front:intro pla1 0 # James Study Questions\n\nAsk yourself these questions as you carefully read this letter, and pray to God that he will open your eyes to see his message clearly.
1:1 f1b5 basic,interpret Ἰάκωβος, Θεοῦ καὶ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, δοῦλος 1 Scholars generally agree that **James** was a brother of Jesus and the leader of the Jerusalem church. Why do you think he identified himself as **a servant** instead?
1:1 qhd9 basic,observe ταῖς δώδεκα φυλαῖς ταῖς ἐν τῇ διασπορᾷ 1 To whom does Jame write this letter?
1:1 hyp6 basic,interpret ταῖς δώδεκα φυλαῖς 1 To whom does **the twelve tribes** refer?
1:1 hud2 basic,observe ταῖς ἐν τῇ διασπορᾷ 1 Where were **the twelve tribes** located at the time when James wrote?
1:1 z9dq basic,interpret ταῖς ἐν τῇ διασπορᾷ 1 What does **the Dispersion** mean?
1:2 l000 basic,observe πᾶσαν χαρὰν ἡγήσασθε, ἀδελφοί μου, ὅταν πειρασμοῖς περιπέσητε ποικίλοις 1 According to James, how should the readers view the **trials of many kinds** that they encountered?
1:2 fud1 basic,apply πᾶσαν χαρὰν ἡγήσασθε, ἀδελφοί μου, ὅταν πειρασμοῖς περιπέσητε ποικίλοις 1 How typical is it for anyone to consider **trials of many kinds** to be **pure joy**?
1:2 l001 basic,interpret ὅταν πειρασμοῖς περιπέσητε ποικίλοις 1 What does James mean when he says the **trials** will be **of many kinds**?
1:3 nr63 basic,observe γινώσκοντες ὅτι τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως κατεργάζεται ὑπομονήν 1 Here **because** introduces the reason that the readers will be able to consider trials to be pure joy. What is that reason?
1:3 vhj8 basic,observe τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως 1 What phrase does James here use to describe the trials of the readers?
1:3 h7q1 basic,apply τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως 1 What difference might it make if the readers would view their trials as **the testing** of their **faith**?
1:3 l002 basic,observe τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως κατεργάζεται ὑπομονήν 1 According to James, what is the end result of **the testing** of their **faith**?
1:3 l003 basic,apply τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως κατεργάζεται ὑπομονήν 1 In what ways might having your faith tested result in you having greater **perseverance**?
1:4 gb16 basic,interpret ἡ δὲ ὑπομονὴ ἔργον τέλειον ἐχέτω 1 What does James mean when he tells the readers to allow perseverance **to finish its work**?
1:4 l004 basic,observe ἵνα ἦτε τέλειοι καὶ ὁλόκληροι, ἐν μηδενὶ λειπόμενοι 1 Here **so that** introduces the result of allowing **perseverance to finish its work**. What is that result?
1:4 a4q9 basic,observe ἦτε τέλειοι καὶ ὁλόκληροι, ἐν μηδενὶ λειπόμενοι 1 What does James mean when he speaks of a person being **mature and complete, not lacking anything**?
1:5 l228 basic,interpet εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν λείπεται σοφίας 1 In light of the previous verse, if a believer **lacks wisdom**, what is the condition of his spiritual growth?
1:5 gzw1 basic,observe εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν λείπεται σοφίας, αἰτείτω & Θεοῦ 1 What should a believer do if he **lacks wisdom**?
1:5 d3ua basic,observe αἰτείτω παρὰ τοῦ διδόντος, Θεοῦ, πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς, καὶ μὴ ὀνειδίζοντος, καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ 1 How will **God** respond to the believer who asks him for **wisdom**?
1:6 nnu9 basic,observe αἰτείτω δὲ ἐν πίστει, μηδὲν διακρινόμενος 1 What does God require from the person who asks him for wisdom?
1:6 uu87 basic,interpret αἰτείτω δὲ ἐν πίστει 1 How do we know that James is here speaking to believers?
1:6 l009 basic,observe ὁ γὰρ διακρινόμενος ἔοικεν κλύδωνι θαλάσσης, ἀνεμιζομένῳ καὶ ῥιπιζομένῳ 1 Here **because** introduces the reason that God will not answer the person who asks while doubting him. What is that reason?
