Pure Religion: is this KJV?
The best known Bible translation to use the 2 words ‘pure religion’ consecutively is the King James Version (KJV or Authorised Version). See James 1:27 KJV and compare with other versions on the BibleHub website which lists out this verse in many different translations.
James 1:27 KJV reads: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
Most other well-known translations of James 1:27 have a different word order, many putting the word undefiled before the word religion, or some using different words altogether.
An examination of lesser known translations does reveal 11 more that use the word order “pure religion” for James 1:27, however, some of these translation have borrowed their wording from the well-known and popular King James translation. This parallel comparison of James 1:27 shows a total of 12 examples of the ‘Pure religion’ word-order, including the King James version:
The meaning of James 1:26-27
To understand verse 27 of James 1, verse 26 is also needed for context, these 2 verses form a connected pair. Verses 26 and 27 powerfully set out the concept that man’s rituals and outward show of religiousness count for nothing; in contrast, pure and undefiled religion involves authentic acts of kindness (“to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction”), and personal integrity (“to keep himself unspotted from the world”).
Neither of these examples given of ‘pure religion’ given involves much outward show that would boost one’s religious standing, and these acts of hidden kindness and personal self-control may well be noticed only by the those immediately benefiting from it, and by “your Father who sees in secret” (Matthew 6:4-6 ESV and Matthew 6:18 ESV). They are given as examples only; the application of James 1:27 is far wider than the 2 demonstrations of pure religion mentioned.
These 2 verses stand in contrast to false religion and cult churches, where highly-visible signs of submission to man-made rules take precedence, and true works springing from a renewed heart and spirit are comparatively lacking compared to healthy Christ-led churches.
Is James 1:26-27 the only Bible reference to Christian religion?
References to religion and religious in the Bible are extremely rare. In the KJV translation, the word religion occurs just 5 times, and the word religious occurs just twice. 2 of the 5 times the word religion is used occur in James 1:26-27, and the word religious also occurs within these 2 verses, so this is a key section of scripture when it comes to assessing what the Bible has to say about religion.
In addition, the other 3 uses of the word religion (found in Acts 26:5 and Galatians 1:13-14) are Paul speaking about his former life in Judaism, not Christianity, so this James passage is the only reference in the whole bible that uses the word religion in relation to Christianity.