James 1 part 2

*Verse 19 gives us the theme for the rest of the chapter, be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to be angry. Anger is addressed first. In place of anger, the readers are encouraged to accept the word planted in them, which can save them. I think we can assume that many Jews were angry and felt the need to be saved. James says don't be angry, instead listen to "the word" and do what it says.  What is the word? Well it is not the  New Testament. That didn't exist when James was writing this letter. It can't be the supposed words of Jesus, they were probably not written down yet, and Jews scattered among the nations might not be familiar with them. It is most likely what christians would call the Old Testament.

*James says, "Do not merely listen to the word...do what it says." Jews scattered around the world would have listened to the Torah being read in synagogues. They would not have had personal copies of the scriptures in their homes. He calls what they are listening to, "the perfect law that gives freedom." What else could this be to Jews but the law of Moses? If it wasn't, how would the general Jewish reader know without an explanation? If we take the simplest most obvious explanation, James is encouraging fellow Jews in the diaspora to continue to follow the law of Moses in order to be blessed.

*Lastly, James says a religious person exercises great verbal self control, otherwise his religion is worthless. Then he makes a statement that is very near and dear to more liberal christians,"Religion that is pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. " In the diaspora there would have been many Jewish widows and orphans who needed support and many Jews would have been tempted to leave their faith in order to fit into the societies in which they found themselves.

*So, as I read the first chapter, a man with the same name as the father of the tribe of Israel, Jacob (translated James), is telling Jews in the diaspora to learn to be joyful in their poverty and trials, don't doubt, don't look for ways to get rich,  don't blame God, don't get angry, follow the law of Moses, and take care of other Israelites who are unable to take care of themselves. If the phrase "and of the lord Jesus Christ" was not in the first verse, would we think of this as a christian document?