James 1:18 Meaning and Explanation
“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God chose to give us new birth through the word of truth, as firstfruits of His creation.
What Does James 1:18 Mean?
The greatest of God's good gifts is new life. Of His own will, by His free choice and not by our deserving, He brought us forth through the word of truth, the message of the gospel that gives birth to faith. The same Father who gives the sun gives this far greater gift.
We are called a kind of firstfruits of His creatures, the first and choicest portion of the harvest, set apart as holy and promising more to come. To be firstfruits is to belong wholly to God and to point toward the fullness He is bringing. The believer's new life is not an accident but the deliberate gift of a Father who delighted to give it through Christ, the living Word.
James 1:18 in the Original Language
aletheia (ἀλήθεια), 'truth' -- reality as it truly is, here the trustworthy word of the gospel.
Frequently Asked Questions About James 1:18
What does James 1:18 mean?
God chose to give us new birth through the word of truth, as firstfruits of His creation.