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Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the
Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Every good (agathe) gift (dosis: act of giving) and every perfect (teleion) gift (dorema: thing given) is from
above, and cometh down (continually) from the Father of (the) lights . . .

The Greek of this verse translates, “Every act of giving which is good and every gift which is perfect is from
above.” This verse again refutes the claim that temptation and trials come from God (13‐14). The
perfection of any gift reflects the goodness of the One giving it (Luke 11:13). “The Father of lights” is a
reference to God the Father who oversees the stars in heaven. The stars are examples of His glory (Psalm
119:1, 136:7). He has created them, but He is not to be identified with them. These creations are not to
be worshiped as God, but to be appreciated as gifts and testimonies of His Majesty. They testified to the
fact that “God is light” (1 John 1:5) both in the natural and the spiritual, which is the illumination of His
Word (2 Corinthians 4:6). His gifts are not to be worshiped over Him, the gifts over the Giver. This verse
takes us to proper priorities in life, that we would not turn from the Lord “to the right hand nor to the
left” (Joshua 1:7).

. . . with whom is no variableness (can be no variation), neither shadow of (that is cast by) turning.

Stars are good just as is all of God’s creation. But as good as stars are, they vary in intensity. The sun is the
largest star near the earth and causes shadows to appear by both its movement and the movement of the
earth. God is not that way. His creation might vary and move in its course, but the Creator does not.
Anything God created that we may begin to worship will always vary and change from its original course.
If we keep our eyes on the Lord and His Word, everything else in life will be in perspective. “God is light
and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). God is always light, and there is no variation in Him. Times
of partial darkness would be necessary for God to vary. But it is impossible for God to have any darkness
because He is light and He never varies. This is the reason we can ask for wisdom from Him knowing the
answer is coming. Unlike man, God does not vary like a wave of the sea, and He has given us His nature
and His Word. Because of the Word of God in our heart and having His very nature, we should be as
unwavering and stable as God. We should not blame Him when things go wrong because He cannot tempt
us with evil nor be tempted with evil Himself. Darkness will not and cannot invade His character in any
degree.

Firstfruits

Jas 1:18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits
of His creatures.

Of his own will begat he us with (by) the word of truth . . .

The new birth did not come to us because of the goodness of the receiver but because of the goodness of
the giver. Sin brought forth (begat) death (1:15), but God brought forth life out of death. “Begat he” is
from the same Greek word translated in verse 15 as “bringeth forth.” It is the Greek word apekuesen.
God’s will was not to leave us in a state of death but to give us His eternal life. Having willed it, God did
what was necessary to bring it to pass without any outside agency to help. When God saved us, He gave
us every blessing pertaining to life and eternity, and He accomplished this before the foundation of the