James 1:17-27

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible -  KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • "Blessed the Womb," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
  • Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit:
    • Moral Law
    • Learning and Practice
    • Control Anger
  • Similitude II, Shepherd of Hermas. (c.145)
  • V.X.1, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter XV, De Corona, Tertullian (c. 211)
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "The sum is this: we must listen to the word of God most carefully and diligently, seeing it is the seed, through which God by his free favour and love has begotten us to himself, picking us out of the number of his creatures."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "And if men would govern their tongues, they must govern their passions. The worst thing we can bring to any dispute, is anger."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "St. James here guards us against misunderstanding what St. Paul says concerning the "yoke and bondage of the law." He who keeps the law of love is free, John 8:31, &c. He that does not, is not free, but a slave to sin, and a criminal before God, James 2:10."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "...with meekness--in mildness towards one another [ALFORD], the opposite to "wrath" (Jas 1:20): answering to "as new-born babes" (1Pe 2:2). Meekness, I think, includes also a childlike, docile, humble, as well as an uncontentious, spirit (Ps 25:9; 45:4; Isa 66:2; Mt 5:5; 11:28-30; 18:3, 4; contrast Ro 2:8). On "receive," applied to ground receiving seed, compare Mr 4:20. Contrast Ac 17:11; 1Th 1:6 with 2Th 2:10."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "An angry man will show forth something very different from God's righteousness."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "Support for Workers & Union Organizing," Resources for Prophetic Worship, Speaking to North Carolina Justice Issues, North Carolina Council of Churches, 2006.
  • "First Thoughts on Passages on Year B Epistle Passages in the Lectionary: Pentecost 13," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "True holiness is not so much absence of bad things, as presence of compassion, especially for the most needy in society..."
  • "Be Doers of the Word," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "James 1," by Lehman Strauss at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "From both personal experience and observation I think I know why James might have linked the two expressions “slow to speak, slow to wrath.” We all are acquainted with the fact that words unfitly spoken often cause an outburst of temper. What starts out as a sincere and friendly discussion sometimes leads to an argument, with its resulting flare of anger. Among those things for which the Christian should seek wisdom (1:5), there is the ever-present need for a controlled tongue and a controlled temper. When we are “swift to hear” the Word of truth, we will be slow to become angry. The same Word which is able to save the sinner is likewise able to sanctify the saint (John 17:17)."
• Articles & Background:
  • "Then and Now: The Recovery of Patristic Wisdom," Thomas C. Oden, at Religion OnLine.
    • "After decades of well-meaning ecumania, I am unapologetically rediscovering my own theological tradition, especially its Eastern patristic and catholic taproots and Anglican-Puritan antecedents."
• Articles in ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are subscribed and logged in to ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
  • Garland, David E., "Severe Trials, Good Gifts, and Pure Religion: James 1," Review and Expositor, 1986.
  • Jenkins, C. Ryan, "Faith and Works in Paul and James," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2002.
  • Johnson, Luke Timothy, "The Mirror of Remembrance (James 1:22-25)," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1988.
  • Porter, Virgil V., Jr., "The Sermon on the Mount in the Book of James, Part 1," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2005.
  • Porter, Virgil V., Jr., "The Sermon on the Mount in the Book of James, Part 2," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2005.
  • Talbert, Charles H., "James: Teaching Outlines and Selected Sermon Seeds," Review and Expositor, 2000.
  • Verseput, Donald J., "James 1:17 and the Jewish Morning Prayers," Novum Testamentum, 1997.
  • Ziglar, Toby, "When Words Get in the Way of True Religion," Review and Expositor, 2003.
• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "James, True Religion and the Real Thing," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
  • "Doers of the Word," Dean William Willimon, Duke University Chapel Sermon Archive, 1997.
  • "Picture Day (James 1:22-27)," Mike Slaughter, Ginghamsburg Church, September 2000. Real Video Sermon, On-Line Illustrated Sermon, related Bible Study and Devotion.
    • "When we forget who we are, we begin to take on the values of the pictures that we're looking at, not the values of being children of a king."
• With Children:
  • James 1:17, Memory Verse Coloring/Activity Page, MSSS.
  • "Turn to the Source," "What's Cooking?" and "Are You for Real?" Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
  • "Power from Above," Amanda Belue, sermons4kids.com.
• Drama:
  • "A Surprise Package," Christin Kuck, dramatix.
  • "Extreme Makeover," Melinda Cousins, dramatix.
  • "The Double-Minded Man," The Word in Motion.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • James 1:21, James 1:27, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint Backgrounds.
  • Gift Catching, Reverend Fun Cartoon, gospelcom.net. Check for printing permissions at right-hand side of destination page.
  • Commercial Site:  "Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak, Slow to Anger," (James 1) The Work of the People, Films/Visual Liturgy based on RCL texts.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: James 1:17. The Cyber Hymnal.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies with the following themes at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Doers of the Word
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of James