[Jas] 1:2–11 does reflect a number of
thematic parallels with 1:12–18. Semantically, 1:2–4 and 1:12–15 are linked
together by the words πειρασμός-πειράζειν, δοκίμιος-δόκιμος and ὑπομονή-ὑπομένειν,
and the theme of endurance in face of testing explicated in the two
sub-sections. In 1:5, God is described as the one ‘who gives to all generously
and ungrudgingly.’ This is further developed in 1:17 that ‘every generous act
of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above (ἄνωθέν), coming down from
the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.’
God is the God who gives (1:5/1:17). The wisdom for which one should ask is
‘wisdom from above’ (ἡ ἄνωθεν σοφία, 3:17). This matches the ‘word of truth’
(λόγος ἀληθείας, 1:18) which gives life to people. In contrast to those who
receive wisdom from God through prayers of faith, the doubters cannot expect to
receive anything from the Lord. Those described as ‘double-souled persons’ (ἀνὴρ
δίψυχος, 1:8) are also sinners, as the parallel address in 4:8 indicates. Such
description is not far from that of 1:13–15 where people are tempted to sin. In
addition, in 1:5–8, those who have wisdom from God through prayer of faith are
set in sharp contrast with ‘those who doubt’=‘double-souled.’ Such contrast
also matches that of 1:13–18 where those who are tempted to sin by their evil
desire resulting in death are set in contrast to those who receive life through
the word of truth. (Luke Leuk Cheung, The Genre, Composition and
Hermeneutics of the Epistle of James [Paternoster Biblical and Theological
Monographs; Milton Keynes: Paternoster Press, 2003], 62–63.)
