James 1

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.[6]

"James": identified by early church leaders (Eusebius, Origen, etc.) to be James the Just (the brother of Jesus) (Mark 6:3), who was a distinguished leader of the first-century church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18).[7] He was the oldest of the four brothers of Jesus either born from Joseph (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3) or Clopas and Mary, aunt of Jesus if identified as James the Less (Matthew 27:56; John 19:25). He did not believe in Jesus as Christ until after the resurrection (Acts 1:14), perhaps as a result of a special post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to him (1 Corinthians 15:7).[7]

"Servant": is 'a title of authority' (cf. Nehemiah 9:14; Psalm 89:3; Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1).[8] Bauckham suggests that James does not state his family relationship to Jesus because he does not see it as a basis for authority (cf. Mark 3:33–35).[8]

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.[9]

"Perfect" (Greek: teleios; used two times here) and "complete" point to the theme of "maturity".[10]

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.[11]

"Wisdom" can be rendered as "skill for living", not 'primarily knowledge', but 'godly behavior in difficult situations' (cf. James 3:15).[10]

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.[12]

"Blessed" here is in the sense of "to be richly rewarded by God" both in the current world (after character development in 1:4), and the next (Matthew 5:11–12).[10]

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.[13]

"Tempted": different from the previous use, as 'exercising grace' in relation to joy and boasting, here the "temptations" are the 'issue of shame and death', that is 'to be watched against'.[14]

"Tempted by God" (NKJV; KJV: "Tempted of God"): A holy God without iniquity does not delight in sin, being contrary to his nature and perfection, so he will not tempt another to sin.[14] Sinful men often charge God for their sins, or temptations to sin, similar to Adam, when fallen (Genesis 3:12) who, to excuse himself, lays the blame to Eve ("the woman"), and ultimately to God, who gave her to him; suggesting that if it had not been for the woman (had God not given him the woman to be with him), he should not have eaten of the forbidden fruit, nor should he have had any temptation to it, and therefore it was God's fault.[14] "God cannot be tempted with evil" or "evils": the Israelites tempted God at Massah and Meribah, with their murmuring, distrust and unbelief, poking God's patience and his power; and Jesus has been tempted by evil men, and by evil things, but he cannot be tempted "to evil" (as rendered in the Ethiopian version), nor can he be tempted by anything in himself, who is pure and holy, or by anything, to do any sinful action:[14]

"Nor does He Himself tempt anyone": that is, 'to sin'.[14] God tempted Abraham, to try his faith, love, and obedience to God; he tempted the Israelites in the wilderness, to humble them, and prove what was in their hearts; and he tempted Job, and tried his faith and patience; and so God 'tempts and tries' his righteous people, by afflictions, more or less: but he never tempts or solicits them to sin; temptations to sin come from another direction.[14]

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.[15]

"Keep oneself from being polluted by the world": in the sense of not looking for security or advancement in the things valued by the people in the world, such as 'no need to hold on to money', so Christians can be give freely and generously.[16]