James - The NT Proverbs
Notes
Transcript
James is considered the Proverbs of the NT, as it’s format and timbre. It’s written much like the wisdom writings of the OT.
Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes
It’s very practical and functional in nature.
Since this is the first time we’ve gone through a book of the Bible together, let’s discuss hermeneutics for a moment.
How we study ancient documents and texts. Especially those of cultural and spiritual importance.
Our goal is to receive the originally intended message, not how we would interpret things in our day and culture. READ IT LIKE YOU WERE A PART OF THE ORIGINAL AUDIENCE. Then apply what lesson they would learn in our culture and context.
When we do this, we take things into account as best we can. Like culture, language, history (what was happening in that place at that time), politics, and so on.
We need to realize that culture, society, and language shift and adapt to the socio-economic and socio-political climate.
Let’s take a look at the 5 W’s and and some H!
Who:
Who wrote it: James the Just
Who was it written to: the 12 tribes in the Dispersion
James the Just would be Jesus’s half brother who at first didn’t believe Jesus was the messiah, but later was a major follower and leader in the Church - he led the Jerusalem Church.
Written to the Jewish community that have accepted Christ and are spread throughout the Gentile lands.
What:
A call to live a Christ centered life in action and not merely in words
(The letter talks about prejudice, speech, judging, planning, social conflicts, and church faction conflicts)
When:
Likely mid 40’s AD (or CE)
(This is either the earliest writing in the NT or very close to it)
James died in 62 AD
Missing details from the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem from 48-49, so it was likely before that.
Paul’s letter to the Galatians was written in 48 AD, and and James is addressing some similar issues. So this was likely either written before Galatians, at the same time, or just after as it’s dealing with some similar themes.
Where:
Dispersion
(This was a letter that was intended to be spread from church to church throughout the Jewish - Christian community)
The Greek here means spread out, like seed. Strong’s Greek dictionary shows a special note:
(spec. and concr.) the (converted) Isr. resident in Gentile countries:—(which are) scattered (abroad).
They would have been spread throughout all of the ancient Palestinian and Roman world. Really, most of the Gentile lands within reach.
This fits the socio-economic situations described and discussed in the letter.
Which happened historically based on the exile and other factors.
Why:
Due to various troubles
(Persecution, doubt, fear, pushing for more Law centered beliefs than Christ centered beliefs, communication…)
The church began to have internal conflict and had split into fighting factions. Some of these factions were going with a worldly lifestyle (1:27; 4:4) and neglected acting on their faith, leaving it as a mental and verbal stance only (1:19-26). This clearly caused and causes issues making people unclear on who/what they are devoted to, God or the world.
The church had split most likely because of the struggles of persecution from those who had not accepted Jesus as the messiah. - Most believers at this point were Jewish people that accepted that Jesus was the messiah.
History:
Emperor Claudius (predecessor to Nero) 41 AD - 54 AD
- Military expansion including Britain
- Expansion of aqueducts, roads, & extending citizenship
History:
- Jews protest and riot nearly daily against the new Christians
- 45-48 AD Great famine impacting Rome, Greece, Egypt, and Judea
During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Historian Josephus also confirmed this famine happening at this time.
History:
- Jews protest and riot nearly daily against the new Christians
- 45-48 AD Great famine impacting Rome, Greece, Egypt, and Judea
- 49 AD Jews and Christians were expelled from Rome
blank - RECAP
Amid a “world-wide” (their world) famine, enduring persecution and nearly non-stop unrest from the Jewish community, Jesus’s half-brother writes what is likely the first letter to the Church that makes it into the Bible.
The Roman Emperor cares more about global military expansion than he does about religious stability.
The protests are getting so extreme that the inclusive leader, Claudius, who is granting widespread citizenship and getting massive criticism for it, he is about to kick out both the Jewish community AND thus the Christian community, because most Romans can’t tell them apart.
The majority of the Church are Jewish believers who accept that Jesus was the messiah. So Christianity looks much like Judaism, which Jesus criticized a lot for not putting their actions where there pronounced faith is.
James writes this letter in a way that Jewish believers would understand and accept it.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings. Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,
You can tell things have been rough, when the uplifting introduction includes “count it great joy when you experience trials.”
Life was clearly going well. But can’t we relate?
James is clearly well known enough to not need more clarification other than “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Some take this as a sign to use this kind of humility at all times. But if God has called and gifted you, don’t dishonor God by denying what He’s blessed you with by over doing a false humility.
because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
Trials test your faith, testing your faith produces endurance, and endurance used rightly helps us to mature and grow close to God and become more like Jesus - sanctification.
Sanctification is a process, and it takes time. It can, and often is, a painful process- BUT IT’S WORTH IT!
I would ask you, and consider this - in what area or areas are you currently having your faith tested?
Where are you feeling like you’re going through a trial in life that is impacting you spiritually?
When you see that you are in these times and you recognize it, dig in deeper! Lean in to God and allow it build your faith endurance rather than pulling you away from God.
If you want to grow in the Lord, lean in to Him in the times when you struggle going to God.
PRAY -
Thank you Lord for your word, your encouragement, and for being there for us through the thick and the thin. As much as we might long for family and friends who will be there regardless of our situation, you will always be well beyond that for your people should we ask. Remind us that you are there and that we should lean into you in the difficult times. Be with us and help us grow in our faith and in our actions as we study your word and go through the book of James.
We ask this in Jesus’s name, amen.
