Exegesis

I. James 1:19-25

II. The exhortation of James to Christians to avoid anger and to live actively accordingly to the principles of their beliefs as Christians.

III. In these verses, James states that anger is not aligned with Gods righteousness but rather with the wicked wrath that leads souls away from God. He argues that one must act according to the Word of God. If he professes to be a Christian but does not act in accordance with Christs teaching, he will not be blessed.

IV. The text begins with a command for understanding (1:19). It urges followers to listen rather than rush to speak or to get angry (1:19-20). The text focuses first on the need for patience. It is suggested that through patience and meekness, understanding comes (1:21). It continues by urging followers to not only hear the Word of God but also to do as the Word commands (1:22-25).

V. The literary genre of the text is of the wisdom literary genre. It corresponds with the later exhortation in James that faith without works is dead (James 2:26). It also aligns with other reminders in Scripture that faith must be demonstrated in a labor of love and charity toward others (1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 13:3; Galatians 5:6). This text is distinctive in that it stresses the virtue of patience and insists that understanding through patience is a predicate for being able to do and not just hear the Word.

VI. The text is non-narrative but it is situated within the context of a chapter that focuses on the association between faith and wisdom, and why those who resist temptation are blessed. The chapter closes with a description of what religion is, pure and simple: purity and charity summarize it. The text itself addresses the conflict between receiving the gospel and implementing it ones life. James indicates that he who hears but does not do will not be blessed (1:25).

VII. The NRSV states: But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who actthey will be blessed in their doing. The GNT by contrast puts it this way: But if you look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, and keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practiceyou will be blessed by God in what you do. Likewise, the NLT states: But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and dont forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. The NRSV provides a literal translation of the phrase law of liberty whereas the dynamic translations of the GNT and NLT emphasize that Gods law is one that sets one free, the connotation being that it frees one from the snares of the devil. This is unclear or at least only implied by the literal text.

VIII. There are no significant disagreements between this text and other ancient manuscripts.

IX. The short phrase those who look at themselves (1:23) is from the Greek word that means at the face of his birth. This phrase is therefore is an indication that one is forgetting the nature of the face with which he was born, i.e., ones fallen nature. The mirror connotation suggests that one only sees externally the nature of ones surface self. He who does not act according to the principles of God, however, is ignorant of his spiritual nature.

X. This text comes from the first chapter of the epistle, so no full...

a. Compare the text with 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 13:3; Galatians 5:6

b. Discuss its features as a piece of Wisdom Literature

c. Explain how it complements 2:14-26 in terms of living the faith

C. The theme of love is linked to the law of the Gospel which frees one from hatred and sin:

a. compare the NRSV with the NLT and GNT and look at the dynamic translation of the law that sets on free

b. Discuss the historical perspective of the Jews experience of oppression and how they were bitter and angry about life and why James felt the need to address this bitterness directly in 1:19-20

c. Discuss the theological implications of love and the Holy Spirit guiding ones daily thoughts and actions through the law of liberty

d. Discuss the social feature of the text, which centers on brotherhood and fellowship and resisting the temptation to be angry with others, which makes one a hypocrite if one professes at the same time to be Christian yet holds anger in ones heart

D. The text builds on the idea of resisting temptation (1:14) and proving oneself through trial and leads to the idea of being open to all and showing ones faith in ones deeds (2:26)

a. Discuss the literary function of the text as a prelude to 2:26faith without works is dead

b. Analyze the meaning of the phrase law of liberty

c. Identify the thematic link between the text and the Christian mission

E. The function of the ministry of Christ is this: Jesus calls us all to love one another because He loved everyone and that is the basis of our faith in Him: love is what binds one to God and He expects us to show love to others to prove that we love Him.

XXV. Bibliography

Daniel L. Migliore, Daniel L.…