1:6 csc9 basic,interpret ἔοικεν κλύδωνι θαλάσσης, ἀνεμιζομένῳ καὶ ῥιπιζομένῳ 1 Here James uses the image of **a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind**. What is the meaning of that image?
1:7 c7cj basic,observe μὴ γὰρ οἰέσθω ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος, ὅτι λήμψεταί τι παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου, 1 What can a man who doubts **expect to receive** **from the Lord**?
1:8 l010 basic,observe ἀνὴρ δίψυχος, ἀκατάστατος ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ. 1 How does James here describe a man who doubts?
1:6,8 l011 basic,observe κλύδωνι θαλάσσης, ἀνεμιζομένῳ καὶ ῥιπιζομένῳ & ἀνὴρ δίψυχος, ἀκατάστατος ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ 1 How is the description of **a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways** similar to the image of **a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind** in verse 6?
1:8 jr7f basic,interpret ἀνὴρ δίψυχος 1 What does it mean for a man to be **double-minded**?
1:8 l012 basic,interpret ἀκατάστατος ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ 1 Why would doubt cause a man to be **unstable in all his ways**?
1:8 vyl8 basic,apply ἀνὴρ δίψυχος, ἀκατάστατος ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ. 1 Why would God, who gives generously to those with faith, not be willing to give anything to **a double-minded man** who is **unstable in all his ways**?
1:9 abc1 basic,observe a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways 1 According to James, how should a brother respond to his **humble circumstances**?
1:9 wed9 basic,interpret ὁ ἀδελφὸς 1 Why doe James refer to this person as the **brother**?
1:9 vq5g basic,observe ὁ ταπεινὸς 1 What does **humble circumstances** mean?
1:9 pa9c basic,interpret ἐν τῷ ὕψει αὐτοῦ 1 In what way would a **brother** have a **high position**?
1:10 l013 basic,observe ὁ δὲ πλούσιος, ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ 1 According to James, how should **the one who is rich** respond to his riches?
1:10 ph9z basic,interpret ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ὡς ἄνθος χόρτου παρελεύσεται 1 Here **because** introduces the reason a rich brother should consider himself to have a **low position**. What is that reason?
1:11 bjl6 basic,observe ἀνέτειλεν γὰρ ὁ ἥλιος σὺν τῷ καύσωνι, καὶ ἐξήρανεν τὸν χόρτον, καὶ τὸ ἄνθος αὐτοῦ ἐξέπεσεν, καὶ ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο. 1 According to James, what will happen to the flower of the field?
1:11 ntl8 basic,observe οὕτως καὶ ὁ πλούσιος ἐν ταῖς πορείαις αὐτοῦ μαρανθήσεται. 1 Here **So too** introduces what the metaphor of the flower of the fieldmeans for the rich man. What is that meaning?
1:12 uwu7 basic,observe μακάριος ἀνὴρ ὃς ὑπομένει πειρασμόν 1 According to James, who is **Blessed**?
1:12 b8b7 basic,interpret ὃς ὑπομένει πειρασμόν 1 What does it mean when a believer **perseveres under trial**?
1:12 c8ss basic,observe ὅτι δόκιμος γενόμενος, λήμψεται τὸν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς, ὃν ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν 1 Here **because** introduces the reason that the man who perseveres under trial is **Blessed**. What is that reason?
1:12 r3aa basic,observe δόκιμος γενόμενος, λήμψεται τὸν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς 1 What will the believer who **has stood the test** receive?
1:12 d1zm basic,observe τὸν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς, ὃν ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν 1 To whom has God **promised** to give **the crown of life**?
1:12 l014 basic,interpret ἀνὴρ ὃς ὑπομένει πειρασμόν & τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν 1 James says the crown of life will go to **the man who perseveres under trial** and to **those who love Him**. In what way might these two descriptions refer to the same group of people?
1:13 sfb1 basic,interpret μηδεὶς πειραζόμενος λεγέτω, ὅτι ἀπὸ Θεοῦ πειράζομαι. 1 What might cause a person to say that **God is tempting** him?
