James 1:18 (DRB)

Passage

For of his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of his creature.

Nearby Context

James 1:16 Do not err, therefore, my dearest brethren.

James 1:17 Every best gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change nor shadow of alteration.

James 1:18 For of his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of his creature.

James 1:19 You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak and slow to anger.

James 1:20 For the anger of man worketh not the justice of God.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "hath", "begotten", "word", "truth", "might", "some", "beginning", and "creature". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "hath" and "begotten", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "Every best gift and every perfect gift..." into verse 19's "You know my dearest brethren And let...", so "hath" and "begotten" belong inside that flow. In James context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "hath" and "begotten" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.