Scofield Reference Bible Notes
James 1

Jas 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

servant

bondman.

scattered

in the dispersion.

Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

temptations

i.e. testings.

Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

worketh patience

Rom 5:3.

Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

perfect and entire

mature and complete. Scofield Matthew 13:11, note.

Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

lack wisdom, let him ask of God

Pro 2:3, 6.

Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

let him ask in faith

Mar 11:24.

Jas 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

A double minded man

Pro 3:5.

Jas 1:9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

the brother of low degree

Jas 2:5.

Jas 1:10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

he is made low

Isa 57:15.

Jas 1:12 Blessed is the 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.

temptation

Temptation. Jas 1:2, 12-14. (Gen 3:1; Jas 1:14.)

crown

Rewards. 1Pe 5:4. (Dan 12:3; 1Co 3:14.)

life

Life (eternal). 1Pe 3:7. (Mat 7:14; Rev 22:19.)

Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

tempted

"Temptation" is used in two senses:

1. Solicitation to evil (e.g. Gen 3:1-6; Mat 4:1; 1Co 10:13; 2Co 11:3-4; Jas 1:14).
2. Testing under trial (e.g. Gen 22:1; Luke 22:28; cf. Luk 4:2). Cf. Mat 6:13 (solicitation to evil) and 1Pe 1:6 (testing under trial).

Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

sin

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

Jas 1:17 Every good 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.

gift [dosis]…gift [dorema]

Two words are used in the original for "gift," the first meaning the act of giving; the second, the thing given.

variableness

variation.

Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

begat he us with the word of truth

Jhn 1:13; 1Pe 1:23.

Jas 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

righteousness

Scofield Romans 3:21, note.

Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

superfluity of naughtiness

overflowing of wickedness.

save

Scofield Romans 1:16, note.

Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

doers of the word

Mat 7:21.

Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh 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.

whoso looketh

2Co 3:18.

the perfect law of liberty

Law (of Christ). 1Jo 2:7-8, 15. (Gal 6:2; 2Jo 1:5).

Jas 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

religious

Greek threskos = outwardly religious.

bridleth not his tongue

Psa 34:13.

Jas 1:27 Pure 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.

Pure religion and undefiled

Mat 25:34-36.

himself

oneself.

world

kosmos = world-system. Jas 4:4. (John 7:7; Scofield Rev 13:3-8, note.)