English: Easy to Read Version

[1] 1:1 God's people Literally, "the twelve tribes." Believers in Christ are like the tribes of Israel, God's chosen people in the Old Testament.

[2] 1:12 crown Literally, "wreath," a ring of leaves or branches that was placed on the head of the winners of athletic contests to honor them. It is a symbol of victory and reward.

[3] 1:18 message See "Good News."

[4] 2:5 kingdom See "God's kingdom."

[5] 2:8 Scripture Part of the Scriptures or "Holy Writings"-the Old Testament.

[6] 2:8 your neighbor Or, "others." Jesus' teaching in Lk. 10:25-37 makes clear that this includes anyone in need.

[7] 2:8 Quote from Lev. 19:18.

[8] 2:11 adultery Breaking a marriage promise by committing sexual sin.

[9] 2:11 Quote from Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18.

[10] 2:11 Quote from Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17.

[11] 2:19 demon An evil spirit from the devil.

[12] 2:21 fathers Important ancestors of the Jewish people, especially the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

[13] 2:21 Abraham The most respected ancestor of the Jewish people. Through him God promised to make a great nation and bless all the people of the earth. Read Gen. 12:1-3.

[14] 2:21 altar A raised area, pile of stones, or table where sacrifices were offered as gifts to God. An important altar was the one in front of the Temple in Jerusalem. See also "golden altar."

[15] 2:23 Scripture Part of the Scriptures or "Holy Writings"-the Old Testament.

[16] 2:23 Quote from Gen. 15:6.

[17] 2:23 Quote from 2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8.

[18] 2:25 She helped . road The story about Rahab is found in Josh. 2:1-21.

[19] 4:5 Scripture Part of the Scriptures or "Holy Writings"-the Old Testament.

[20] 4:5 Spirit See "Holy Spirit."

[21] 4:5 "The Spirit . himself" Other possible translations: "God strongly desires the spirit that he made to live in us." Or, "The spirit that he made to live in us is full of envious desires." See Ex. 20:5.

[22] 4:6 grace The love and kindness that God shows in his complete willingness to give people favors he does not owe them and blessings they don't deserve.

[23] 4:6 Quote from Prov. 3:34.

[24] 4:8 so clean sin out of your lives Literally, "so wash your hands."

[25] 5:5 You made yourselves fat . slaughter Literally, "You fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter."

[26] 5:7 first rain . last rain The "first rain" came in the fall, and the "last rain" came in the spring.

[27] 5:10 prophet A person who speaks a message from God. Many of the books in the Old Testament are messages spoken or written by "the prophets," who were some of those God chose to speak for him. God often used dreams or visions to tell or show his prophets what they should say.

[28] 5:11 Job's patience See the book of Job in the Old Testament.

[29] 5:14 elders (New Testament) A group of men chosen to lead a church. Also called "overseers" and "pastors" (shepherds), they have the work of caring for God's people. See Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28; Eph. 4:11; Php. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-3.

[30] 5:14 church Literally, "assembly" or "community," the people who have been brought together as God's family through their common faith in Jesus Christ. The word often refers to a group of believers who meet together or who live in the same area, but it is also used to mean the worldwide community of all believers in Christ.

[31] 5:14 rub oil on you Oil was used like medicine.

[32] 5:17 Elijah A very important Israelite leader and prophet who spoke for God during a 25-year period ending about 850 b.c. In the time of Jesus, the Jews were expecting Elijah to come again before the Messiah. See Mal. 4:5-6.