As a capstone to his argument that God does not tempt anyone, James offers a brilliant picture of the character of God: He is “the Father of the heavenly lights.” James then contrasts the development of the desire to sin (which leads to death) with its positive correlate: birth “through the word of truth,” which leads to becoming the “firstfruits of all he created.” At this point the traditional wisdom picture of two ways—the way of life and of wisdom on the one hand, and the way of death and foolishness on the other—can no longer be doubted as part of James’s framework of reference. Self-interest opens wide the maw of death, to which the evil impulse within seeks to entice us. It expresses itself in a variety of forms, including the unbridled tongue. The way of heavenly wisdom, by contrast, leads to the good fruits of 3:17, and to life.

Since God does not send temptation, the implied question is, “What is it that God does send?” James answers that God gives good gifts, as we have already seen in his gift of wisdom (1:5). There is a rich Old Testament background for this idea. Psalm 94:12 tells us that the discipline of God is a good gift, and Deuteronomy 26:11 speaks of Israelites and aliens together enjoying “all the good things” the Lord has given them. The latter text is particularly significant, as it appears in the context of the firstfruits, a theme James is about to introduce. It seems certain that James, like Deuteronomy, links the ideas of “good gifts” and “firstfruits” intentionally. Perhaps he wants to call to our minds the church as the new Israel, the true people of God.

In creating the phrase “Father of lights,” James has combined two pairs of important theological ideas. The first is that God is the Father of the universe and that he has power over the heavenly luminaries as their creator (Gen. 1:14–18; Ps. 136:7; Jer. 31:35); both concepts recall the creation account. The second pair is the notion of God as Father and of God as light.

James further describes God as one “who does not change like shifting shadows.” God is light, and in him there is no shadow. God is also the creator of the heavenly luminaries, which do shift like shadows. The terms used here are technical terms denoting the movements of the heavenlies. In other words, unlike the planets and the stars, which shift and waver, there is no change in God. As Father, God is ultimately reliable. He does not change, whether in the specific (he is always and will always be the one who gives good things) or the general (God is unchangeable and good).