James 1:1-8

“From James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings! My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything. But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.”

— ‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭8‬‬

Only two or three men could possibly be the James here. The apostle was murdered in AD 42 (Acts 13). The most likely option is James, the brother of Jesus. This leaves the remarkable classification of “slave of God and Jesus.” Post resurrection, James’ view of his half-brother changed, and he became the leader of the church in Jerusalem (see Acts 15). He is fully surrendered to Jesus as Lord. Some argue against him as author based on grammar and his lack of mentioning Jesus, but there are counter arguments that can be discussed elsewhere. 

Diaspora: scattered tribes. Jewish Christians ran away from Jerusalem. This started in Saul’s persecutions, but also by Agrippa I in AD 44. Acts 11:27-30 talks about a famine at this time period. Poverty greatly affected all, and Christians were no exception. Wealthy landowners would certainly have sided with Agrippa and his view of believers. James’ book is begging believers to put faith in practice and care for one another. 

After greeting the 12 tribes, James turns to the most pressing issue that would be facing these people scattered throughout the empire: some form of persecution. Since James is probably the earliest book written in the NT (probably early 40s), this is probably not like the full blown persecution of Nero or later emperors. But these people are facing trials, perhaps ostracized from family, business deals not going through, etc. This maybe similar to the audience in 1 Peter. 

This theme of calling for joy in the middle of danger relates to other passages in James: how do poor and wealthy relate to one another? Where do we find wisdom? How does believing in Jesus affect everyday life? 

James 1:2 is one of those verses that seems nearly impossible to obey. 

Testing/trials is same word here and in v. 12-13. It certainly has negative connotation (tempted to sin) in vv 12-13, but here it can’t mean that. James uses the idea of wisdom to relate the two. James is probably using the term in a neutral way and surrounding verses inform his intended meaning each time.

I always hesitate to classify everything in my life as a “trial.” Considering what this audience was facing or Christians around the world are facing, there’s certainly a spectrum of “various kinds of trials.” But the need for endurance remains. 

Specifically, I would think these trials are those that are “testing faith.” Forcing these people to question if God cares, or if Jesus is worth it, or if they need this Christianity thing at all. I don’t know of many situations that make me ask those questions, but sure I’ve been on that spectrum of line of thought. Haven’t reached the end of that path, but those questions are rough. 

Those types of situations rarely produce a joyful emotion. That’s way down the list of responses. But biblical joy is never based on a whim or bubbling over just from reaction.

James gives a reason for joy, so it does imply some thought process. Testing faith produces endurance. It makes the faith stronger. It shows me that God’s power and presence is real. It shows that my situation is not nearly as fearful as I anticipated. It demonstrates that Christ is worth my faith and worth following.

There’s some similarity to Abraham in Gen 22 and Job here. Testing faith isn’t always for God’s benefit. He knows our heart, how we’ll respond. But a trying situation will demonstrate to us His love and presence. It may be more for our benefit.  Cf Rom 5:2-5; 1 Pet 1:6-7

The word “lacking” obviously links vv. 4-5. When we’re surrounded by a chaotic situation, we definitely need wisdom. And God loves to give it to those who are seeking it. 

I don’t think James is condemning all doubt. We are going to have seasons of questions that need answers, where we wrestle with our faith. But James is talking about asking for wisdom, knowing that God will give it. 

Double minded is a person who has a divided attention. Per the context, it seems he/she is doubting that God will give wisdom. Other passages talk about double mindedness, and could mean devotion to God is divided for other things. This individual is unstable and unable to receive from God.

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

“For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness. These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did. So do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day. And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes. And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall. No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.”

— ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭13‬‬ 

V 13 is great on its own but it makes so much more sense with the whole chapter (and chapters 8-10) in full force. This section covers the Corinthians’ question about food offered to idols. Though Paul’s instructions are similar to the meat/vegetables discussion in Romans 14-15, the conclusion is much more nuanced. He has different advice whether fellow eaters are unbelievers, believers, where you bought the meat, whether you pray over the meat, etc. In sum, meat is meat, and God has given us all things to eat. No problem. It’s pretty much always a matter of conscience. But if the eater is viewing the eating of meat as participating in idolatry, or if eating the meat is causing someone else to participate in idolatry, then it’s a no go. We can see this in the other passages of ch 8-10. This passage uses the children of Israel as an example. 

The fascination here is the use of the OT in the NT. In fact, this is the text that has caused many people to realize that NT authors do weird things with OT texts. The rock was Jesus?!?!?!

All under the cloud: Got it, they followed the cloud by day

All passed through the sea: Red Sea, check

Paul does something by using the word baptism to see the children of Israel identify with Moses as the people of God. He’s making a connection between Moses and Jesus. The old and new covenants. This may be the link between Moses and Jesus, where Moses is a type  type of Jesus, but Jesus always raises the pattern or fulfills it in a better/more complete way.

Spiritual food: manna. Yet, Paul may be linking the food to relying on Jesus for sustenance. I don’t think Paul uses John imagery often (i.e., feeding of 5,000 or “eat my flesh”), but it could be Eucharistic. Especially when seeing eating food offered to idols, or eating the flesh of gods.

Rock was Christ is classic midrash. Paul actually didn’t make this up. There are intertestamental writings that talk about God being the source of sustenance throughout the wilderness. Moses hit the rock for water twice, once at the beginning and end of the wilderness wanderings. Jewish rabbis concluded that it was the same rock, yet, since they must have needed water for the entire time in the wilderness, the rock must have followed them the entire time. Couple this with the verse about water gushing from the well (Num 21:16-18), and God was the source. Paul simply adds that Jesus was the rock that followed them.

Yet, we know that the Israelites took all these blessings for granted. Whether the Moabites (Baalam) or just the simple golden calf, they began to worship idols. And every time they did, it led to destruction. 

We have these stories as examples and for instruction. We have come before the living God. And Paul says the ends of the ages has come. And no one is able to stand on his own. We need to hold each other accountable and help one another endure. No person is an island in faith, and no one can be prideful. We must depend on one another, because we are weak humans.

These temptations (v. 13 finally) are common. The worship of idols has been around since the beginning, and if God’s chosen people were miserable —given all the blessings and up close views of His glory they received—we best be careful of falling into idolatry. 

But God is faithful. Praise God it’s not really up to us. His faithfulness is more stable and secure than ours. Temptation is strong, but He always provides a way to escape. 

The final infinitive is debated. Many translations have purpose/result “so that you can endure it.” I sort of favor the explanatory interpretation. “The way out is enduring it.” It doesn’t really make sense that escaping results in enduring the temptation or I need to escape with the goal of being able to endure it. But the way to escape is to endure the temptation. And God is faithful to see me through it. (And the believing community).

Probably many more details in this passage, but the rest of these chapters help fill in the gaps.