James 5 is the fifth (and last) chapter of the
Epistle of James
The Epistle of James). is a general epistle and one of the 21 epistles ( didactic letters) in the New Testament.
James 1:1 identifies the author as "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" who is writing to "the twelve tribes ...
in the
New Testament
The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Chri ...
of the
Christian Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts ...
. The author identifies himself as "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" and the epistle is traditionally attributed to
James the brother of Jesus, written in
Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
between 48 and 61 CE. Alternatively, some scholars argue that it is a
pseudographical work written after 61 CE. This chapter contains a warning to the rich and an exhortation to be
patient
A patient is any recipient of health care services that are performed by healthcare professionals. The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, nurse, optometrist, dentist, veterinarian, or other hea ...
until the coming of the Lord.
Text
The original text was written in
Koine Greek
Koine Greek (; Koine el, ἡ κοινὴ διάλεκτος, hē koinè diálektos, the common dialect; ), also known as Hellenistic Greek, common Attic, the Alexandrian dialect, Biblical Greek or New Testament Greek, was the common supra-reg ...
.
This chapter is divided into 20 verses.
Textual witnesses
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
;Greek
*
Papyrus 100
Papyrus 100 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), designated by siglum 𝔓100, is an early copy of the New Testament in Greek. It is a papyrus manuscript of the Epistle of James. The surviving texts of James are verses 3:13-4:4; 4:9-5:1, they are ...
(3rd century; extant verse 1)
*
Codex Vaticanus
The Codex Vaticanus ( The Vatican, Bibl. Vat., Vat. gr. 1209), designated by siglum B or 03 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), δ 1 ( von Soden), is a fourth-century Christian manuscript of a Greek Bible, containing the majority of the Greek Old ...
(325-350)
*
Codex Sinaiticus
The Codex Sinaiticus ( Shelfmark: London, British Library, Add MS 43725), designated by siglum [Aleph] or 01 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering of New Testament manuscripts), δ 2 (in the von Soden numbering of New Testament manuscript ...
(330-360)
*
Codex Alexandrinus
The Codex Alexandrinus (London, British Library, Royal MS 1. D. V-VIII), designated by the siglum A or 02 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering of New Testament manuscripts), δ 4 (in the von Soden numbering of New Testament manuscripts), is a manu ...
(400-440)
*
Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (ca. 450; extant verse 1)
*
Papyrus 74 (7th century; complete)
;
Coptic
*
Papyrus 6 (~AD 350; all verses).
;Latin
*
León palimpsest The León Palimpsest, designated l or 67 (in the Beuron system), is a 7th-century Latin manuscript pandect of the Christian Bible conserved in the cathedral of León, Spain. The text, written on vellum, is in a fragmentary condition. In some parts ...
(7th century; complete)
[Bruce M. Metzger, ''The Early Versions of the New Testament'', Oxford University Press, 1977, p. 316.]
Warning to the Rich (5:1–3)
Written like an abbreviation of Jesus' criticism against the rich ().
The Oppression of the Poor and the Just (5:4-6)
This section exposes the unjust ways of the rich who gain their goods by oppressing the poor.
Patience until the Coming of the Lord (5:7-20)
Verse 11
:''Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.''
*
Job
Work or labor (or labour in British English) is intentional activity people perform to support the needs and wants of themselves, others, or a wider community. In the context of economics, work can be viewed as the human activity that contr ...
was not a prophet, but as a righteous man he is used in Jewish stories circulating in James' day to represent the 'perfect example of patient endurance'.
Verse 12
:''But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment.''
Cross reference:
Matthew 5:37
Verse 16
:''Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.''
* "Confess your faults one to another": Sins committed against one another should be acknowledged for mutual forgiveness and reconciliation at all times.
*"A righteous man": a person, who is justified by Christ's righteousness; also the upright and sincere one, such as Job,
Joseph of Arimathea
Joseph of Arimathea was, according to all four canonical gospels, the man who assumed responsibility for the burial of Jesus after his crucifixion. The historical location of Arimathea is uncertain, although it has been identified with several ...
, and others; even though not without sin, as shown in
the following verse: "Elijah was a man of like passions", but a just man, and his prayer was prevalent.
* "The effectual fervent (Greek: , ') prayer" has power, which is with the Spirit, not in a cold, lukewarm, lifeless, formal, and customary way. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "daily", which is constant and continual prayer, without ceasing, as in the parable of the widow and the unjust judge. Some translate the word "inspired": the Spirit of God breathes into men the breath of spiritual life, or may be rendered "inwrought", as a true prayer is not what is written in a book, but what is wrought in the heart, by the Spirit of God; and such prayer is always heard, and regarded by him. The Jews have a great notion of prayer as 'the power of prayer', is strong; and extol it above all other services, it is better than good works, or than offerings and sacrifices; and particularly, the prayer of righteous men may turn "the holy blessed God from wrath to mercy".
[''John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible'' - James 5:16](_blank)
/ref>
Verse 17
:''Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.''
* "Elijah
Elijah ( ; he, אֵלִיָּהוּ, ʾĒlīyyāhū, meaning "My El (deity), God is Yahweh/YHWH"; Greek form: Elias, ''Elías''; syr, ܐܸܠܝܼܵܐ, ''Elyāe''; Arabic language, Arabic: إلياس or إليا, ''Ilyās'' or ''Ilyā''. ) w ...
