Study in the Book of James – Part 1
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One of the goals at Hope CDA is to help you to be able to learn how to use your Bible to understand God and His ways more clearly. God has given us the Bible as an important tool to help us to better understand Him and to learn how to grow as a more mature believer.
To help accomplish this goal, you will go through a series of studies looking at different books of the Bible. We will begin by looking at the book of James over the next few months.
We will use the ESV Study Bible given to you to assist in your understanding of this book. This means that it is important that you get better acquainted with your study Bible to assist you in the class. However, we also encourage you to use other versions of the Bible to assist in your understanding. Whether you are using the King James Version Bible, the NIV, the Amplified Bible, or other options, the goal is to help you to properly understand what God inspired James to write.
A Little Background
The book of James was written by James, the brother of Jesus. While some denominations believe that Mary was a perpetual virgin, she did have other children (Mark 6:3). James was one of those children.
James was the first leader of the Jerusalem church. He led the church for about 30 years before being stoned to death on the order of the High Priest Ananus ben Ananus in 62 A.D. This means that his epistle was likely written within the final few years of his life.
James is written during a time of great persecution. The Roman government attempted to stamp out Christianity, and James was encouraging believers to stand strong. While many Christians do not face similar persecution, the text is still relevant to us today. As you will see, James provides many incredible insights for the believer.
A Servant of God
James 1:1 begins, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.”
If you look through many of the epistles in the New Testament, you will find that the author begins with this type of greeting. Paul begins 1 Corinthians with, “1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,
“2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:”
Similarly, Paul begins the letter to the Galatians with, “1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me,
“To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,”
What two pieces of information do these apostles provide in these greetings?
Why was it important that they began these letters in this way?
Trials Are Coming
James is an interesting letter because he does not sugarcoat the challenges that the believer will face. According to many theologians, he is greatly influenced by the teachings of Judaism, and much of his focus is on the practical way in which a believer can live out his or her faith.
This is seen in the opening of this letter. James 1:2-8 states:
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
This passage begins by encouraging believers to find joy in the many trials they will face. What are your thoughts on finding joy during trials?
Jesus made it clear in John 16:33 that we would have troubles as well. There he told the disciples, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
What kind of troubles should a believer expect?
How do these differ from the trials and problems that we create for ourselves?
James tells believers that they should count these trials as pure joy. In Acts 5:41, the apostles have been punished for following Jesus. It tells us in that verse, “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”
Why do you think that the believer can find joy when he or she is suffering for his or her faith?
In 1 Peter 1:6-7, the apostle writes “6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Compare this to what James said about the trials we face and how that leads to completeness. What do these two passages teach us?
How has a trial helped you to grow in your faith?
The word translated as “steadfastness” is ὑπομονήν (hupomone), which means endurance. In many other translations, this word is translated as “patience.” However, it is not a passive term, but means that a person is able to overcome and endure through very difficult times.
Why do you think endurance matters in our trials?
James continues by pointing out that trials test your faith, which leads to steadfastness, which helps to lead to you becoming perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Why during trials do you think it is difficult to see that God is leading you to a place of completeness and perfection?
Paul describes it this way in Romans 5:2-5, “2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
James tells us that patience and endurance leads to perfection and completion. Paul tells us that it leads to character, which leads to hope. When you have overcome and endured through trial, have you found hope? Have you felt more complete?
If you could see that God has a plan for your trials, could you find joy in them?
Why do you think that a person who has reached a high level of faith would lack for nothing?
James then tells us that if we lack wisdom, we should ask God. How do you think wisdom relates to our trials?
How do you think wisdom would help you through your own trials?
James continues in verse six by saying that we should ask for this wisdom in faith, never doubting, explaining that our doubt causes us to be like a ship tossed on the sea by the wind. He then explains that a person who doubts is double minded and should not suppose that the Lord will provide.
This seems like a very hard rebuke, but what do you think is at the root of that doubt?
Many great men of the Bible had doubts about what God was doing. This includes Moses, David, Peter, and Paul. So, what do you think James is telling us about the correlation between asking God for wisdom during our trials and having faith that He will provide?
Many have a great knowledge about God. However, when trials come, they cave to the challenges of those trials, sometimes even walking away from God. What do you think is the difference between knowledge and the wisdom that James is talking about here?
How do you think that difference relates to the “double-minded man?”
The Desire of God
God wants to see us draw closer to Him. Many of us are outraged when calamity and trial come our way, however, God is using these trials to draw us closer to Him. How do you think He is doing that?
Consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Do you think Jesus is talking about a person who is facing trials? How does Jesus tell us that a person should respond to the trials they are facing?
Do you think that the trials that you are facing are helping you grow closer to Jesus?
If so, how are they doing this? If not, how could you see God’s blessing in your trials?
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