James introduced himself as “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ (James 1:1), which seems to be the common manner in which the writers of the letters and books of the New Covenant introduced themselves (Romans 1:1; 2Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1; Revelation 1:1). The phrase suggests that what they said and did wasn’t something they chose to do, rather, it was something they were commanded to do by the Lord, Jesus, the Christ. They were his servants, and he sent them to perform a specific task, which was to preach the Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20), and they were specifically chosen by him and sent to specific people (cp Acts 10) and to specific groups of people (Matthew 10: 5-6, 23; Romans 11:13; cp. Galatians 2:7-9).
James addressed his letter to “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1). In other words they were Jews, who were not living in Judea or Galilee. Jerusalem seemed to have had a special interest in the Roman provinces that were in Asia Minor, the western part of modern Turkey (cp. 1Peter 1:1). This area contained the third largest concentration of the Diaspora, following Babylon and Egypt. It also seems to have been a large part of Paul’s ministry and Peter’s, and it is where we are introduced to Apollos, the Jew who knew Jesus only through John the Baptist (Acts 18:24). This area in western Asia was probably the recipient of James’, both of Peter’s and Jude’s epistles.
James’ first remark to the recipients of his letter was to “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” (James 1:2), but what did he mean? Why should anyone rejoice in the idea of being tempted or tried, as is often the meaning of the Greek word (G3986)? Moreover, how would James’ advice correlate with Jesus’ words “lead us not into temptation” (Matthew 6:13) and “Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation” (Matthew 26:41), and both Jesus and James use the same Greek word (G3986)?
I believe the key to this supposed contradiction between Jesus and James is the idea that we are not to seek to be tried, but when the inevitable trial arrives, rejoice in the fact that this is the time that one’s faith in and love for Jesus can be proved (James 1:3; cp. Matthew 5:10-12). All the while Jesus was with his disciples he protected them (John 17:12; 18:9), but there would come a day when he would send them into the midst of danger, and then their faith would be proved (Matthew 10:16-20). They were not to seek such a thing, for to seek and invite an opportunity to be tried unveils an arrogance or trust in one’s own strength that would surely lead to one’s fall (Proverbs 16:18). The fact is, they were to flee from temptation whenever possible (Matthew 10:23), but at the end of the day, they would at some time have to confront their enemies (Matthew 23:34; cp. 10:18-19). When this occurred, and when they could no longer escape persecution, they were to rejoice, for it was at this very time that their faith would be proved, and they would have reason to rejoice in Christ, who had prepared them for this very moment (James 1:3).
Nevertheless, believers do have a responsibility in this God-given moment. The trial of one’s faith works patience, and the faithful were to allow patience to produce its fruit (James 1:4). Through patience we permit the Lord to lead (cp. Matthew 10:18-20), and he will build us up in such a manner that we would have need of nothing (James 1:4; cp. Luke 22:35).
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