James Week 1 - Intro
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Book of JAMES
Author
The New Testament mentions at least four men named James: (1) the son of Zebedee and brother of John (Mark 1:19), (2) the son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18), (3) the father of Judas (not Iscariot; Luke 6:16), and (4) the half brother of the Lord (Gal. 1:19)
James, the son of Zebedee, could not be the author since he suffered martyrdom under Herod Agrippa I before this epistle was written (Acts 12:2).
It is unlikely that the little-known son of Alphaeus was the author though some, especially Roman Catholics, equate the son of Alphaeus with the Lord’s brother. They claim that James was really Jesus’ cousin through Mary of Cleopas (Alphaeus), the Virgin Mary’s sister. This contention, however, violates a literal interpretation of “brother” and is clearly an attempt to support the invention of the perpetual virginity of Mary. It seems clear from Scripture that children were born to Joseph and Mary after the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is called “her firstborn” (Luke 2:7), implying that others were born thereafter. The Scriptures state that Joseph had no union with Mary, that is, no normal physical relationship, “until” (heōs) after the birth of Jesus (Matt. 1:25). Repeated references are made to the Lord’s half brothers and half sisters and four of His brothers are named: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (Matt. 13:55).
James, the father of Judas (not Iscariot) did not figure as an important person in the early church. He could hardly be the author of this epistle.
It seems clear therefore that the author is James, the half brother of the Lord, who became the recognized leader in the Jerusalem church. This conclusion is supported by the authoritative tone of the letter and by the marked similarities in Greek between this epistle and the speech by James recorded in Acts 15.
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Recipients
Clearly addressed to “the 12 tribes scattered among the nations” (James 1:1), this letter has a marked Jewish flavor. The book has the substance and authority of the Prophets and the style and beauty of the Psalms. He refers to “firstfruits” (1:18; cf. Lev. 23:10), the synagogue or “meeting” (James 2:2), “our ancestor Abraham” (2:21), Gehenna or “hell” (3:6), “the Lord Almighty” (5:4; cf. Gen. 17:1), and to the early and latter or “fall and spring rains” (James 5:7; cf. Deut. 11:14). Though some suggest that the “12 tribes” may be taken metaphorically as the Gentile church scattered throughout the Roman Empire, it is far more logical to take the statement in its normal sense. The letter is definitely to a Jewish constituency. Though the letter demonstrates careful Greek diction, it is nonetheless filled with extensive Hebrew symbolism.
Style
A striking literary technique employed by James is the practice of linking together clauses and sentences by the repetition of a leading word or one of its cognates. For example, “perseverance” (1:3) and “perseverance” (v. 4); “not lacking anything” (v. 4) and “if any of you lacks” (v. 5); “he should ask” (v. 5) and “when he asks” (v. 6); “he must … not doubt” (v. 6) and “he who doubts” (v. 6)
In addition to his unique and innovative style, James furnishes an unusual number of references or parallels to other writings. He makes reference to Abraham, Rahab, Job, Elijah, to the Law and the Ten Commandments, and includes allusions to passages in 21 Old Testament books: Genesis through Deuteronomy, Joshua, 1 Kings, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and 7 of the 12 Minor Prophets.