1:18
In 1:18, James wrote about the particular gift that was foremost in his mind when he said, “Every good gift…comes from above” (1:17). This good gift is that God “chose to give us birth through the word of truth.”
1:18a
He chose to give us birth: This phrase indicates that God planned and decided to give us birth. He did not choose and desire to cause people to sin (see 1:13).
give us birth: There are two ways to interpret the phrase give…birth:
(1) It refers to the new birth that happens when people become followers of Christ. (Huther, page 74; Alford, page 283; Mayor, page 59; Ropes, page 166; Mitton, pages 56–57; Hiebert, pages 116–117; Adamson (1976), pages 76–77; Davids (1982), pages 89–90; Moo (1985), pages 76–77; Martin, pages 39–41.) For example, the Contemporary English Version says:
give us new birth
(New Living Translation, 1996 edition, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
(2) It refers to the creation of mankind. (In particular, see F. J. A. Hort.) For example, the Good News Translation says:
he brought us into being
(Good News Translation)
Childbirth is used in the NT as a metaphor for new birth in Christ (1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9), but never for creation. Also the phrase “word of truth” normally refers to the gospel (see the following note on “through the word of truth”). For these reasons, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
In some languages, the metaphor of childbirth (“he gave birth to us”) may be misunderstood. If this is the case in your language, it may be better to say:
he gave us new life
us: James was probably referring to all Christians. See the note on “firstfruits” at the end of this verse.
through the word of truth: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as through the word of truth here means “through the true message.” In the NT this phrase commonly refers to the gospel concerning Jesus Christ. Belief in the gospel is the way that God chose to give us new birth.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
by means of the word of truth
-or-
when we believed the true message
-or-
because we believed that his word is true
See the General Comment on 1:18a below for other ways to translate this phrase.
word: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as word means “a message.” It is what someone has said.
General Comment on 1:18a
In some languages, it is more natural to put “through the word of truth” before “He chose to give us birth.” For example:
The word of truth is the way that he chose to give us birth.
-or-
He used/took the word of truth and chose to give us new birth.
-or-
We believe the word of truth saying, “He chose to give us birth.”
1:18b
that: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as that introduces God’s purpose in giving people new birth. God gave us new birth (1:18a) so that we might be a kind of firstfruits (1:18b).
Some other ways to translate this word are:
in order that
-or-
for the purpose of
In some languages, it may be natural to start a new sentence here. For example:
He did this so that…
we would be a kind of firstfruits: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a kind of firstfruits is a simile. In this simile, Christians are compared to firstfruits. The word firstfruits refers to the first grains and fruits of the harvest. It also refers to the first-born child and animal. God had asked his people to give their firstfruits to him.
Some ways that Christians and firstfruits are similar are:
• Both are first in time, in contrast to others that will come later. For example:
that we might be…the first specimens of his new creation (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
• Both are offered to God and so belong to him. As a result, both are more important than other parts of God’s creation. For example:
so that we should have first place among all his creatures (Good News Translation)
-or-
to make us his most important creatures (God’s Word)
Some ways to translate this simile are:
• Make explicit the way that Christians and firstfruits are similar. For example:
that we believers should be the first to come to him just like the firstfruits of the harvest
-or-
that we believers should be the most important of all his creation just like the firstfruits of the harvest
• Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
to be his own special people (Contemporary English Version)
• Translate the simile literally. For example:
so that we would be like the first fruit/grains of the harvest
If you translate the simile literally, you may want to add a footnote. In the footnote you can explain more fully what firstfruits were and what was being compared in this simile. For example:
The word “firstfruits” refers to the first grains/fruits of the crops that ripen or the firstborn child or animal. God asked the Israelites to give these things to him. Here James compares us Christians to the firstfruits. We are similar in that we are the most important part. We are also the first.
of His creation: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as of His creation is literally “of his creatures” (as in the Revised Standard Version). This phrase refers to everything that God created. It does not refer just to living things.
Some ways to translate this phrase are:
of all the things that he created
-or-
from among everything he made
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