jam 1:13a, Let no man say when he is tempted;
1b) Jam 1:13b, “I am tempted by God;”
central axis) Jam 1:13c, For God can’t be tempted by evil;
2b) Jam 1:13d, And He Himself tempts no one;
2a) Jam 1:14-15, But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, produces death;

2) Jam 1:16, Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers;
3) Jam 1:17a, Every good + perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights;
4) Jam 1:17b, With whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.

Jam 1:18-21 chiastic structure:

1a) Jam 1:18, Of His own will He gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures;

1b) Jam 1:19, So let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;

central axis) Jam 1:20, For the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God;

2b) Jam 1:21a, Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness;

2a) Jam 1:21b, Receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Jam 1:22-27 chiastic structure:

1a) Jam 1:22, But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves;

1b) Jam 1:23a, For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer;

1c) Jam 1:23b, He is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror;

central axis) Jam 1:24, He sees himself + goes away, immediately forgetting what kind of man he was;

2c) Jam 1:25a, But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues;

2b) Jam 1:25b, Not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does;

2a) Jam 1:26-27, If a man thinks himself religious, but doesn’t bridle his tongue, support widows + orphans, keep oneself pure, he deceives his heart.

What is the perfect law of freedom, that James, the brother of Jesus and the pastor of the first church in Jerusalem, advocates believers look into?

I will walk in liberty, for I have sought your precepts. Psa 119:45

It is the precepts of God, expressed in the commandments of God. The Law of God is the Law of Liberty. We have been told all our lives that the Law brings bondage, but the bondage we have in fact been under, is bondage to sin (Rom 6:6). When we were tempted, we couldn’t endure through it, being slaves of sin. But then the Son came:

If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. Joh 8:36

And set us free from the bondage of sin. Our new nature with God’s Law inscribed on the tablets of our hearts, inspires us to be doers of the word, and not just hearers only. It is liberating to be self- controlled, controlled by love and the Spirit of God from within (2 Cor 3:17, 2 Cor 5:14), so that controls from without are not necessary. Freedom, in fact, must be based in obedience to the Law, for a man can only be free if he is also self- controlled, not infringing on the rights or property of others. When Lawlessness increases, freedom is often the first casualty. I know, we have years of programming to undo, and the truth of the word of God is powerful enough to do it!