James 1:1 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) [This letter is from] James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, [who sends] greetings to the twelve tribes which are scattered throughout the world. [Note: This refers to Christians, probably of Jewish descent]. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition JAMES, A servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered abroad [among the Gentiles in the dispersion]: Greetings (rejoice)! American Standard Version (1901) James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion, greeting. Common English Bible From James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To the twelve tribes who are scattered outside the land of Israel. Greetings! Catholic Public Domain Version James, servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes of the dispersion, greetings. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version James the servant of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. |
Philip, Bartholomew [i.e., the same as Nathaniel. See John 1:45], Thomas [i.e., the same as Didymus. See John 11:16], Matthew, the tax collector [i.e., the same as Levi. See Mark 2:14], James, the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus [i.e., the same as Judas, son of James. See Luke 6:16],
Is not he the carpenter’s [i.e., Joseph’s] son? [And] is not his mother named Mary, and are not his brothers [named] James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, [since] you have become my followers, in the time of new beginnings [i.e., the church age], when the Son of man sits on His glorious throne, you apostles will also sit on twelve thrones, judging [i.e., through their writings] the twelve tribes of Israel [i.e., God’s people].
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew [i.e., the same person as Nathaniel. See John 1:45], Matthew [i.e., the same person as Levi. See Mark 2:14], Thomas [i.e., the same person as Didymus. See John 11:16], James, the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus [i.e., the same person as Judas, the son of James. See Luke 6:16], Simon the Cananaean [i.e., the same person as the Zealot. See Luke 6:15],
so you can eat and drink at my table in my [coming] kingdom. [Also] you will sit on [twelve] thrones [See Matt. 19:28], judging the twelve tribes of Israel [i.e., judging God’s people through their writings].
Matthew [i.e., the same person as Levi. See Mark 2:14], Thomas [i.e., the same person as Didymus. See John 11:16], James, the son of Alphaeus, Simon, called the Zealot [i.e., the same person as the Cananaean. See Matt. 10:4],
If any person wants to serve me, he should become my follower; and wherever I am, my servant will be there also. If any person serves me, the Father will honor him.
The Jews [i.e., the authorities] were saying among themselves, “Where will this man go that we will not be able to find him? Will he go where the Jewish people are scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
Upon arriving at the house where they were staying, they went upstairs. [Those present were]: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, the son of Alpheus, Simon the Zealous [one] and Judas, the son of James. [Note: Judas Iscariot, the twelfth apostle, had already committed suicide].
[Upon entering the house] he held up his hand to quiet them, and then went on to explain how the Lord had rescued him from jail. He said to them, “[Go] tell all this to James [the Lord’s half-brother] and to [the rest of] the brothers.” Then he left [them] and went elsewhere.
Then, after they finished speaking, James [the Lord’s half-brother, See 12:17] spoke up and said, “Brothers, listen to me.
[For] every city has had for many generations people who proclaim [the teaching of] Moses, reading [his writings] in the synagogues every Sabbath day.”
This is what they wrote [in the letter]: “[This is] from your brothers, the apostles and elders [of the Jerusalem church]: Greetings to [our] Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.
Now some devoted Jews from every nation of the world were visiting Jerusalem [for the Pentecost festival].
The next day Paul went with us to visit James [the Lord’s half-brother and a leader in the Jerusalem church], with all of the elders [of the Jerusalem church] being present.
“Claudius Lysias, [commander of the battalion, is writing] to His Excellency, Governor Felix. Greetings:
This is the promise our twelve tribes [i.e., family groups], who earnestly serve God night and day, hope to see fulfilled. It is because [I advocate] this hope, O King, that I am being charged [with wrongdoing] by the Jews.
And Saul was in full agreement with Stephen being put to death. And a great persecution broke out against the Jerusalem church, and all the disciples, except the apostles, were scattered throughout the districts of Judea and Samaria.
[This letter is from] Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, [who was] called to be an apostle, [and] set apart for [preaching] the Gospel of God.
But [on this trip] I did not see any of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. [Note: This “James” was not one of the original twelve apostles. See Matt. 10:2-4].
For, before certain [leaders] came from James [i.e., Jesus’ brother, a leader of the Jerusalem church, See Acts 12:17; 15:13-22], he had eaten [a social meal] with some Gentiles. But when these men came, he abruptly discontinued this practice out of fear of the circumcised ones [i.e., out of concern for what the Jews would think of him].
Also, when they perceived that this [special] favor [of preaching to Gentiles] was granted to me, James, Cephas [i.e., Peter] and John, the highly regarded pillars [i.e., leaders of the church] extended to me and Barnabas their right hands [signifying an agreement] to share [in the preaching of the Gospel], with us going to the Gentiles and they going to the circumcised ones [i.e., Jews].
[This letter is from] Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, [and is being sent] to all the saints [i.e., God’s holy people] who are at Philippi [Note: This is a town in present-day northeastern Greece, and the first place in Europe where Paul established Christianity], along with the overseers [Note: These men were also called elders, shepherds or pastors] and deacons.
Hurry up and come [to me] before winter. Eubulus sends his greetings, along with Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia and all [the rest of] the brothers.
[This letter is from] Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle for [the benefit of] the faith of God’s elect [i.e., His chosen people] and [to spread] the knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness,
[This is being written by] Jesus’ apostle Peter, to God’s people who are scattered throughout the countries of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. [Note: These places are located in present-day Turkey].
[This letter is being written by] Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith just as precious as ours, through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
[This is being written by] Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ, and a brother of James [Note: This “Jude” was probably not the apostle. See verses 17-18], to those who have been called [by God], who are also loved in [fellowship with] God the Father, and who are kept [safe] in [fellowship with] Jesus Christ.
Then I heard the number of those who were sealed. [It was] one hundred forty-four thousand [in all] from every tribe of the Israelites [Note: This could refer to Christians of Jewish descent].