25.5

Propositions about God in the Letter of James (Box 25.5)

The Letter of James is primarily concerned with ethical teaching, but the principles that it espouses do assume a generic theological foundation. Thus the letter also offers several propositions about God’s nature and character:

• God gives to all, “generously and ungrudgingly” (1:5).
• God has promised a “crown of life” to those who love God (1:12).
• God cannot be tempted by evil, and God tempts no one (1:13).
• God is “the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow” (1:17).
• God created us by “the word of truth” (1:18).
• God favors the poor (2:5).
• God is one (2:19).
• God is the “Lord and Father” and has made humans in the likeness of God (3:9).
• God answers the prayers of the righteous (4:2–3; 5:16–18).
• God yearns jealously for our spiritual devotion (4:5).
• “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (4:6, 10).
• God draws near to those who draw near to God (4:8).
• God is both lawgiver and judge, able to save and destroy (4:12).
• God’s will trumps all human plans (4:13–15).
• God hears the cries of the exploited and oppressed (5:4).
• God is compassionate and merciful to the patient (5:11).
• God heals the sick and forgives sins (5:15).

It is often noted that although all of these points are important for Christians, they are not specifically Christian declarations. These things would also be confessed by Jews (and, for that matter, by deists, Muslims, and adherents of other religions).

As for Jesus Christ, this letter tells us only that he is our “glorious Lord” (2:1; cf. 1:1) and that his coming (as judge) is near (5:7–9).