---
title: "Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles"
author: "John Calvin"
translator: "John Owen"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 99 of 107
url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentaries-on-the-catholic-epistles/99/
cite: "John Calvin, tr. John Owen, Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles, section 99. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentaries-on-the-catholic-epistles/99/"
---

# Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles

*John Calvin, tr. John Owen*

Calvin on James, Peter, John and Jude.

## 99. Chapter 1

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentaries-on-the-catholic-epistles/99/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentaries-on-the-catholic-epistles/99/#p-N

[¶0] 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the dispersion, health:

[¶1] 2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into various temptations;

[¶2] 3 Knowing that the trying of your faith works patience:

[¶3] 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so that ye may be perfect and entire, in nothing deficient.

[¶4] 5 But if any of you be deficient in wisdom, let him ask it from God, who giveth to all freely, and does not upbraid: and it shall be given to him.

[¶5] 6 But let him ask in faith, by no means doubting; for he who doubts, is like a wave of the sea, which by the wind is driven and tossed to and fro.

[¶6] 7 Let not, then, that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord.

[¶7] 8 A man of a double mind is unstable in all his ways.

[¶8] 9 Now, let a brother who is low, rejoice in his exaltation; and the rich in his lowness:

[¶9] 10 Because as a flower of grass shall he pass away:

[¶10] 11 For the sun rises with heat and withers the grass, and the flower falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes; so also shall the rich fade away in his riches.

[¶11] 12 Blessed is the man, who endures temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life: which the Lord hath promised to them who love him.

[¶12] 13 Let no one, when he is tempted, say, “By God I am tempted:” for God cannot be tempted by evils, nor does he tempt any one.

[¶13] 14 But every one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lusts, and is ensnared.

[¶14] 15 Then lust, having conceived, brings forth sin; and sin, being perfected, begets death.

[¶15] 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren:

[¶16] 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, descending from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change nor shadow of turning.

[¶17] 18 Of his own will has he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some firstfruits of his creatures.

[¶18] 19 Let every man, therefore, my beloved brethren, be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

[¶19] 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

[¶20] 21 Laying aside then all filthiness and redundancy of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

[¶21] 22 And be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

[¶22] 23 For if any one be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks on his natural face in a glass;

[¶23] 24 For he hath looked on himself and departed, and hath immediately forgotten what manner of man he was.

[¶24] 25 But he who attentively looks on the perfect law of liberty and continues to do so,--this man, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, shall be blessed in his work.

[¶25] 26 If any one seems to be religious among you and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, his religion is vain.

[¶26] 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God even the Father, is this,--To visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, to keep himself unspotted from the world.