Author and Audience:
The author of the book of James wrote to “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” and identified himself as “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”. This was probably James the half brother of Jesus, not James the brother of John. As the son of Joseph and Mary, James would have been closely associated with the Lord and probably knew Him as intimately as anyone in mortality. In addition, James received a witness of Christ’s divinity and Resurrection.
Historical Background:
James is classified as a General Epistle. The General Epistles are so named because they do not address a specific audience as do many of Paul’s Epistles. The lack of specific information makes it difficult to determine the date and place of writing. Since James gave no clue as to when or where he penned his letter, we can only assume that it was written in Jerusalem, since that is where he lived.
We can determine that the Epistle of James was written prior to A.D. 62 since it was in that year, as recorded by the historian Josephus, that James the Lord’s brother and some others were taken before the Sanhedrin, sentenced to death, and delivered to be stoned. Also, the fact that James does not mention the Jerusalem conference of about A.D. 50 could indicate that this letter was written even before that time. If so it would make this letter one of the earliest in the New Testament.
Theme:
This letter teaches that once we have accepted the gospel and have faith in the Lord, we should demonstrate the reality of that faith in our day-to-day lives. The Epistle of James is characterized by a series of mini-sermons that counsel the Saints not to merely know the word of God but to live it.
James 1–5 is notable for its emphasis on practical religion. If we have faith, we must show it through our works, for example by comforting and aiding those in need. For James faith is always accompanied by action. One of the most striking instances of such faith occurred when the boy Joseph Smith read in James 1:5: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Joseph felt prompted to go to the woods and inquire of the Lord which church was true. Heavenly Father rewarded his faith by appearing to him, together with Jesus Christ. The Father answered Joseph’s prayer by pointing to Jesus and saying, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”.
Chapter 1
A statement by Elder Bruce R. McConkie:
“This single verse of scripture has had a greater impact and a more far reaching effect upon mankind than any other single sentence ever recorded by any prophet in any age”.
(Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:246–47)
• What scripture was Elder McConkie referring to?
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5
• How does this scripture fulfill the declaration by Elder Bruce R. McConkie?
What came from Joseph Smith’s reading John 1:5 …
10 In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be aright, which is it, and how shall I know it?
11 While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
12 Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible.
13 At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to “ask of God,” concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.
14 So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.
15 After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.
16 But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the dsun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.
19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” Joseph Smith—History 1:10–19
• How does asking for wisdom differ from what we often request in prayer?
• What is the difference between asking Heavenly Father to solve your problems and
asking for the wisdom to deal with problems?
• How could asking for wisdom bring more power to our personal prayers?
The source of power Joseph used to get his answers from God:
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:6
• What is the difference between a prayer offered in faith and one asked with
wavering?
About prayer, President Joseph F. Smith taught:
“It does not take many words to ask the Lord for what we need; but we must ask in faith, confidence and trust. It will not do to have doubts in our minds when we call upon the Lord for a blessing”. (Gospel Doctrine, 216)
• What can we to pray with more faith and less wavering?
Our prayers will have life-changing power
if we ask God for the blessings we need with confidence and faith.
Chaper 2
• Which oar is the more important one?
• If one oar was attached to one side of a rowboat and you rowed as hard as you
could, what direction would you go?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. James 2:17–18
The message of these verses is like the lesson of the oars:
• In what ways might we fail to use the “faith in Jesus Christ” oar?
• How might we ignore the “works” oar?
Answer the following:
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath bfaith, and have not works? can faith save him? James 2:14
Chapter 3
Who Am I?
• I am difficult to tame.
• I can both bless and curse.
• I can give out much poison.
• I can comfort people.
• I can harm the work of the Lord.
• I can hurt other people’s reputations.
• I can witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Who Am I?
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. James 1:26
• What is a bridle used for? (To control and direct a horse.)
• What does it mean to “bridle” the tongue?
• How can we “bridle” our tongue?
• What kinds of trouble can we experience when we do not bridle our tongue?
A statement from the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet:
“How you speak and the words you use tell much about the image you choose to portray. Use language to build and uplift those around you. Profane, vulgar, or crude language and inappropriate or off-color jokes are offensive to the Lord. They harm your spirit and degrade you. . . .
“Gossip is another kind of harmful language. When you say something bad about people who are not present or tell secrets you know about them, you are gossiping. Gossip causes hurt and pain for other people. The Lord commands us to love one another. To follow this commandment, speak kindly and positively about others”.
(For the Strength of Youth, 10–11)
Counsel about the tongue from King Benjamin:
But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not. Mosiah 4:30
•Why should we watch our words?
For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to chide us from his presence.
Alma 12:14
We must watch our words because improper words will condemn us.
Learn to bridle your tongues as a means to bless others and perfect yourselves.
Chapter 4
• What happens to our relationship with God when we try to be in the world and in
the kingdom at the same time?
• What difficulties come into our lives as a result of choosing the things of this world
over the things of God?
Blessed is the man that endureth [resisteth] temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man … James 1:12–13, [JST]
• Is God responsible for the temptations we face?
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. James 1:14–16
The Way Satan Works:
As James describes man being influenced by his own lusts, he chooses two words that are vivid and descriptive of how Satan works upon men. The first word, translated as drawn out, was used in hunting and was the word which described what the hunter did when he lured wild game out of the safety of the thick brush into an area set with snares. And the word entice came from fishing and meant "to bait, or to catch with bait." How apt is the description, for the lusts of the flesh are designed to lure us out from the true safety of protective righteousness to become the victim of the evil hunter or fisherman. The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles (p. 408)
• How does the devil entice us to sin?
Chapter 5
Ways we can prepare to be friends with God: (James 5:7–20 )
• Be patient.
• Stablish (strengthen) your heart.
• Grudge not one against another.
• Take the example of the prophets.
• Endure.
• Swear not.
• Pray when afflicted.
• Sing hymns.
• Call for the elders for blessings.
• Confess your faults.
• Pray for one another.
• Convert the sinner.
Counsel of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin:
“The simple fact is this: anything that does not draw us closer to God takes us away from Him. We have no middle ground, no foggy gray area where we can sin a little without suffering spiritual decline. That is why we must repent and come to Christ daily on submissive knees so that we can prevent our bonfires of testimony from being snuffed out by sin”. (in Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 48; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 36)
Set aside the world and become friends of God.