All Articles For From Holy Writ

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” James 1:1 The Author of the Epistle The author of this epistle directed to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion is undoubtedly James, the brother of our Lord Jesus Christ as according to the flesh. The Scriptures speak of more than one James. In the list of the apostle, according to Matt. 10, Mark 3, Luke 6, and Acts 1:13, we read of two who bear this name: James, the son of Zebedee, and James, the son of Alphaeus. Neither...

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4 How beautifully and practically James begins his epistle! He is writing to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, the Jewish Christians in the Dispersion, scattered abroad because of persecution. And this church of God is a picture of the persecuted church of God throughout the ages. James is surely true to life, the life of the people of God in the...

“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:3, 4 Verse 3 gives us a two-fold reason for the thought which had been expressed m the second verse. James had exhorted the church of God to count it all joy when they fell into divers temptations. Of course, the people of God do not consider these temptations all joy because of the temptations themselves. It is for this reason that we do not seek temptations. To the contrary we fall into...

“If army 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 The connection between verse 5 and the preceding is not difficult to understand. James proceeds in his epistle from the church’s position and calling in the midst of the world. A very tactful and realistic approach, indeed! The church is called by the Lord to be the party of the living God in a world which lieth in darkness. He exhorts the people of God to rejoice in the midst of their...

“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. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:6-8 In verse 5 James exhorts the church of God to ask wisdom of the Lord. This wisdom shall be given her for the Lord giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not. In verses 6-8, introduced by the word ‘‘but”, the holy writer sharply calls our attention to the...

“Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of this grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat,” but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.” James 1:9-11 Another thought which is clearly implied in verse 9 is the treatment of the poor and lowly brother by the rich. This appears already from...

“Blessed is the man, that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath premised to them that love Him.” James 1:12 Verse 12 may be considered a summary of the preceding context. In verses 2-4 we are exhorted to rejoice when we fall into diverse temptations. Temptations work the approved state of our faith, and approved faith worketh patience. Hence, let us rejoice. In verses 5-8 the church is admonished to ask of God wisdom. We need wisdom. The way of the Christian in the midst of the world is...

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any many man.” James 1:13 In verse 12 the Church of God is admonished to endure temptation. And the man who endureth temptation is blessed because, when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. Failure to endure temptation implies, we understand, that we succumb to these forces of evil. Is there anyone, then, who might attempt to justify his surrender to the powers of...

“But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” James 1:14-16 Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. “Do not err, by beloved brethren”. The holiness of God, who tempteth no man because He Himself cannot be tempted with evil, receiveth all the emphasis in verse 13. This same truth is also the underlying thought in verses 14-16. On the one hand, James declares that every man is tempted, when he is drawn away and enticed of his own lust. And, on the...

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17 That God is the God of perfection, a light in whom there is no darkness, receives all emphasis in this context of the epistle of James. In verse 13 the holy writer expresses this thought by declaring that God cannot be tempted with evil and therefore tempteth no man. In verses 14-16 the truth of God’s perfection is again confirmed where we read that every man is tempted of his own...