(The next mini-section of the New Testament after the Pauline Epistles contained epistles from four separate writers. The first of these writers can be seen as the most physically-focused writer. The author of this book was known as the following: James the Lesser, James the Just, and James the half-brother of Jesus. Acts 12:1-2 stated that Herod killed James the brother of John, who was also known as James the Greater. In Acts 15:13-21 we saw James, the author of this book, was the head of the first Christian council and concluded the dispute concerning circumcision brought by Paul and Barnabas. This occurred before Paul's second missionary journey. The Book of James was written around 45 AD in Jerusalem before the first Christian council (which was around 51 AD). Chronologically, this placed this letter prior to all of Paul's writings. Consequently, the Doctrine of this book could be placed wholly within the Old Testament other than two references to Jesus. In this book there was no mention of: the Gospel (death, burial, resurrection), the incarnation/life of Christ, the Messiah having come, and redemption through Jesus. Instead, James used logic to present Doctrine from a physical perspective and focused on the importance of words.)
James 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion, greeting.
(James wrote a letter to the twelve tribes of Israel that were scattered abroad. This was the first of two references to Jesus, but the context was not doctrinal.)
2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations;
3 Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience.
(Count it all joy when you fall into various temptations. Why? When my faith is proven/tested, patience is the result. Being tempted is a time for you to pursue growth and increase your faith.)
4 And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.
(Let patience have its full effect by enduring until the end that you may achieve maximum profitability. James began this letter focused on growth, the God-given principle that is motivation for the other three God-given principles: causality, non-contradiction, contrastive thinking.)
5 But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
(If we lack wisdom (profitable decision) we should ask God and He will give to all men liberally. This is grace: asking God to work through us so that we have profitable actions. We can have wisdom without knowledge and understanding because we can allow God to influence our actions via the Holy Spirit.)
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.
(But we should ask in faith. Grace without faith will fail. Without faith there is no way to know if the influence you are hearing is from God or the enemy/flesh. Within six verses, James covered grace and faith: which is Salvation.)
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord;
8 a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways.
(James covered a second God-given principle: non-contradiction. A double-minded man (a man with contradictions) is unstable in all his ways.)
9 But let the brother of low degree glory in his high estate:
(James covered a third God-given principle: contrastive thinking. We ought to humble ourselves and consider we could be wrong. James stated humility leads to exaltation.)
10 and the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
(James covered the forth and final God-given principle: causality. James presented two causal statements: the humble will glory and the rich will be made low. James continued supplying reasons behind these causal statements.)
11 For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and 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 goings.
(Grace in this verse was euprepeia - "godly appearance, beauty." This was the one time in the New Testament that "grace" was translated from a different Greek word than charis. The beautiful physical appearance of the rich will eventually fade away because of Justice.)
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him.
(This meant that enduring temptation is an effect of loving God. That is because we can only endure temptation by grace through faith. Jesus endured temptation by focusing on God (First Command) and allowing God to influence His actions via the Holy Spirit.)
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man:
(James was using causality to bring resolution to the situation where things from God are brought to us from the outside of the individual. We are not tempted/tried by God (on the inside; in our hearts). God can bring things from the outside, however, He does this to encourage us to focus inside for direction. Throughout the Bible, God did bring situations from the outside with the intention of stressing the individual and humbling them so that they would choose to take more direction from God.)
14 but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
(James stated that the actual cause of an individual being tempted was from within the individual and not outside the individual (from God). We are tempted by our own lust, which is why I should never say, "I am tempted of God." God may put things in my path but it would be the result of my choices if the result was my temptation.)
15 Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death.
(Again, a causal progression from James: lust resulted in sin, sin resulted in death.)
16 Be not deceived, my beloved brethren.
(James used the four God-given principles to logically explain circumstances we deal with, and it takes effort on the reader's part. James wrote this very short sentence to help make the reader conscious: do not be deceived. Do not believe a right what if it is not the effect of a right how/why. Deception is contradictory.)
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.
(Doctrine: Every good (Right and Just) and perfect (maximum profitable) gift is from above, from the Father. The Right and Just gift can only be an effect of a Right and Just cause. God is the only Right and Just cause. In fact, James stated that God did not have any causes that were not Right and Just. God did not have the causes within His Nature that could result in "shadow that is cast by turning.")
18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
(Doctrine: God initiated His Will on the sixth day to bring humans forth to be a firstfruits. That was the why. How did God do this? By the word of truth.)
19 Ye know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
(Again, contrastive thinking/humility: Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. Why?)
20 for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
(...because the anger of man does not lead to Righteousness. Another causal explanation.)
21 Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves.
(Verse 21 dealt with the cause: receive God's Word. Verse 22 dealt with the profitable effect: Be doers of His Word. Verse 22 also dealt with the deceptive causal relationship: hearers and not doers.)
23 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror:
24 for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
(James gave a simile for the deceptive causal relationship: a man looking at his physical face in the mirror. The man had the right what (appearance) however, he did not have the right causes (how/why), he did not know what manner of man he was. Then James contrasted this simile with the causal relationship of the man with the right causes...)
25 But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.
26 If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain.
(If a man appears as if he loves God but his actions do not follow, he deceives his own heart (because the actions coming through it don't agree with the intent in the conscious brain which works according to words) and this man and his beliefs are unprofitable. James specifically focused on the tongue, which speaks words. Words were very important to Paul. Words seem to be important to James.)
27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
(Theme of Chapter 1: James used the four God-given principles to give a logical explanation of the causes of being a believer in God. James' presentation relied heavily on presenting causal relationships. So far, James did not reference any scripture.)
James 2
1 My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
(This was the final reference to Jesus Christ, and this one also was not doctrinal.)
