This is commonly called a "General or Catholic Epistle." The word “general” is not in the early MSS: it may have been added simply because this epistle and the others so called were not written to any particular assembly.
Although addressed to the twelve tribes of Israel scattered abroad, it contemplates those among them who professed faith in Christ. It connects itself with the transitional period embraced by the Acts of the Apostles, when believing Jews were still zealous for the law, and were in association with the unbelieving nation.
The epistle is a practical one, exhibiting the holy girdle for the loins, that the external practical life should correspond with the inner divine life of the Christian, and that the will of God should be a law of liberty.
Three laws are named in the epistle. (1) The law of Moses, James 2:1010For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10); (2) the royal law, James 2:88If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: (James 2:8); and (3) the law of liberty, James 1:25; 2:1225But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:25)
12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. (James 2:12).
In several particulars, as we might expect, there is an entire change from what was found under the old covenant: such as riches being no longer a sign of the divine favor; the will of God being no longer a “burden”, but contrariwise, being what they wished to do, &c.
It is believed by many that the epistle was written by James the apostle, the son of Alphæus, from Jerusalem, where he remained. He calls himself 'a servant of God,' which Moses and the Old Testament prophets could have called themselves; but he adds, “and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, which is a title that only those Jews who believed that the Jesus whom they had crucified was really 'the Christ,' could accept.
There is nothing to guide as to the date. Some suppose it to be about A.D. 45; others, 60.
James 1
James, servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the twelve tribes (all must be included: cf. Acts 26.7, though ten tribes be hidden for the time) which are in the dispersion among the Gentiles, greeting.
Count it joy when ye fall into trial, for the proving of your faith works endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work (as it had in the Lord) that ye may be perfect and complete (waiting on God for the issue of the trial).
If any lack wisdom let him ask of God in faith without doubting, and it shall be given him.
A man with a double object is unstable in all his ways.
The brother of low degree is exalted into the kingdom of God: the rich is humbled in being made one with the poor of the flock. Let both glory in these things. The flower of humanity passes away.
Blessed is the man who endures trial; for, having been proved, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to them that love Him.
God cannot be tempted by evil things, and Himself tempts no one (this is temptation to evil, not to be confounded with God trying or testing His saints: cf. Gen. 22:11And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. (Genesis 22:1)). Every one is tempted of his own lusts: lust having conceived gives birth to sin, and sin completed brings forth death. (In Rom. 7:8,8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. (Romans 7:8) sin, in the nature of man, as a root, produces lust: here lust produces sin as a fruit.)
Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father or the lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of change. (The lights of the heavens ever shine, types of the One from whom comes all spiritual light.)
Accept with meekness the implanted word which, taking root in the soul, preserves from evil. Be doers of the word. A hearer only is like a man considering his natural face in a mirror, and going away and forgetting what he was like (forgetting what the word says about him, his conscience not being in exercise).
He who looks into and abides in the perfect law of liberty (liberty is when the injunction coincides with the wishes, as it ever was with Christ) is blessed in his doing.
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
James 2
(The indissoluble link between faith and practice is the point of this chapter.)
Do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, Lord of glory, along with respect of persons. For if in your assembly (synagogue) ye respect the rich more than the poor, is not this making a difference? and ye are judges with evil thoughts.
If ye keep the royal law, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, thou shalt do well. But to have respect of persons is sin.
Whoso breaks the law in but one point has come under the guilt of all. (To break one law is to be a transgressor, and to despise the authority of Him who gave it all.)
Speak and act as those to be judged by the law of liberty; for judgment will be without mercy to him that has shown no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.
What does it profit if a man says he has faith, and has not works, can faith save him? Faith, if it has not works (to prove its reality) is dead by itself.
But some one will say, Thou hast faith and I have works. Show me thy faith without works; and I by my works will show thee my faith. (God knows if the faith is real; we must judge of it by the works seen, hence it is “show me”.)
Thou doest well to believe there is one God: even the demons believe that, and tremble (true faith rejoices). Faith without works is dead. Was not Abraham justified by works when he had offered Isaac? (justified before men, so that we can say) Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works faith was perfected. Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called The Friend of God.
Ye see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she sheltered the spies? For as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead (being a mere human intellectual assent, which is not the faith in God that accompanies salvation).
James 3
Be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment (teaching others we fail ourselves). For we all often offend.
If any offend not in word, he is a perfect man, able to control the whole body. (The tongue as the index of the heart follows its every impulse, and is easily set in motion.)
As the horse is controlled by the bit, and a ship by the rudder, so the tongue, though small, may defile the whole body, it sets fire to the course of nature (by stirring up strife and hatred), and is used by Satan for mischief. Out of the same mouth should not proceed both cursing and blessing.
Let the wise (in true divine wisdom) shew his works in his good conduct with meekness of wisdom; but if there be emulation and strife in the heart (in false human wisdom) do not boast and lie against the truth. The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned. Those enjoy peace who walk in meekness of heavenly wisdom.
James 4
Unbridled nature and will judged.
Ye have not because ye ask not, or ye ask evilly, that your pleasures may be indulged.
Friendship with the world is enmity with God. (It put His Son to death, and it is ruled by Satan.)
Think ye that the scripture speaks in vain? Does the Spirit that has taken His abode in us desire enviously? (envious desires must be of the flesh, for He is the Holy Spirit). But God gives more grace. Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil (his power is annulled for the Christian) and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. But to do this the hands must be cleansed, and the heart purified.
Exhortations follow.
Arrange not for the morrow without saying, in real dependence, If the Lord will and we live.
To him that knows how to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.
James 5
Verses 1-6 are a solemn warning to the rich against amassing riches and oppressing the poor.
As the laborer patiently waits for the fruits of the earth, so we are to have patience, for the coming of the Lord draws nigh. Complain not: the Judge stands before the door (leave all to Him).
Take the prophets as examples of patient suffering, and remember the endurance of Job and the end thereof: the Lord is full of tender compassion and pitiful.
Swear not, but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay (in all your daily walk), lest ye fall under judgment.
Does any one suffer evil, let him pray. Is any happy, let him sing psalms. Is any sick, let him call the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall heal the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess therefore your offenses to one another that ye may be healed. (This is in reference to God's governmental dealings in this life; not justification.)
The fervent supplication of a righteous man has much power. Elias is an example.
If any one err from the truth, and one bring him back, he shall save a soul from death and shall cover a multitude of sins (by being the means of their being forgiven).