James 1:18-20
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
18 (A)He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.[a]
III. Exhortations and Warnings
Doers of the Word. 19 Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear,[b] slow to speak, slow to wrath,(B) 20 for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.(C)
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- 1:18 Acceptance of the gospel message, the word of truth, constitutes new birth (Jn 3:5–6) and makes the recipient the firstfruits (i.e., the cultic offering of the earliest grains, symbolizing the beginning of an abundant harvest) of a new creation; cf. 1 Cor 15:20; Rom 8:23.
- 1:19–25 To be quick to hear the gospel is to accept it readily and to act in conformity with it, removing from one’s soul whatever is opposed to it, so that it may take root and effect salvation (Jas 1:19–21). To listen to the gospel message but not practice it is failure to improve oneself (Jas 1:22–24). Only conformity of life to the perfect law of true freedom brings happiness (Jas 1:25).
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