Issue #2: The Book of James 1: 1-4
James Background (v.1)
Many people attribute the book of James to Jesus’ half‑brother, James the Just. The term “half‑brother” is used because Jesus was born of a virgin and therefore only shared Mary as His mother with His siblings, while James was conceived by Mary with her husband Joseph. The book is addressed “to the 12 tribes in the dispersion.” What is interesting about the book of James is that it was one of the earliest written New Testament letters in early church history.
Dating of the Letter
James was most likely written around the 40–50s AD, but most likely before 50 AD because there is a lack of mention of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).
Meaning of “Servant” — δοῦλος (doulos)
James the Just introduces himself as “a servant” (ESV), or a better translation is “bondservant” (slave) in the NKJV. The Greek word used here is δοῦλος (doulos), which means “slave.” The Greeks had a negative view of slaves and their status. The meaning is flipped to a positive view when James uses this, as if he were announcing his royal status to all: “I am a slave of Jesus Christ.”
Meaning of “Lord” — κύριος (kýrios)
“Lord” is another key word that must not be overlooked. The Greek word used here is κύριος (kýrios), which means “the owner of the slave (doulos),” or, as the Hellenistic Jews would use it, a title for God.
So, just in the first sentence of this verse, we see that James is honored to be called a slave to Christ and is calling Jesus God by addressing Him as the Master of His slaves.
Post‑Stephen Context
Stephen’s Martyrdom
Stephen was the first Christian martyr, which is believed to have happened around 36 AD. This earth‑shattering event marked the point at which a chasm or rift was forming between the Christians and the Jews. We have to keep in mind the state of the early church. They were in a transition period, consisting of people who were still very much Jewish while developing their new identity in Christ Jesus. A significant portion of the early Christians were the Hellenists.
Who Were the Hellenists?
The Hellenists came from Greek‑speaking Jews. These Jews lived among the Greeks, adopted much of their culture, and were labeled Hellenistic Jews. They came from many different parts of the Roman Empire and settled in Jerusalem. They isolated themselves from the other Jews and formed their own communities. They picked up many things from different cultures, including their language, Greek, which is what they spoke. They used a common Greek translation of the Old Testament called the Septuagint. The Hellenists were generally considered more open to new ideas than their Palestinian cousins.
Neglected Widows & Appointment of the Seven (Acts 6:1–7)
Division started to form among the two groups shortly after the Day of Pentecost. The cause of these tensions was the Hellenists feeling like their widows were being neglected (Acts 6:1–7). As a solution, they appointed seven people among the Hellenists to manage the daily distribution of food and aid, especially to widows and vulnerable members; to ensure fairness and unity among all people in the church; to support the apostles by handling practical tasks so the apostles could focus on spiritual leadership; and to be a lighthouse to all the Christians in the church of Jerusalem.
The Link to vv. 2–4
Why James Begins With Trials
The mental state of the people must have been tense at this time. A prominent leader of this new movement to follow Jesus as Lord was martyred. That is why I believe James wanted to address facing trials in the very opening of his letter: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds” (James 1:2).
Facing “Goliaths”
James wants the audience to realize what? That we will meet trials of various kinds—not if. We all know this to be a fundamental experience of humans—that we face our own “Goliaths” all the time. Did David scurry off when he saw Goliath’s stature? No. He boldly declared:
“Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.’” 1 Samuel 17:45–47, ESV
That is bone-chilling confidence in the face of one of David’s biggest trials, standing unwavering. This is the kind of reaction we need to have when we face our own challenges. The simple knowledge that the Lord is with us through these trials and tribulations should allow us to “count it as joy.” We cannot save ourselves from sin and hell. Through grace alone we have everlasting life, and when we are filled with the Spirit, we can have Goliath-facing faith.
Testing Produces Steadfastness
Faith Tested, Not Produced
Our faith is tested through these tests, not produced by them. Just as muscles grow through rigorous training, causing micro‑tears, patience/steadfastness grows through trials. Steadfastness is one of the key aspects of pursuing Christlikeness, something all Christians should strive for.
Meaning of Steadfastness — ὑπομονή (hypomonē)
The word James uses to capture the essence of this idea of steadfastness is ὑπομονή (hypomonē). The word is derived from hypo‑ (“under”) and monē (“to stay or remain”), literally meaning “to stay under” difficult circumstances. This word describes a quality of actively staying strong or firm under the weight of the trial you are facing.
Steadfastness Leading to Maturity (v.4)
Growing Into Christlikeness
Steadfastness is a major part of spiritual maturity. When Christians grow, they become more and more Christlike. Think of a bathroom mirror after a hot shower; the mist fogs it up, making your reflection blurry. That mist is like sin: heavy, visible, and distorting the image. But as clean air fills the room, the fog begins to clear, and your reflection becomes sharper and clearer. In the same way, as God works in us through trials, the “fog” of sin and immaturity fades, and the image of Christ becomes clearer.
Modern Goliath
There was a period in my life when I wanted to break into the field of software sales. I tried it for about six months, but it ended up being a disaster. So, I went back to being a blue-collar electrical apprentice, and the job hunting began. For seven months, I did nothing but cold call and email electrical contractors to find a job. It felt like I hit a brick wall. No one was willing to take me on, and at one point, I was staking out electrical supply stores to hand my resume to people coming in. Sometimes, I would even leave it on their dashboards. It felt like everything I did was pointless, but staying close to God gave me peace and joy until a company finally decided to take me on.
These are the kinds of moments when we need to “count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.”
“Perfect and Complete, Lacking in Nothing”
This is what James means when he says that steadfastness makes us “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” When we fully love and put our faith in Jesus, letting the Spirit guide us, we complete the essence of becoming a true Christian. When we use this as the rock and cornerstone of our foundation, we move forward with the awe-inspiring confidence that God, the Creator of the universe, is with us.
Perfect and Complete
Steadfastness makes us “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” This is James’s vision for how we pursue Christlikeness. The trials we go through are like God’s gym for hypomonē. The weight of our daily struggles can feel crushing at times, but it is our choice how we respond to them. I pray that the Holy Spirit continues to mold our image so that we truly become like Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (ESV).
Until then, stay sharp and stay strong.
Blessings,
Alexander Gavris
Editor of Iron Faith
