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James
Scripture Central Videos
Watch videos from Gospel scholars and teachers to learn more about these New Testament passages. Scripture Central produces weekly videos from Tyler Griffin, Taylor Halverson, Clint Mortenson, John Hilton III, and Lynne Hilton Wilson.
Other Creator Videos
Commentary
The New Testament Minute is a commentary series made especially for the free ScripturePlus app, which features insights from New Testament scholars. many of the insights in the New Testament Minute are gleaned from the BYU New Testament Commentary series. Lynne Hilton Wilson has written a commentary to supplement her New Testament video series.
Reading Plan
Structure your personal scripture study by following a 15-minute, day-by-day plan. Each day's assignment includes the required scripture passages from the Come, Follow Me curriculum, as well as suggestions for additional resources to bring context and understanding to your study. For the best experience, use our Reading Plan in the free ScripturePlus app! You can track your progress and have access to the best resources.
Monday
- Verse of the Day: James 1:17
- Scripture: James 1:1-18
- Video: BibleProject - Book of James Summary: A Complete Animated Overview
- Commentary: Introduction to James
- Commentary: James 1:1. Introduction
- Commentary: James 1:12. Resisting Sin Brings a Crown
- Commentary: James 1:13-14. Resisting Sin Brings a Crown
Tuesday
- Verse of the Day: James 1:22
- Scripture: James 1:19-27
- Scripture: James 2:1-13
- Commentary: James 1:27. Pure Religion is Listening, Loving, Repenting, and Doing
- Commentary: James 2:8-9. Avoid Partiality toward the Rich
- Commentary: James 2:12. Keep the Law of the Gospel
Wednesday
- Verse of the Day: James 2:26
- Scripture: James 2:14-26
- Commentary: James 2:19. Faith Requires Works
- Commentary: James 2:21. Faith Requires Works
- Commentary: James 2:26. Faith Requires Works
Thursday
- Verse of the Day: James 3:2
- Scripture: James 3:1-12
- Commentary: James 3:2. Controlling the Tongue
- Commentary: James 3:4-5. Controlling the Tongue
- Commentary: James 3:7-8. Controlling the Tongue
- Commentary: James 3:10-12. Controlling the Tongue
Friday
- Verse of the Day: James 3:17
- Scripture: James 3:13-18
- Scripture: James 4:1-12
- Commentary: James 3:14-15. True Wisdom Involves Humble Living
- Commentary: James 3:17. True Wisdom Involves Humble Living
- Commentary: James 4:3. Worldliness is an Enemy of God
- Commentary: James 4:7-10. Submit Your Will to God’s
Saturday
- Verse of the Day: James 4:15
- Scripture: James 4:13-17
- Scripture: James 5:1-6
- Commentary: James 4:17. Do Good in God and Boast Not
Sunday
- Verse of the Day: James 5:11
- Scripture: James 5:7-20
Joseph Smith Translation Variants
Explore Joseph Smith's inspired translation of the bible by comparing his changes to the King James Version of the New Testament. To learn more, see Joseph Smith's Translation of the Bible: The Joseph Smith Translation and the King James Translation in Parallel Columns.
James 1
KJV |
JST |
(2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; |
(2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into many afflictions, |
(4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. |
(4) But let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. |
(12) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. |
(12) Blessed is the man that resisteth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. |
(21) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. |
(21) Wherefore lay aside all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. |
(27) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. |
(27) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the vices of the world. |
James 2
KJV |
JST |
(1) My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. |
(1) My brethren, ye cannot have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, and yet have respect to persons. |
(2) For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; |
(2) Now if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; |
(4) Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? |
(4) Are ye not then in yourselves partial judges, and become evil in your thoughts? |
(10) For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. |
(10) For whosoever shall save in one point keep the whole law, he is guilty of all. |
(14) What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? |
(14) What profit is it, my brethren, for a man to say he hath faith, and hath not works? Can faith save him? |
(18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. |
(18) Yea, a man may say, I have faith without works. But I say, Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. |
(15) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, |
(15) For if a brother or sister be naked, and destitute, |
(16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? |
(16) And one of you say, |
(17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. |
(17) Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead, being alone. |
(20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? |
(20) Therefore wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead and cannot save you? |
(19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. |
(19) Thou believest |
(22) Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? |
(22) Seest thou how works wrought with his faith and by works was faith made perfect? |
(24) Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. |
(24) Ye see then |
(25) Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? |
(25) Likewise also Rahab the harlot was justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and |
(26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. |
(26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead. |
James 3
KJV |
JST |
(1) My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. |
(1) My brethren, strive not for the mastery, knowing that in so doing we shall receive the greater condemnation. |
Reading Resources
James
Lynne Hilton Wilson, "James," Come Follow Me: The New Testament, 2019.
