I wrote this catechism on James as I recently worked my way preaching through it. It is not a theological or systematic catechism. It is simply a catechism on the book of James, using mostly the language of James himself, to help one remember the contents of the book.
Chapter 1
Q: Who wrote the book of James?
A: James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
Q: Who is the book written to?
A: To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion.
Q: Is this book not also written for our benefit?
A: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Q: What are we to do when we meet trials of various kinds?
A: Count it all joy.
Q: Why are we to count it all joy when we meet trials of various kinds?
A: Because you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Q: What is the full effect of steadfastness?
A: The full effect of steadfastness is that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Q: What are we to do if we lack wisdom?
A: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God.
Q: Why are we to ask God for wisdom?
A: We are to ask God for wisdom because God gives generously to all without reproach, and because God’s Word tells us to ask.
Q: How are we to ask God for wisdom?
A: We are to ask in faith, with no doubting.
Q: Why are we not to doubt when asking?
A: We are not to doubt because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Q: Should the doubting person expect to receive wisdom from God?
A: That person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.
Q: Why should he not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord?
A: Because he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Q: What is the lowly brother to boast in?
A: The lowly brother is to boast in his exaltation.
Q: What is the rich to boast in?
A: The rich is to boast in his humiliation.
Q: Why is the rich to boast in his humiliation?
A: The rich is to boast in his humiliation because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.
Q: What is the man who remains steadfast under trial?
A: That man is blessed.
Q: Why is that man blessed?
A: He is blessed for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life.
Q: Whom has God promised this crown of life to?
A: God has promised this crown of life to those who love him.
Q: What is the crown of life?
A: The crown of life is our eternal reward of salvation, having been made more than conquerors through Him who loves us.
Q: Can God be tempted with evil?
A: No, God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
Q: When is each person tempted?
A: Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Q: What happens to desire when it is conceived?
A: When desire is conceived it gives birth to sin.
Q: What does sin do when it is fully grown?
A: Sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death.
Q: Where does every good and perfect gift come from?
A: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights.
Q: Does the Father of Lights change?
A: No, with Him there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Q: By whose will are we brought forth?
A: We are brought forth by God’s will, from whom every good and perfect gift comes.
Q: What is the means by which God brings us forth?
A: The means by which God brings us forth is by the word of truth.
Q: Why has God brought us forth by the word of truth?
A: That we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Q: What must every person be quick to do?
A: Every person must be quick to hear.
Q: What are we to be quick to hear?
A: We are to be quick to hear the word of truth, the implanted word.
Q: What must every person be slow to do?
A: Every person must be slow to speak and slow to anger.
Q: Why are we to be slow to anger?
A: Because the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Q: What must we therefore put away?
A: We must put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness.
Q: How are we to receive the implanted word?
A: We are to receive the implanted word with meekness.
Q: What is the implanted word able to do?
A: It is able to save your soul.
Q: Are we only to be hearers of the word?
A: No, we are also to be doers of the word, lest we deceive ourselves.
Q: What is a man like if he is only a hearer of the word?
A: He is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
Q: What is promised to the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts?
A: He will be blessed in his doing.
Q: What happens to someone who thinks he is religious but does not bridle his tongue?
A: He deceives his heart.
Q: What is that man’s religion worth?
A: His religion is worthless.
Q: What is religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father?
A: Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Chapter 2
Q: Are Christians to show partiality?
A: We are to show no partiality as we hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Q: If a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
A: Yes, we have made distinctions among ourselves and become judges with evil thoughts.
Q: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
A: Yes, God has chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him.
Q: Instead of showing partiality, what are we to do?
A: We are to fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture.
Q: What is the royal law?
A: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Q: What happens if we show partiality?
A: We are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Q: What happens if someone keeps the whole law but fails in one point?
A: They have become guilty of all of it.
Q: How are we to speak and act?
A: As those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
Q: For whom is judgment without mercy?
A: The one who has shown no mercy.
Q: What triumphs over judgment?
A: Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Q: What good is it if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
A: It is no good.
Q: Can that faith save him?
A: No. We are saved by grace through faith alone, but not by faith that is alone.
Q: If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
A: It is no good.
Q: What is faith that does not have works?
A: Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Q: Why is faith without works dead?
A: Even the demons believe that God is one – and they shudder!
Q: Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
A: You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
Q: How do you see that a person is justified?
A: You see that a person is justified by his works.
Q: In the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
A: Yes, for as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Q: Does James’ teaching on faith, works, and justification contradict Paul’s teaching on the same?
A: No, Paul speaks of our justification before God, and James speaks of what we see and how we justify others.