1:13 ki8l basic,observe ὁ γὰρ Θεὸς ἀπείραστός ἐστιν κακῶν, πειράζει δὲ αὐτὸς οὐδένα. 1 Here **For** introduces the reason that no one should say that God is tempting them. What is that reason?
1:13 es4l basic,interpret ὁ γὰρ Θεὸς ἀπείραστός ἐστιν κακῶν 1 What do you think is the reason that God **cannot be tempted by evil**?
1:13 l015 basic,observe πειράζει δὲ αὐτὸς οὐδένα 1 What characteristics of God might cause Him not to **tempt anyone**?
1:14 l016 basic,observe ἕκαστος δὲ πειράζεται ὑπὸ τῆς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας, ἐξελκόμενος καὶ δελεαζόμενος 1 According to James, what is the source of all temptation?
1:14 l017 basic,observe ἕκαστος 1 Who does James say is tempted?
1:14 n654 basic,observe ὑπὸ τῆς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας 1 Is the source of temptation internal or external to a person?
1:14 q1p8 basic,observe ὑπὸ τῆς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας, ἐξελκόμενος καὶ δελεαζόμενος 1 According to James, how do a person’s **his own evil desires** tempt that person?
1:15 td57 basic,observe εἶτα ἡ ἐπιθυμία συλλαβοῦσα τίκτει ἁμαρτίαν 1 To what does **desire** give birth?
1:15 sz79 basic,observe ἡ δὲ ἁμαρτία ἀποτελεσθεῖσα, ἀποκύει θάνατον 1 To what does **sin** give birth?
1:15 abc2 basic,interpret εἶτα ἡ ἐπιθυμία συλλαβοῦσα τίκτει ἁμαρτίαν, ἡ δὲ ἁμαρτία ἀποτελεσθεῖσα, ἀποκύει θάνατον. 1 James uses the imagery of conception, **birth**, growth, and **death** to describe what temptation does. Why do you think he uses those images?
1:16 l019 basic,observe μὴ πλανᾶσθε 1 What does James want his readers to avoid?
1:16 hgb9 basic,observe ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί 1 How does James here describe his readers?
1:17 ie95 basic,observe πᾶσα δόσις ἀγαθὴ, καὶ πᾶν δώρημα τέλειον, ἄνωθέν ἐστιν, καταβαῖνον ἀπὸ τοῦ Πατρὸς τῶν φώτων 1 What is the source of every **good and perfect gift**?
1:17 x36x basic,observe πᾶσα δόσις ἀγαθὴ, καὶ πᾶν δώρημα τέλειον, ἄνωθέν ἐστιν, καταβαῖνον ἀπὸ τοῦ Πατρὸς τῶν φώτων 1 How does Jame’s statement that God give every **good and perfect gift** contrast to verse 13 where some people apparently think God gives temptation?
1:17 l020 basic,interpret τοῦ Πατρὸς τῶν φώτων 1 What does James mean when he says God is **the Father of the heavenly lights**?
1:17 c52s basic,interpret παρ’ ᾧ οὐκ ἔνι παραλλαγὴ ἢ τροπῆς ἀποσκίασμα 1 What does James mean when he says God has **no change or shifting shadow**?
1:17 p472 basic,interpret τοῦ Πατρὸς τῶν φώτων & τροπῆς ἀποσκίασμα 1 Why does it make sense that **the Father of the heavenly lights** would not have any **shifting shadow**?
1:18 l022 basic,observe βουληθεὶς, ἀπεκύησεν ἡμᾶς λόγῳ ἀληθείας 1 Through what means did God **give us birth**?
1:18 w32h basic,observe εἰς τὸ εἶναι ἡμᾶς ἀπαρχήν τινα τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων 1 Here **that** introduces the purpose for which God **chose to give us birth**. What is that purpose?
1:18 l024 basic,interpret ἀπαρχήν τινα τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων 1 What does it mean to be **a kind of firstfruits of His creation**?
1:18 qe48 basic,interpret ἀπεκύησεν ἡμᾶς λόγῳ ἀληθείας, εἰς τὸ εἶναι ἡμᾶς ἀπαρχήν τινα τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων 1 Here James uses the image of **birth** in a very different way from verse 15. Why do you think he does that?
1:19 l025 basic,observe ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί 1 How does James here address his readers?