If Ye Lack Wisdom, Ask of God
- Elder David A. Bednar, “Seek Learning by Faith,” Religious Educator Vol. 7, No. 3 (2006): 1–11.
- Marcos A. Aidukaitis, “If Ye Lack Wisdom,” General Conference April 2014.
- Robert D. Hales, “Gaining a Testimony of God the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost,” General Conference April 2008.
- Craig K. Manscill, “‘If Any of You Lack Wisdom’: James’s Imperative to Israel,” in Go Ye into All the World: Messages of the New Testament Apostles, 31st Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2002), 244–257.
Faith Requires Action
- Mark D. Ellison, “Paul and James on Faith and Works,” Religious Educator 13, no. 3 (2012): 147–171.
- Brian M. Hauglid, “‘As the Body without the Spirit’: James’s Epistle on Faith and Works,” in Go Ye into All the World: Messages of the New Testament Apostles, 31st Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2002), 276–289.
- David A. Bednar, “Ask in Faith,” General Conference April 2008.
- Juan Pablo Villar, “Exercising Our Spiritual Muscles,” General Conference April 2019.
- Dale G. Renlund, “Abound with Blessings,” General Conference April 2019.
- Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” General Conference April 2017.
- Michelle D. Craig, “Divine Discontent,” General Conference October 2018.
- Allan D. Rau, “Fostering Conversion through Faith-Inspired Actions,” Religious Educator 10, no. 3 (2009): 103–114.
Endurance Leads to Perfection
- Richard C. Edgley, “Keep the Faith,” General Conference April 1993.
- Jeffrey R. Holland, “Be Ye Therefore Perfect––Eventually,” General Conference October 2017.
- Russell M. Nelson, “Perfection Pending,” General Conference October 1995.
- Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Running Your Marathon,” General Conference October 1989.
- Melanie Eaton, “The Reward Is Worth the Effort,” General Conference April 1995.
- Frank F. Judd, Jr., “‘Be Ye Therefore Perfect:’ The Elusive Quest for Perfection,” in The Sermon on the Mount in Latter-day Scripture, ed. Gaye Strathearn, Thomas A. Wayment, and Daniel L. Belnap (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2010), 123–39.
Words Can Hurt or Bless Others
- Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Virtue of Kindness,” General Conference April 2005.
- Angel Abrea, “The Sure Sound of the Trumpet,” General Conference April 1984.
- ElRay L. Christiansen, “Be Slow to Anger,” General Conference April 1971.
Pure Religion and True Christianity
- “Pure Religion,” New Testament: Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual.
- Marvin J. Ashton, “Pure Religion,” General Conference October 1982.
- Don R. Clarke, “Pure Religion,” BYU Devotional, January 13, 2015.
- Howard W. Hunter, “True Religion,” General Conference October 1978.
Love Others Regardless of Circumstances
- Lloyd D. Newell, “‘All Are Alike Unto God’: Equality and Charity in the Book of Mormon,” in Living the Book of Mormon: Abiding by Its Precepts, ed. Gaye Strathearn and Charles Swift (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2007), 196–210.
- Loren C. Dunn, “The Gospel of Love,” General Conference October 1985.