Greetings from James
(Jude 1:1-2)

1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

Rejoicing in Trials
(Philippians 1:12-20)

2Esteem it all joy, my brothers, when you might fall into various trials, 3knowing that testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, the One giving generously to all and not finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing, for the one doubting is like a wave of the sea, being blown and being tossed by the wind. 7For let that man not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. 8He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9But let the brother of low degree boast in his exaltation, 10and he who is rich, in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a flower of grass. 11For the sun has risen with its burning heat and withered the grass, and its flower has fallen, and the beauty of its appearance has perished. Thus also the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

12Blessed is the man who endures trial, because, having been approved, he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those loving Him.

Good and Perfect Gifts

13Let no one being tempted say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is unable to be tempted by evils, and He Himself tempts no one. 14But a man is tempted, being drawn away and being enticed by the own desire. 15Then desire having conceived, gives birth to sin; and sin having become fully grown, brings forth death.

16Do not be misled, my beloved brothers. 17Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of shifting. 18Having willed it, He brought us forth by the word of truth, for us to be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Hearing and Doing

19Know this, my beloved brothers. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow unto anger; 20for man’s anger does not produce the righteousness of God. 21Therefore, having put aside all filthiness and abounding of wickedness, receive in humility the implanted word, being able to save your souls.

22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves, 23because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror, 24for he has viewed himself and has gone away, and immediately he has forgotten of what manner he was. 25But the one having looked intently into the perfect law, that of freedom, and having continued in it, not having been a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work—this one will be blessed in his work.

26If anyone seems to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, the religion of this one is worthless. 27Pure and undefiled religion before the God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their tribulation; to keep oneself unstained from the world.