James (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament | ZECNT)

Top Highlights

“Here ‘faith’ refers not to initial belief, but to a continuing confidence in the identity and nature of our God.^{45” (Page 52)}

“Moo explains that what can change a trial into a temptation is the attitude with which we meet it, and we fail the trial when we turn to blaming God.” (Page 70)

“This verse sheds further light on the original question of who is a doubter and what it means to be double-minded: these are people who are unwilling to let go of the world and truly follow Christ, torn between sin and obedience, reluctant to let go of the pleasures of the world for the sake of discipleship. This description hits close to home in an age of nominal Christians who attend church from time to time, perhaps even regularly, but who refuse to let God interfere with their daily lives and goals.” (Page 54)

“James highlights that Christianity does not shelter one from any adversity; Christians will face trials.²⁰ The concern here, however, is how each person will respond.” (Page 49)

“As Joachim Jeremias famously epitomized it, Paul speaks of Christian faith (trust in Jesus) and Jewish works (obeying the law so as to justify oneself), whereas James refers to Jewish faith (pure monotheism) and Christian works (good deeds that flow from salvation).” (Page 139)