" (Greek: ''Elias'', as in KJV): points to the prophet "Elijah the Tishbite". Septuagint
The Greek Old Testament, or Septuagint (, ; from the la, septuaginta, lit=seventy; often abbreviated ''70''; in Roman numerals, LXX), is the earliest extant Greek translation of books from the Hebrew Bible. It includes several books beyond ...
renders the name in Greek ''Elias'' in Malachi 4:5, just as written in the Greek text of this verse. During his life, he was being charged by King Ahab
Ahab (; akk, 𒀀𒄩𒀊𒁍 ''Aḫâbbu'' 'a-ḫa-ab-bu'' grc-koi, Ἀχαάβ ''Achaáb''; la, Achab) was the seventh king of Israel, the son and successor of King Omri and the husband of Jezebel of Sidon, according to the Hebrew Bib ...
as a "troubler of Israel", and persecuted by , who tried to kill him, but was fed by ravens, by the widow of Zarephath, and by an angel; also, he asked to die, but by the wonderful power of God, he can see God, who "translated him, that he should not see death".
*"A man with a nature like ours": James gives an instance of earnest and fervent efficacious prayer in Elijah
Elijah ( ; he, אֵלִיָּהוּ, ʾĒlīyyāhū, meaning "My El (deity), God is Yahweh/YHWH"; Greek form: Elias, ''Elías''; syr, ܐܸܠܝܼܵܐ, ''Elyāe''; Arabic language, Arabic: إلياس or إليا, ''Ilyās'' or ''Ilyā''. ) w ...
, in accordance with Jewish tradition (2 Esdras 7:109; ''m. Ta'an.'' 2:4; ''b. Sanh.'' 113a), in particular the example of Elijah and his prayer for rain (). James says that he was a "man", in contrast to some Jewish notion that Elijah was not born of a father and mother, but was an angel, who was clothed with the four elements of the world. Also, he was by nature no better than others, as he himself confesses that he was no better than his fathers (). Furthermore, Elijah was "subject to like passions as we are" (KJV; Greek , '' '', "of_like_nature to_us") both in body and soul; he suffered hunger and was not free from sinful passions, as impatience, fear, and unbelief (; , , ).
*"Prayed earnestly": or "prayed in prayer" as in Jewish literature it is said "he prayed his prayer" or, in other way of saying, "they prayed prayers", not merely externally or formally, but with great intenseness of the Spirit. The first time, he prayed "that it might not rain", then later, he may have prayed each of the seven times he sent his servant to look out for a sign of rain (). The prayer "that it would not rain" (KJV: "that it might not rain") is not recorded implicitly, but can be deducted from () where he says, "as the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew, nor rain, these years, but according to my word"; as such the passage is understood by the Jewish commentators that the phrase, "before whom I stand", is paraphrased as "before whom I am used to stand", "in prayer". Another phrase, "according to my word", is interpreted, that the rain should not come naturally, but it should only descend when Elijah "prayed for it", and it was so. According to early church tradition, James himself was known as 'just' (dikaios) and a man of powerful prayer,[Hegesippus, in ''Eus. Hist. Ecd.'' 2.23.4—7; ''apud'' Riesner 2007, p. 1292]
* "On the earth": means "on the land of Israel", as this was in judgment upon the Kingdom of Israel in the times of Ahab
Ahab (; akk, 𒀀𒄩𒀊𒁍 ''Aḫâbbu'' 'a-ḫa-ab-bu'' grc-koi, Ἀχαάβ ''Achaáb''; la, Achab) was the seventh king of Israel, the son and successor of King Omri and the husband of Jezebel of Sidon, according to the Hebrew Bib ...
. This instance of prayer is mentioned, not to be imitated, as Christians are not to pray for judgments, unless they receive a divine order for it as Elijah
Elijah ( ; he, אֵלִיָּהוּ, ʾĒlīyyāhū, meaning "My El (deity), God is Yahweh/YHWH"; Greek form: Elias, ''Elías''; syr, ܐܸܠܝܼܵܐ, ''Elyāe''; Arabic language, Arabic: إلياس or إليا, ''Ilyās'' or ''Ilyā''. ) w ...
had, but to show the efficacy of prayer uttered according to the will of God.[''John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible'' - James 5:17](_blank)
/ref>
* "Three years and six months": This exactly agrees with the words of Jesus Christ
Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...
( Luke 4:25), although this time span is not found in the text of Old Testament.
See also
* Elijah
Elijah ( ; he, אֵלִיָּהוּ, ʾĒlīyyāhū, meaning "My El (deity), God is Yahweh/YHWH"; Greek form: Elias, ''Elías''; syr, ܐܸܠܝܼܵܐ, ''Elyāe''; Arabic language, Arabic: إلياس or إليا, ''Ilyās'' or ''Ilyā''. ) w ...
* Job
Work or labor (or labour in British English) is intentional activity people perform to support the needs and wants of themselves, others, or a wider community. In the context of economics, work can be viewed as the human activity that contr ...
* Related Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts ...
parts: 1 Kings 17
1 Kings 17 is the seventeenth chapter of the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible or the First Book of Kings in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of Israel and J ...
, 1 Kings 19, Job 6, Job 13, Job 42
Job 42 is the 42nd (and the final) chapter of the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012. The book is anonymous; most s ...
, Luke 4
Luke 4 is the fourth chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, traditionally attributed to Luke the Evangelist, a companion of Paul the Apostle on his missionary journeys. This chapter details Jesus' three temptat ...
, Galatians 5
Galatians 5 is the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Galatians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle for the churches in Galatia, written between AD 49–58. This chapter contains a discussion about cir ...
References
Sources
*
*
External links
* King James Bible - Wikisource
English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate
''Online Bible'' at GospelHall.org
(ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
Multiple bible versions at ''Bible Gateway''
(NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.)
{{Epistle of James
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