James

Background

4 James mentioned in the Bible

Lord’s younger brother. Jesus had

Did not believe in Jesus initially

- Lord’s personal appearance to his brother

One of the pillars of the early church

James the just

Martyred for his faith

Jewish leaders threw him off the top of the temple and then beaten to death

General epistle - not to a particular church, cyclical epistle (meant to be circulated), no personal references to anyone (unlike Paul’s letters)

Written to dispersed Jewish believers

108 verses (54 imperatives!!)

Very good Greek - James was a Galilean, did business in Greek

Content: references to OT (>40x), >80x allusions, >21 OT books

brethren (15x)

Lord (14x) - 2x Jesus (1st verse, 1st verse of 2nd chapter), indirectly, 1:12; 5th chapter coming of the Lord, other references - could be to the Father - ask of the Lord - not receive anything - double-minded man

Fully of imagery (>23x refs to nature). 1:6, 1:10, 1:11.

Preaching is very similar to John the Baptist

; (doers); (demons also believe, Luke “Abraham”)

judgment - (judge is standing at the door); - share,

Sermon on the mount (>20x) - Matthew 5-7

some commentators say that James is a commentary on the sermon on the mount

“poor in spirit” -

“gentle” -

“merciful”

,,, - all have references in James

perhaps not at the mount, but Jesus’ teachings had become very common

Similar to 1 Peter

-

-

James and Peter were very close - part of the inner circle

Some similarity to Romans and Malachi

use of questions

, 5

10-12 questions. Typical rabbinical style of teaching.

Paul: Shall we sin that grace may abound?

No mention of incarnation, death, resurrection etc.

What is the theme of James?

Martin Luther - “epistle of straw” in his first commentary - later he himself removed it

paranesis - series of exhortations with no theme

ethical scrap book

pearls dropped

Theme verse:

James 2:26 NASB95

26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

1:1-12 - faith in the midst of trials

1:13-20 - faith in the midst of temptations

1:21-27 - faith obedient to the word

2:1-13 - faith that shows no favoritism

2:14-26 - faith that works

3:1-12 - faith that controls the tongue

3:13-18 - faith that has wisdom from above

4:1-12 - faith that avoids worldliness

4:13-17 - faith that does not boast

5:1-6 - faith that does not misuse riches

5:7-12 - faith that perseveres

5:13-18 - faith that prays

5:19-20 faith that restores a sinner

Test yourselves

2 Corinthians 13:5 NASB95

5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

2 Peter 1:10 NASB95

10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

1 John 2:3–6 NASB95

3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.