Scripture Helps

James

After greeting his readers, James introduced some major themes of his letter, such as enduring trials, seeking wisdom, and living consistent with one’s beliefs. James defined “pure religion” as caring for the fatherless and widows and keeping oneself unspotted from the world. He said that Saints are to love their neighbors and manifest their faith through their works. James illustrated the destructive nature of uncontrolled speech. He cautioned his readers not to become friends with the world but to resist the devil and draw close to God. James warned the rich who oppress others. He counseled the Saints to patiently endure until the coming of the Lord. James encouraged the sick to call on the elders to anoint them with oil.

Resources

• Background and Context

• Learn More

• Media

Note: The citation of a source not published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not imply that it or its author is endorsed by the Church or represents the official position of the Church.

Background and Context

To whom was the letter of James written and why?

It is generally accepted that the author of the letter of James was James, the Lord’s brother. James and his brothers did not initially believe the message of Jesus. Later, James became a disciple of the Savior and leader in His Church. James was an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ.

James is the first of the seven general letters included in the New Testament. They are called general letters because their authors intended them for a broader audience rather than a single congregation or area. James addressed his letter “to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad.” It may have been sent to Christian believers who left Judea and were living in Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Syrian Antioch.

This letter contains short explanations of principles for Christian living. These teachings emphasize righteous actions above simply expressing belief. James taught that true faith is manifest in one’s works or actions.

There are close parallels between the Savior’s Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 5–7 and the words of James. The appearance of the teachings in this letter shows that they were widely known among the Lord’s followers, even before they were included in the Gospel of Matthew.

Some scholars believe that James was martyred in AD 62. He may have written this letter sometime between AD 40 and 60. If written before AD 50, the Epistle of James may be one of the earliest documents in the New Testament.

James 1:5

How does God feel about us asking Him questions?

In this passage, James invites readers to ask God for wisdom. God, he points out, will respond “generously and ungrudgingly.” We will not be scolded or rebuked for asking. Nor will God find fault with our questions. After reading and reflecting on this invitation to “ask God,” the young Joseph Smith said: “I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to ‘ask of God,’ concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.” The result of Joseph’s determination to ask was a glorious vision. God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph and answered his questions.

James 1:6–8

Why did James compare those who lack faith to “a wave of the sea”?

James compared the person who lacks faith to a wave that is blown and tossed about. This metaphor illustrates the spiritual instability that happens when faith is weak. James also characterized someone who lacks faith as a “double minded” person. This description comes from a Greek word meaning “two souls.” A “double minded” person has one part of them that believes in God and another part that is skeptical or doesn’t believe. Unless this person chooses faith, they will not “receive any thing of the Lord.”

James 2:1–10

What did James say about favoritism?

The Joseph Smith Translation of James 2:1 provides the following clarification: “My brethren, ye cannot have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, and yet have respect to persons.” To have “respect of persons” means to show favoritism. James condemned such biased treatment of others, specifically discrimination against the poor in favor of the rich.

James 2:14–26

What did James teach about faith and works?

In these verses, James addressed those who were speaking of faith as something separate from works. It may be that the Apostle Paul’s teachings about faith and works were misunderstood by Church members. Paul emphasized that salvation came through faith in Jesus Christ and not through the works of the law of Moses. When speaking of works, James was not referring to rituals of the law of Moses. Rather, he was referring to works of righteousness that are consistent with one’s beliefs.

James addressed a form of faith that was passive and did not lead to righteous action.

For example, in James 2:15–17, James was rejecting “shallow … faith that made no difference in one’s behavior.”

President Jeffrey R. Holland wrote:

“For us, the works of righteousness, what we might call ‘dedicated discipleship,’ are an unerring measure of the reality of our faith; we believe with James, the brother of Jesus, that true faith always manifests itself in faithfulness (see James 2, especially verses 14, 17–18, 20–26). …

“… For us, the fruits of that faith include repentance, the receipt of gospel covenants and ordinances (including baptism), and a heart of gratitude that motivates us to deny ourselves of all ungodliness, to take up our cross daily (see Luke 9:23), and to keep His commandments—all of His commandments.”

James 2:21–25

What were the works of Abraham and Rahab?

Both James and Paul cited the Old Testament prophet Abraham as an important example of faith and good works. Abraham’s willingness to carry out the command to offer up Isaac was a validation of his faith in God.

Rahab was a harlot who lived in Jericho at the time the armies of Israel approached the promised land. She knew about the Lord parting the Red Sea for the Israelites. She believed the Lord would help the Israelites fight against her city. Joshua, Israel’s leader, sent two spies into Jericho. The spies were discovered, and the king of Jericho sent guards to arrest them. Rahab hid the spies in her home and then helped them escape. For her actions, she and her family were spared when the rest of Jericho was destroyed. She lived with the Israelites for the remainder of her life.

James 3:1–12

What did James teach about the mouth and tongue?

Illustration by Paul Mann

James warned the Saints of the potential harm that unkind words, inappropriate language, or anger can cause. To help readers recognize the importance of controlling one’s words, he compared the mouth and the tongue to a horse’s bit and a ship’s rudder. A bit is a small piece of metal placed in a horse’s mouth that connects to the bridle. The bit and bridle enable the rider to direct where the horse goes. The rudder of a ship likely referred to a small steering oar at the rear of a boat. In this way a big boat was guided and steered by a tiny rudder. James used these examples to show that our words have power. We determine whether our words will be used for good or bad.

