📖 James — Chapter 1 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
James 1:1 RJames, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
James 1:2 My brethren, Rcount it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
James 1:3 Knowing this, Rthat the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James 1:4 But Rlet patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:5 If Rany of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James 1:6 But Rlet him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
James 1:8 RA double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 1:9 Let Rthe brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
James 1:10 But the rich, in that he is made low: Rbecause as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
James 1:11 For the sun is no sooner Rrisen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
James 1:12 Blessed is Rthe man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
James 1:13 Let Rno man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
James 1:14 But every man is tempted, Rwhen he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and Rsin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
James 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
James 1:17 Every Rgood gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:18 Of Rhis own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, Rlet every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James 1:20 RFor the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
James 1:21 Wherefore Rlay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, Rdeceiving your own selves.
James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
James 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth Rwhat manner of man he was.
James 1:25 But whoso Rlooketh 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 1:26 If any man among you Rseem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
James 1:27 RPure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
James 1:1–11 — Trials, wisdom, and humility
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
James calls for patience through trials, prayer for wisdom, and a humble perspective on poverty, wealth, and life's brevity.
Key Truth: Seek wisdom and patient endurance.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “James, a ____ of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the …” (James 1:1)
Find it in James 1:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Knowing this, that the trying of your ____ worketh patience.” (James 1:3)
Find it in James 1:3 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “But the ____ , in that he is made low: because as the …” (James 1:10)
Find it in James 1:10 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
James 1:12–18 — Temptation and God's good gifts
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Endurance is blessed, but temptation arises from one's own desire rather than God, the unchanging giver of good gifts.
Key Truth: Distinguish God's goodness from destructive desire.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “… when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of ____ , which the Lord hath promised to them that love …” (James 1:12)
Find it in James 1:12 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth ____ .” (James 1:15)
Find it in James 1:15 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… his own will begat he us with the word of ____ , that we should be a kind of firstfruits of …” (James 1:18)
Find it in James 1:18 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
James 1:19–27 — Doers of the word
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Swift hearing, restrained anger, and received truth must become action, with controlled speech and practical care rather than empty religion.
Key Truth: Let hearing become merciful and truthful action.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “For the ____ of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20)
Find it in James 1:20 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “For if any be a ____ of the word, and not a doer, he is like …” (James 1:23)
Find it in James 1:23 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the ____ is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their …” (James 1:27)
Find it in James 1:27 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Matthew 7:24 — Jesus also compares hearing with the necessity of doing.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What should you do in response to a truth you already know?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Which account best distinguishes James 1:1–11 (Trials, wisdom, and humility) from the other movements of this chapter?
2. Which account best distinguishes James 1:12–18 (Temptation and God's good gifts) from the other movements of this chapter?
3. Which account best distinguishes James 1:19–27 (Doers of the word) from the other movements of this chapter?
4. What response is urged when someone lacks wisdom?
5. What response avoids the self-deception described?
Notes
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