James Scriptures and Review Questions 
©1999 by Arlo E. Moehlenpah

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James 

The epistle of James has been called the “book of proverbs” of the New Testament. It deals with many of the same themes such as the tongue and wisdom. Whereas Paul in Romans emphasized faith’s role in justification, James emphasized faith’s expression in action. He stressed that we must be a doer of the word and not a hearer only and that faith without works is dead. He alluded to twenty-one Old Testament books and four Old Testament characters. Also he used many objects to illustrate his ideas.

Chapter 1    

James 1:1-15 - To listen as you read click the version, ESV or NIV, then the sound symbol & wait about 30 sec.
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

 

1. How does the author identify himself? (1)

2. To whom is this book addressed? (1,2)

3. What attitude should we have when we fall into various trials? (2)

4. What fruit will testing produce? (3-4)

5. What should a man do if he lacks wisdom? (5)

6. How should one ask? (6)

7. What is said regarding the stability of a double-minded man? (6-8)

8. To what is the temporary nature of riches and life itself likened? (9-11)

9. What is the reward for enduring testing? (12)

10. Who is not to be blamed for temptation? (13)

11. What is the source of temptation? (14-15)

12. What will result if temptation progresses? (15)  

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James 1:16-27 - To listen as you read click the version, ESV or NIV, then the sound symbol & wait about 30 sec.
1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.


   

13. What is the source of every good gift and every perfect gift? (16-17)

14. What shows that God does not change? (17)

15. What is the primary agent of salvation? (18)

16. What should man be swift to do? (19)

17. What should man be slow to do? (19)

18. What doesn’t the wrath produce? (20)

19. What should a man lay aside? (21)

20. What should a man receive? (21)

21. How can a person deceive himself? (22)

22. What object is used to show that a person must be a doer of the word? (23-24)

23. What is the perfect law of liberty? (25)

24. What two kinds of religion does James describe? (26-27)

25. What are three evidences of pure and undefiled religion? (26-27)

   

Discussion Questions   

  1. What are your reactions to trials?

  2. How is single-mindedness a very powerful force?

  3. How would your religion be categorized?

 

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Chapter 2 

 

 

James 2:1-13 - To listen as you read click the version, ESV or NIV, then the sound symbol & wait about 30 sec.
2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.


1. Who did not show partiality? (1)

2. What are some actions that people perform that show they are partial? (2-4)

3. What three questions did James ask to show that being partial to the rich is a mistake? (5-7)

4. What is called the royal law? (8)

5. If someone shows partiality, what has he committed? (9)

6. Who will receive judgment without mercy? (10-13)  

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James 2:14-26 - To listen as you read click the version, ESV or NIV, then the sound symbol & wait about 30 sec.
2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

 

    

7. What illustration is given as an extreme example of faith without works? (14-16)

8. Faith without works is what? (17)

9. What is evidence of faith? (18)

10. How can one believe in one God and still have dead faith? (19)

11. What two Old Testament characters are used as illustrations of individuals justified by works? (21-26)

12. What were three results of Abraham's working faith? (22-23)

13. What were the evidences of Rahab's faith? (25)

14. Faith without works is like what? (26)

   

Discussion Questions

 

  1. What kind of people do you tend to slight?

  2. Why do people show partiality?

  3. How do you know if someone is a Christian?

  4. How do you personally show your faith?

  5. How is it that you sometimes give a better testimony with a mop than a Bible?

 

To check the answers for James Study questions click here

 

Quiz on Chapters 1 - 2

 

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Chapter 3

 

James 3:1-12 - To listen as you read click the version, ESV or NIV, then the sound symbol & wait about 30 sec.
3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

 

     

1. Who will receive greater judgment? (1)

2. Who is the perfect man? (2)

3. What two examples are used of small things that control big things? (3-4)

4. What two examples are used to show the power of small things to destroy? (5,8)

5. What things are said about the tongue? (5,6,8)

6. By what can the tongue be set on fire? (6)

7. What has mankind tamed? (7)

8. What has mankind not tamed? (8)

9. What is the highest function of the tongue? (9)

10. Why is an attack on man an attack on God? (9)

11. What two examples are used to show the power to delight? (11-12)  

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James 3:13-18 - To listen as you read click the version, ESV or NIV, then the sound symbol & wait about 30 sec.
3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

 

  

12. How should a wise man show his wisdom? (13)

13. What two kinds of wisdom did James describe? (14-18)

14. What three adjectives are used to describe earthly wisdom? (14-15)

15. What is the result of earthly wisdom? (16)

16. What are seven characteristics of wisdom from above? (17)

17. What trait is identified first? (17)

18. What is the result of wisdom from above? (18) 

 

Discussion Questions

  1. What are some sins of the tongue?

  2. What tips could you give for controlling the tongue?

  3. Is there any connection between what James teaches with respect to the tongue and God's choice of unknown tongues as the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

  4. How would your wisdom be catergorized?

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Chapter 4 

James 4 - To listen as you read click the version, ESV or NIV, then the sound symbol & wait about 30 sec.
4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.


1. What is often a reason for unanswered prayer? (3)

2. What does James say is at enmity with God? (4)

3 Who does God resist? (6)

4. What prescription is given for overcoming? (7)

5 What happens when you draw near to God? (8)

6. What should you do if you want God to lift you up? (10)

7. When one speaks evil of another he becomes what? (11)

8. What did the businessperson presume and plan without God? (13)

9. What illustration of the brevity of life is given? (14)

10. What should you say before you announce your plans? (15)

11. What is said about boasting? (16)

12. What is said regarding the sin of omission? (17)

   

Discussion Questions

  1. How much planning should a person do?

  2. Can a person be sinless?

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Chapter 5  

James 5 - To listen as you read click the version, ESV or NIV, then the sound symbol & wait about 30 sec.
5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

 

1. What three forms of wealth are mentioned? (2-3)

2. What four charges of wrong conduct are condemned in the rich? (3-6)

3. What attitude should Christians manifest during oppression? (7-11)

4. What agricultural illustration of patience is given to encourage patient waiting for the Lord's return? (7)

5. What shouldn’t the oppressed do? (9)

6. Who hears and sees what is going on? (9)

7. What Old Testament character is used as an example of suffering affliction and patience? (11)

8. What conclusion can be made about the Lord when one sees the end intended by the Lord? (11)

9. What is the responsibility of the sick person in the healing process? (14)

10. What are the duties of the elders in the healing process?(14)

11. What can effectual fervent prayer accomplish? (16)

12. What Old Testament incident is used to illustrate effective prayer? (17-18)

13. What phrase shows that Elijah was not a "superman?" (17)

14. What is accomplished in the conversion of a sinner from the error of his way? (19-20)

   

Discussion Questions

   

  1. What are some things that can improve employer and employee relations?

  2. What relationship is there between sickness and sin?

  3. What discretion should be used in confessing your faults to other people?

 

Answers for James Study questions

 

Quiz on Chapters 3 - 5

 

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Extra Work for those desiring deeper study  

1. List the important subjects that James dealt with in his epistle.

2. James, like Jesus, used object lessons to teach. Write the scriptural reference, the object lessons and what lessons he taught from it.

3. What Old Testament characters did James mention, and for what purpose did he mention each of them? Include the scriptural references.

4. List at least 40 imperatives that James wrote. An imperative expresses a command, request, or warning urgent, necessary. James did not suggest - he commanded. Put down both the scriptural reference and the imperative.

5. James, like Jesus, was skilled in the use of questions. Write the scriptural references and the questions that James asked in his epistle.

6. Compare the epistle of James with the "sermon on the mount."

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