James 5 is the fifth (and final) chapter of the Epistle of James in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The author identifies himself as "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" and the epistle is traditionally attributed to James the brother of Jesus, written in Jerusalem between 48 and 61 CE. Alternatively, some scholars argue that it is a pseudographical work written after 61 CE. This chapter contains a warning to the rich and an exhortation to be patient until the coming of the Lord.
Text
The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 20 verses.
Textual witnesses
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are: Greek Papyrus 100 (3rd century; extant verse 1) Codex Vaticanus (325-350) Codex Sinaiticus (330-360) Codex Alexandrinus (400-440) Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (ca. 450; extant verse 1) Papyrus 74 (7th century; complete) Coptic Papyrus 6 (~AD 350; all verses). Latin León palimpsest (7th century; complete)
Warning to the Rich (5:1–3) Written like an abbreviation of Jesus' criticism against the rich ().
The Oppression of the Poor and the Just (5:4-6) This section exposes the unjust ways of the rich who gain their goods by oppressing the poor.
Patience until the Coming of the Lord (5:7-20)
Verse 11
Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. Job was not a prophet, but as a righteous man he is used in Jewish stories circulating in James' day to represent the 'perfect example of patient endurance'.
Verse 12
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment. Cross reference: Matthew 5:37
Verse 16
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. "Confess your faults one to another": Sins committed against one another should be acknowledged for mutual forgiveness and reconciliation at all times. "A righteous man": a person, who is justified by Christ's righteousness; also the upright and sincere one, such as Job, Joseph of Arimathea, and others; even though not without sin, as shown in the following verse: "Elijah was a man of like passions", but a just man, and his prayer was prevalent. "The effectual fervent (Greek: , ) prayer" has power, which is with the Spirit, not in a cold, lukewarm, lifeless, formal, and customary way. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "daily", which is constant and continual prayer, without ceasing, as in the parable of the widow and the unjust judge. Some translate the word "inspired": the Spirit of God breathes into men the breath of spiritual life, or may be rendered "inwrought", as a true prayer is not what is written in a book, but what is wrought in the heart, by the Spirit of God; and such prayer is always heard, and regarded by him. The Jews have a great notion of prayer as 'the power of prayer', is strong; and extol it above all other services, it is better than good works, or than offerings and sacrifices; and particularly, the prayer of righteous men may turn "the holy blessed God from wrath to mercy".
Verse 17
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.