1:19 j49j basic,observe ἔστω δὲ πᾶς ἄνθρωπος ταχὺς εἰς τὸ ἀκοῦσαι 1 What should everyone **be quick** to do?
1:19 ujs1 basic,observe βραδὺς εἰς τὸ λαλῆσαι, βραδὺς εἰς ὀργήν 1 What should everyone be **slow** to do?
1:20 asn2 basic,observe ὀργὴ γὰρ ἀνδρὸς, δικαιοσύνην Θεοῦ οὐκ ἐργάζεται 1 Here **for** introduces the reason everyone should be slow to anger. What is that reason?
1:21 l026 basic,observe διὸ ἀποθέμενοι πᾶσαν ῥυπαρίαν καὶ περισσείαν κακίας 1 Of what should Jame’s reader rid themselves?
1:21 l027 basic,interpret πᾶσαν ῥυπαρίαν 1 What does James mean when he speaks of **moral filth**? Why does he use the image of **filth**?
1:21 l028 basic,observe ἐν πραΰτητι δέξασθε τὸν ἔμφυτον λόγον 1 What does James tell his readers to **humbly accept**?
1:21 p3jn basic,interpret τὸν ἔμφυτον λόγον 1 Why does James describe **the word** as being **planted** in his readers?
1:21 yp6z basic,observe τὸν δυνάμενον σῶσαι τὰς ψυχὰς ὑμῶν 1 What is **the word** able to accomplish in Jame’s readers?
1:22 pd7h basic,interpret γίνεσθε δὲ ποιηταὶ λόγου, καὶ μὴ μόνον ἀκροαταὶ 1 What is the difference between being **doers of the word** and **hearers only**?
1:22 x9qk basic,observe γίνεσθε δὲ ποιηταὶ λόγου, καὶ μὴ μόνον ἀκροαταὶ παραλογιζόμενοι ἑαυτούς. 1 What does James say will be the result if his readers are **hearers only** and not **doers of the word**?
1:22 l030 basic,interpret παραλογιζόμενοι ἑαυτούς 1 In what sense will Jame’s readers be **deceiving** themselves if they are not doers of the word?
1:23-24 g5t1 basic,observe ὅτι εἴ τις ἀκροατὴς λόγου ἐστὶν, καὶ οὐ ποιητής, οὗτος ἔοικεν ἀνδρὶ κατανοοῦντι τὸ πρόσωπον τῆς γενέσεως αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐσόπτρῳ. & κατενόησεν γὰρ ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀπελήλυθεν, καὶ εὐθέως ἐπελάθετο ὁποῖος ἦν. 1 What image does James use to describe the person who **hears the word but does not carry it out**?
1:24 q6y3 basic,interpet κατενόησεν γὰρ ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀπελήλυθεν, καὶ εὐθέως ἐπελάθετο ὁποῖος ἦν 1 In what way is a person who **forgets what he looks like** in a mirror like someone who does not do what he has heard in the word?
1:25 e14e basic,observe ὁ δὲ παρακύψας εἰς νόμον τέλειον, τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας, καὶ παραμείνας, οὐκ ἀκροατὴς ἐπιλησμονῆς γενόμενος, ἀλλὰ ποιητὴς ἔργου, οὗτος μακάριος ἐν τῇ ποιήσει αὐτοῦ ἔσται. 1 What will be the result for **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**?
1:25 l031 basic,observe νόμον τέλειον, τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας 1 What phrase does James use here to describe the word?
1:25 hgu3 basic,interpert νόμον τέλειον, τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας 1 Why does James means when he describes the word as **the perfect law of freedom**?
1:25 h6vt basic,interpret οὐκ ἀκροατὴς ἐπιλησμονῆς γενόμενος, ἀλλὰ ποιητὴς ἔργου 1 What does it mean to be **an effective doer** of the law of freedom?
1:26 r2ak basic,observe εἴ τις δοκεῖ θρησκὸς εἶναι, μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ, ἀλλὰ ἀπατῶν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία. 1 What is the spiritual condition of the person who **considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue**?
1:26 duy9 basic,interpret μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ 1 What does it mean for someone to **bridle his tongue**?
1:26 l032 basic,interpret εἴ τις δοκεῖ θρησκὸς εἶναι, μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ, ἀλλὰ ἀπατῶν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία. 1 Why would an unbridled **tongue** cause a person’s **religion** to be **worthless**?