Chapter 3
Q: Should many people become teachers?
A: Not many should become teachers.
Q: Why should not many become teachers?
A: Because those who teach will be judged with a greater strictness.
Q: Who stumbles in many ways?
A: We all stumble in many ways.
Q: What if someone does not stumble in what he says?
A: If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
Q: What happens when we put bits into the mouths of horses?
A: If we put bits into the mouths of horses they obey us and we guide their whole bodies as well.
Q: What are large ships that are driven by strong winds guided by?
A: They are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
Q: Is this what the tongue is like?
A: Yes, the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
Q: What else does James describe the tongue as?
A: The tongue is also a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
Q: Can a man tame the tongue?
A: Every kind of beast and bird, reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue.
Q: What else is the tongue?
A: It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Q: What does this remind us of?
A: The serpent.
Q: What happens to the serpent?
A: Jesus crushes his head.
Q: Should both blessing and cursing come from the same mouth?
A: These things ought not to be so.
Q: Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?
A: No.
Q: Can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs?
A: No.
Q: Can a salt pond yield fresh water?
A: No.
Q: Who is wise and understanding among you?
A: By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
Q: What if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts?
A: Then do not boast and be false to the truth.
Q: What will you find where jealousy and selfish ambition exist?
A: Disorder and every vile practice.
Q: Where is this wisdom from?
A: This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
Q: What is the wisdom from above?
A: It is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
Q: What is sown by those who make peace?
A: A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Chapter 4
Q: What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?
A: It is our passions that are at war within us.
Q: Why do you not have?
A: You do not have, because you do not ask.
Q: Why do you ask and not receive?
A: You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Q: Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
A: Yes, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world marks himself an enemy of God.
Q: What does God give?
A: He gives more grace.
Q: Who does God oppose?
A: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Q: How do we fight the devil?
A: Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Q: What happens when we speak evil against one another?
A: The one who speaks evil against a brother or judges a brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law.
Q: What happens when you judge the law?
A: If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
Q: How many lawgivers are there?
A: There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy.
Q: Who is able to save and destroy?
A: Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Q: But who are you to judge your neighbor?
A: I am not the lawgiver and judge, who is able to save and to destroy.
Q: Do you know what tomorrow will bring?
A: I do not know what tomorrow will bring.
Q: What is your life?
A: My life is a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
Q: Does God care about your life?
A: Yes, God sent His Son into history to have compassion on sinners and care for little mists such as me, so that though I vanish from this earth, I will be with Jesus forever in a resurrected and glorified body.
Q: What ought you to say about tomorrow?
A: I ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
Q: Should we boast about tomorrow in our arrogance?
A: No, all such boasting is evil.
Q: What is it for whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it?
A: Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
Chapter 5
Q: Why are the rich spoken of to weep and howl?
A: They are to weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon them.
Q: What has happened to their riches?
A: Their riches have rotted and their garments are moth-eaten.
Q: What has happened to their gold and silver?
A: Their gold and silver have corroded.
Q: What cries out against them?
A: The wages of the laborers who mowed their fields, which they kept back by fraud, cried out against them.
Q: Whose ears have these cries reached?
A: The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
Q: What have these rich done in a day of slaughter?
A: They have fattened their hearts in a day of slaughter.
Q: Who have they condemned and murdered?
A: They have condemned and murdered the righteous person.
Q: Who is the righteous person?
A: Jesus Christ is the Righteous One. Like a lamb before its shearers is silent, He did not resist them.
Q: What motivation does James give to the brothers to be patient?
A: He tells them to be patient for the coming of the Lord.
Q: What example does James give to the brothers for patience?
A: He tells them to see how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.
Q: Why are they not to grumble against one another?
A: So that they may not be judged.
Q: Who else are examples of suffering and patience?
A: The prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Q: Whose else’s steadfastness have we heard of?
A: We have heard of the steadfastness of Job.
Q: And what have we seen?
A: You have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
Q: Why should our “yes” be yes, and our “no” be no?
A: So that we may not fall under condemnation.
Q: Is anyone among you suffering?
A: Let him pray.
Q: Is anyone cheerful?
A: Let him sing praise.
Q: Is anyone among you sick?
A: Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
Q: What does the prayer of faith do?
A: The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Q: Why ought we then to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another?
A: That you may be healed.
Q: Is the prayer of a righteous person powerful?
A: The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Q: Did Elijah have a nature like ours?
A: Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
Q: Did Elijah pray again?
A: Elijah prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
Q: What happens if someone wanders from the truth and is brought back?
A: His soul is saved from death and a multitude of sins is covered.
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