James · 27 verses
James 1
Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.
The chapter
What happens here
Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.
James gives temptation a family tree: desire conceives, sin is born, and death arrives as the grown-up child.
Joy in the pressurevv. 1–8
James opens as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, writing to the twelve tribes of the Dispersion. Trials are given the startling treatment usually reserved for good news: pure joy, because testing develops perseverance, and perseverance is to be allowed its full, rather patient, career. Wisdom may be requested from God, who gives generously; but the doubter is compared to a wave, blown and tossed about, and described as a double-minded man unstable in all his ways.
Flowers, crowns, and the genealogy of troublevv. 9–18
The chapter then turns the social ladder upside down. The brother in humble circumstances is to exult in his high position, while the rich person is to exult in his low position, since wealth fades like a field flower under a scorching sun. The person who perseveres under trial receives the crown of life. Temptation, meanwhile, is not to be assigned to God: each one is lured by his own evil desires, which conceive sin, and sin, when fully grown, gives birth to death. Against this brood stands the Father of the heavenly lights, from whom every good and perfect gift comes, with no change or shifting shadow.
The mirror that forgets its facevv. 19–27
James next commends a deliberately unhurried manner: quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, since human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. The word is not meant to sit prettily in the ears; hearing without doing is self-deception. The memorable comparison is a man who inspects his own face in a mirror and then walks away having immediately forgotten it—a remarkably efficient disappearance of information. True religion is finally described in plain, active terms: care for orphans and widows in distress, and keeping oneself unpolluted by the world.
The text
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Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.
Jas 1:1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.
Jas 1:2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
Jas 1:3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Jas 1:4Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Jas 1:5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Jas 1:6But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Jas 1:7That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Jas 1:8He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Jas 1:9The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.
Jas 1:10But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.
Jas 1:11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
Jas 1:12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
Jas 1:13When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.
Jas 1:14But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.
Jas 1:15Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Jas 1:16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Jas 1:17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
Jas 1:18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.
Jas 1:19My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
Jas 1:20for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
Jas 1:21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.
Jas 1:22Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
Jas 1:23For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,
Jas 1:24and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
Jas 1:25But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.
Jas 1:26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
Jas 1:27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
02 — Read alongside
Where this is echoed
Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 573 passages were voted onto 27 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.
- 19Proverbs 17:27A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
- 21 Peter 1:6–8In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
- 2James 1:12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- 17John 3:27John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
- 121 Peter 5:10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.
- 22Romans 2:13For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.
- 5Proverbs 2:3–6if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,
- 19Proverbs 21:23He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
- 17Matthew 7:11So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
- 19Proverbs 14:29A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- 22 Corinthians 12:9–10But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
- 22Luke 6:46–48Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?
- 22John 13:17If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
- 5John 15:7If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
- 17Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
- 12Revelation 2:10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Onward