James 1
James 1 opens with counting trials as joy, asking God for wisdom, resisting temptation, and being doers of the word — not hearers only. Practical faith from the first verse.
The Book of James · New Testament · chapter 1 of 5.
Where this chapter sits
Addressed to Jewish believers scattered outside their homeland and facing hardship, the letter's opening pages move quickly across topics, trials, wisdom, wealth, temptation and speech, that later sections will each return to and expand at length. Its closing definition, describing pure religion partly as caring for orphans and widows, sets a practical tone that runs through everything that follows, including the letter's later, more contested statements about the relationship between faith and action.
Key verses (KJV)
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.” — James 1:5 (KJV)
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” — James 1:22 (KJV)
What to notice as you read
Note the run of blunt imperatives, count it, ask, let, that give the chapter its proverb-like pace rather than sustained argument. The mirror image near the end, someone who looks and then forgets, illustrates the warning against hearing without doing that closes the chapter.
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Frequently asked questions
Where does James 1 come in James?
It is chapter 1 of 5 in James, a book of Epistle in the New Testament. The other widely-read chapters of James are linked further down this page.
Where can I read James 1?
Read the full text of James 1 — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.