James 5:7–8

What are the “early and latter” rains?

Farmers in ancient Israel waited patiently for the “early” rain of the planting season, which helped a seed to sprout and to grow. The “latter rain” helped plants to mature prior to harvesting. James used this imagery to teach that, like the farmer who must patiently tend the field and wait for the rains and eventual harvest, the righteous are to patiently preach the gospel and nurture one another, knowing that salvation will eventually come.

James 5:13–16

What is the purpose of anointing with oil?

President Dallin H. Oaks explained:

“In the New Testament we read that Jesus’s Apostles ‘anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them’ (Mark 6:13). The book of James teaches the role of anointing in connection with the other elements in a healing blessing by priesthood authority. …

“When someone has been anointed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the anointing is sealed by that same authority. To seal something means to affirm it, to make it binding for its intended purpose. When elders anoint a sick person and seal the anointing, they open the windows of heaven for the Lord to pour forth the blessing He wills for the person afflicted. …

“Faith is essential for healing by the powers of heaven. The Book of Mormon even teaches that ‘if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them’ (Ether 12:12).”

Learn More

Ask God

• David A. Bednar, “Ask in Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 94–97

Pure Religion

• W. Christopher Waddell, “Pure Religion,” Ensign, April 2018, 45–47

Faith and Works

• Topics and Questions, “Faith in Jesus Christ,” Gospel Library

Words and Speech

• Ronald A. Rasband, “Words Matter,” Liahona, May 2024, 70–77

• Jeffrey R Holland, “The Tongue of Angels,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 16–18

Priesthood Blessings

• Topics and Questions, “Priesthood Blessing,” Gospel Library

Media

Videos

“Faith and Works” (8:25)

“The Tongue Is a Fire” (2:35)

Notes

1. James 1:27.

2. See Lincoln H. Blumell and others, “Hebrews and the General Epistles: Hebrews, James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John, and Jude,” in New Testament History, Culture, and Society: A Background to the Texts of the New Testament, ed. Lincoln H. Blumell (2019), 451.

3. See John 7:3–5.

4. See Acts 15:13; 21:18; Galatians 1:18–19; 2:9.

5. See 1 Corinthians 15:7.

6. The other general letters are 1 and 2 Peter; 1, 2, and 3 John; and Jude.

7. James 1:1.

8. See Kenneth L. Barker and John R. Kohlenberger III, Expositor’s Bible Commentary: New Testament (1994), 1016–17.

9. See James 2:14–26.

10. Some similar themes between the teachings of Jesus and James include enduring persecutions (see Matthew 5:10–12; James 1:2–3, 12); becoming “perfect,” or spiritually mature (see Matthew 5:48; James 1:4; 2:22); asking God (see Matthew 7:7–8; James 1:5); doing the will of God (see Matthew 7:21–24; James 1:22); loving others (see Matthew 5:43–44; 7:12; James 2:8); knowing good and evil by their fruits (see Matthew 7:16–20; James 3:11–12); being a peacemaker (see Matthew 5:9; James 3:18); and not swearing at all (see Matthew 5:34–37; James 5:12).

11. See Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and others, Jesus Christ and the World of the New Testament (2006), 270.

12. See Larry E. Dahl, “A String of Gospel Pearls,” in Studies in Scriptures: Acts to Revelation, ed. Robert L. Millet (1987), 208.

13. See Edward E. Hindson and Daniel R. Mitchell, King James Version Commentary: New Testament (2010), 707.

14. James 1:5, New Revised Standard Version. The Greek word for generous is haplōs, which the King James Bible translates as “liberally” (see Tremper Longman III and Mark L. Strauss, The Baker Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words (2023), entry 574, page 1049).

15. The Greek word oneidizō, translated as “upbraideth” in the King James Bible, means to “rebuke, reprimand; reproach; insult.” The underlying idea is “speaking disparaging words against someone or something” (Longman and Strauss, The Baker Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, page 650).

16. Kenneth L. Barker and others, eds., NIV Study Bible: Fully Revised Edition (2020), 2179, James 1:5.

17. Joseph Smith—History 1:13.

18. See Joseph Smith—History 1:15–20.

19. See Earl D. Radmacher and others, eds., NKJV Study Bible, 3rd ed. (2018), 1883, note for James 1:8.

20. James 1:7.

21. James 2:1, footnote a.

22. See Longman and Strauss, The Baker Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, entry 4382, page 1131.

23. See James 2:2–6. The Book of Mormon provides similar warning (see 2 Nephi 26:33; Jacob 2:13; Alma 1:30; 3 Nephi 6:10–12, 15).

24. See Mark D. Ellison, “Paul and James on Faith and Works,” Religious Educator, vol. 13, no. 3 (2012), 159–160.

25. See “Romans 3:20–31. Can works save us?” and “Galatians 2:15–16. How does ‘the faith of Jesus Christ’ justify us?” in Scripture Helps: New Testament.

26. See Ellison, “Paul and James on Faith and Works,” 161.

27. Ellison, “Paul and James on Faith and Works,” 161.

28. Jeffrey R. Holland, Our Day Star Rising: Exploring the New Testament (2022), 255.

29. See James 2:21–25; see also Romans 4; Galatians 3:6–19.

30. See Genesis 15:6; 22:1–14; Hebrews 11:17–19.

31. See Joshua 2.

32. See Joshua 6:22–25.

33. See also Doctrine and Covenants 123:16.

34. Dallin H. Oaks, “Healing the Sick,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 48–49.