1:27 l033 basic,observe θρησκεία καθαρὰ καὶ ἀμίαντος παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ καὶ Πατρί αὕτη ἐστίν: ἐπισκέπτεσθαι ὀρφανοὺς καὶ χήρας ἐν τῇ θλίψει αὐτῶν, ἄσπιλον ἑαυτὸν τηρεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ κόσμου. 1 What kind of **religion** does **our God and Father** consider to be **Pure and undefiled**?
1:27 sa5y basic,interpret ἐπισκέπτεσθαι ὀρφανοὺς καὶ χήρας ἐν τῇ θλίψει αὐτῶν 1 Why is God so concerned that we **care for orphans and widows in their distress**?
1:27 l034 basic,interpret ἄσπιλον ἑαυτὸν τηρεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ κόσμου 1 Why do you think James uses the image of **being polluted by the world**? What does that mean?
2:2 z1xr basic,observe ἐὰν γὰρ εἰσέλθῃ εἰς συναγωγὴν ὑμῶν, ἀνὴρ χρυσοδακτύλιος, ἐν ἐσθῆτι λαμπρᾷ, εἰσέλθῃ δὲ καὶ πτωχὸς, ἐν ῥυπαρᾷ ἐσθῆτι, 1 In Jame’s example, what is the difference in the way the two men are dressed when they come to the **meeting** of the church?
2:3 pn2a basic,observe ἐπιβλέψητε δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν φοροῦντα τὴν ἐσθῆτα τὴν λαμπρὰν, καὶ εἴπητε, σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς 1 In Jame’s example, how might the church show favoritism to **the man in fine clothes**?
2:3 lx3p basic,observe καὶ τῷ πτωχῷ εἴπητε, σὺ στῆθι ἐκεῖ, ἢ, κάθου ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου 1 In Jame’s example, how might the church dishonor **the poor man**?
2:3 v9w2 basic,interpret σὺ στῆθι ἐκεῖ, ἢ, κάθου ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου 1 Why was it dishonoring to the poor man to tell him to **stand** or to sit at someone’s **feet**?
2:4 l035 basic,observe οὐ διεκρίθητε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, καὶ ἐγένεσθε κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν? 1 What did James say about the people in his example who treated the rich man better than the poor man?
2:5 tzh2 basic,observe οὐχ ὁ Θεὸς ἐξελέξατο τοὺς πτωχοὺς τῷ κόσμῳ, πλουσίους ἐν πίστει, καὶ κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας 1 Who has God chosen to **be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom**?
2:5 l040 basic,interpret πλουσίους ἐν πίστει 1 What does it mean to **be rich in faith**?
2:5 w9tm basic,observe τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν 1 How does James here describe the people to whom **He promised** **the kingdom**?
2:6 i7h4 basic,observe ὑμεῖς δὲ ἠτιμάσατε τὸν πτωχόν 1 According to James, how were his readers treating **the poor**?
2:6 bp2n basic,observe οὐχ οἱ πλούσιοι καταδυναστεύουσιν ὑμῶν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἕλκουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς κριτήρια? 1 According to James, what were **the rich** doing to his readers?
2:7 jmq9 basic,observe οὐκ αὐτοὶ βλασφημοῦσιν τὸ καλὸν ὄνομα τὸ ἐπικληθὲν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς? 1 According to James, how did the rich treat **the noble name by which** his readers **have been called**?
2:7 l042 basic,interpret τὸ καλὸν ὄνομα τὸ ἐπικληθὲν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς 1 What does James mean when he speaks of **the noble name by which you have been called**?
2:8 ytx7 basic,observe νόμον & βασιλικὸν, κατὰ τὴν Γραφήν, ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν 1 What command does James here refer to as **the royal law**?
2:8 d3rx basic,interpret νόμον & βασιλικὸν 1 Why do you think James refers to this command as **the royal law**?
2:8 l043 basic,observe εἰ μέντοι νόμον τελεῖτε βασιλικὸν, κατὰ τὴν Γραφήν, ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν, καλῶς ποιεῖτε. 1 According to James, what do you accomplish if **you really fulfill the royal law**?
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