2 For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile clothing;
3 and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;
4 Do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
(James returned to one of the themes of the first chapter: Do not value appearance/physical effects over spiritual causes.)
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?
(The poor of this world who are rich in faith will be heirs of the kingdom that was promised to those who love God.)
6 But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?
(Rich men of the world will draw you towards judging others so that they can justify their ungodly causes.)
7 Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which ye are called?
8 Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:
(This was the first scriptural reference: Leviticus 19:18. The "royal law" was to love your neighbor as yourself which, according to Jesus (Matthew 22:39) was an effect of loving God with your whole being.)
9 but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
(James' premise: Respect of persons (discriminating) was an effect of focusing on appearance. James equated that with committing sin.)
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all.
(James' reason: Sinning in any area of the Law was the same as sinning against the whole Law. James then gave his support...)
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
(James referenced Exodus 20:13-14 and drew a conclusion. James' presentation differed from Paul's. Paul stated a logical premise, logical reason, and gave at least three scripture for support, usually without explanation. James began with a scripture that included his premise. He gave a logical reason and then followed with one scripture with explanation.)
12 So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty.
(This sentence transitioned away from the Law to the current dispensation.)
13 For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.
(Another logical causal statement from James based on Justice.)
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?
(What profit is there when a man says he has faith but does no works? Another causal statement from James. Faith is a cause and works ought to be the profitable effects. James asked what profit was there in appearing to have the right cause (deceptive words from the conscious brain), without the effects (actions through the heart) that proved the right cause.)
15 If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food,
16 and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit?
(James gave an example that proved that saying you have the right cause but not proving it with the right effects was not profitable. Notice, James used profitability as his measure of Right and Just.)
17 Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself.
(Faith without works is dead: it has no life; no ability to repair; no ability to create; it is not profitable. This was a conclusion, but it could also be seen as a premise.)
18 Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith.
(Doctrine: Faith is proven by actions! This could be seen as a reason.)
19 Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder.
(This could be seen as support, even though it did not reference a scripture.
Doctrine: Belief is being firmly convinced because you have seen. Belief is proven in actions. Faith is belief in something that cannot be seen, and it is also proven in actions. Verse 18 proved that actions were required. Verse 19 was an extreme example of actions being proof of belief. Demons believe there is one God and the proof of their belief is that they shudder. James was stating that if a demon had proof of his belief, what was the proof of the faith of an individual that they believe there is one God?
Doctrine: Demons believe because they have seen. Demons do not have faith because they do not believe unless they see. We can only have faith in God because we cannot see God.)
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?
(This was a restatement of verse 17, which we said could be seen as a premise.)
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?
(James skipped giving a reason and referenced Genesis 22. Abraham was justified by his works which were an effect of his faith.)
22 Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect;
(Another restatement of verse 17 which was James' premise.)
23 and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.
(James referenced Genesis 15:6 which was many years before the scripture he referenced in verse 21. Abraham's works by faith were counted to him as Righteousness and he was called the friend of God.)
24 Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.
(Yet another restatement of verse 17 which was James' premise.)
25 And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
(James referenced Joshua 2 and Joshua 6...and then concluded with yet another restatement of verse 17...)
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
(Theme of Chapter 2: Faith is a cause and works ought to be the profitable effects. Faith without works is dead: it has no life; no ability to repair; no ability to create; it is not profitable. James used profitability as his measure of Right and Just.)
James 3
1 Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.
(James' premise: Teachers will receive greater judgment because of the responsibility of what is being taught. We ought to be more careful when we attempt to teach Doctrine to others because we open ourselves up to greater judgment if we are wrong.)
2 For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
(James' reason was that there were many things humans stumble in, however, not stumbling in word allowed us to be considered perfect: to be able to achieve the maximum profitability. This placed a lot of importance on words. It seemed that James stated the only thing that prevented us from being perfect (maximum profitability) was our "stumbling" with regards to words. This reason was stated in the context of the premise of verse 1 that focused on teachers. Here were James' supports...)
3 Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.
(James used a natural example to support his premise. "Obey us" meant "persuaded to act.")
4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.
(James used another natural example to support his premise.)
5 So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
(James' conclusion was that the tongue was a fire. Words are powerful and can destroy or create. Destructive words have a wrong or no how/why. Words that create have a right how/why and they are profitable, even to the maximum which is perfect.)
7 For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind.
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is full of deadly poison.
(James used a natural example to contrast the inability to completely tame the tongue. Man's tongue is untamed, unruly evil, full of deadly poison. The only way to tame the tongue is to speak grace unto others, to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us which would result in the maximum profitability: perfection.)
9 Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:
(James referenced Genesis 1:26. Notice, James' point was that we were made after the appearance of God, not having the causes of God in and of ourselves but the appearance of Him.)
10 out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
(When we curse others, we are cursing beings made after the appearance of God. The tongue is able to do seemingly contradictory things. James stated it was not right for us to use our tongues to do contradictory things. James supported this with more natural examples...)
11 Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? Neither can salt water yield sweet.
(Verses 11-12 were examples of contradictions that did not occur in nature.)
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.
(Wisdom (cause) results in making profitable decisions. James stated those with the right cause ought to demonstrate it with humility. Contrastive thinking and lack of contradiction is proof of wisdom.)
14 But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.
(James stated the seemingly profitable decisions that were made based on jealousy and faction in your heart (causes) were not from above (it was not Right), but actually unprofitable. James then contrasted this with the effects of wisdom from above...)
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.
(Theme of Chapter 3: James illustrated the importance of words. It seemed that James stated the only thing that prevented us from being perfect was our "stumbling" with regards to words. James specifically focused on the tongue and supported his premise and reason with natural examples.)
Day 352
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