Tongue Those who are truly religious will keep a tight rein on their _____ (Jas 1:26; cf. Ps 34:12, 141:3; Pr 12:18, 15:2, 4, 17:20, 18:21; Mt 12:34). Worthless Those who claim to be “religious” but do not master their mouths deceive their hearts (Jas 1:26; cf. Eph 5:6) and their “religion” is ____ (Jas 1:26; cf. Is 1:10-17; Jer 2:5; Ac 14:14-15).
Look People who are truly religious will ___ after others who are in need (Jas 1:27) – especially fellow Christians (Ac 15:36; Gal 6:10; Mt 25:35-40; cp. Mt 12:50).
Widows Pure and undefiled religion in God’s sight looks after ____ in their hardship (Jas 1:27; cf. Ex 22:22; Dt 10:17-19, 14:28-29, 27:19; Is 1:17; Jer 7:3-8; Ps 68:5, 146:7-9; Mk 12:38-40; Ac 6:1-4; 1 Tim 5:3-4).
Orphans Pure and undefiled religion in God’s sight looks after ____ (i.e., the fatherless) in their hardship (Jas 1:27; cf. Ex 22:22; Dt 10:17-19, 14:28-29, 27:19; Ps 68:5, 146:7-9; Is 1:17; Jer 7:3-8).
Foreigners In the Old Testament, special assistance was also to be given to sojourners/____ (Ex 21:21; Lev 19:9-10; Dt 14:28-29, 27:19), who were to follow the Law even though they were not Israelites (Ex 20:8-10; Lev 24:22; Num 15:15-16; Dt 31:12).
World Though helping the disdained in society is important, those who are truly religious will also keep themselves from becoming morally stained by the ____ (Jas 1:27; Jn 17:14-16; Rom 12:1-2), which opposes Christ (Jn 15:18-19; Jas 4:4). Many have emphasized the former while forgetting the latter.
Bibliography
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Balz, Horst Robert, and Gerhard Schneider. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990–. [EDNT]
Davids, Peter H. James. Understanding the Bible Commentary Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2011. [Davids U]
Davids, Peter H. The Epistle of James: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1982. [Davids N]
Guthrie, George H. “James.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition), edited by Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland, Vol. 13. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006.
Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Second Edition. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014.
Lockett, Darian R., and Craig A. Evans. “James.” In John’s Gospel, Hebrews–Revelation, edited by Craig A. Evans and Craig A. Bubeck, First Edition., 257–87. The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary. Colorado Springs, CO; Paris, ON; Eastbourne: David C Cook, 2005.
Loh, I-Jin, and Howard Hatton. A Handbook on the Letter from James. UBS Handbook Series. New York: United Bible Societies, 1997. [UBS]
Longman, Tremper, III. Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Proverbs. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2006.
Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996. [LN]
Moo, Douglas J. James: An Introduction and Commentary. Edited by Eckhard J. Schnabel. Second edition. Vol. 16. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2015. [Moo]
Moo, Douglas J. The Letter of James. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2000. [Moo P]
Motyer, J. A. The Message of James: The Tests of Faith. The Bible Speaks Today. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1985.
Osborne, Grant R., and M. Robert Mulholland Jr. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: James, 1–2 Peter, Jude, Revelation. Edited by Philip W. Comfort. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2011.
Silva, Moisés, ed. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014. [NIDNTTE]
Stulac, George M. James. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series. Westmont, IL: IVP Academic, 1993.
