James
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Author and Audience and Date
Author
- James , the Lord’s half-brother
- from Hebrew: יעקב, Ya’aqov => Greek: Ἰάκωβος, Iákōbos (Jacob)
- leader in the early Jerusalem church
- known as “James the Just”
Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? (Matt. 13:55 NASB95)
Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For not even His brothers were believing in Him. (John 7:3-5 NASB95)
Faith does not come be means of family relationships – it must always be the gift of God (Eph. 2.8 NASB95)
After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; (1 Cor. 15:6-7 NASB95)
Think about lost people in your life who simply refuse time and again to trust in Jesus. James had spent much time with Jesus growing up, and still it took years for him to come to saving faith. We must persevere in our sharing the Good News.
Note the chronology
- James the son of Zebedee, John’s brother, was killed very early, c. AD 44
And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. (Acts 12:2 NASB95)
- subsequent mentions of “James” are referring to James, the Lord’s brother, e.g.
After the angel frees Peter from prison:
But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brethren.” (Acts 12:17 NASB95)
Paul’s first meeting with the apostles in Jerusalem
Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. (Gal. 1:18-19 NASB95)
At the Jerusalem Council
After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. (Acts 15:13-14 NASB95)
Note how he identifies himself in the letter:
- δοῦλος - “slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”
- not “hey I’m Jesus’s brother!”
Audience
“To the twelve tribes…” - Jewish Christians, scattered throughout the world (James 1.1. NASB95)
The scattered nature of the family of God implies the future hope when all of God’s people will be gathered together
Date
- One of the earliest letters in the New Testament, c. AD 46
- Written before the Council of Jerusalem, since it makes no mention of that debate, at which James had such a prominent role
Outline
James draws from 2 major sources:
- The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
- The Wisdom Discourses (Proverbs 1-9)
James is full of metaphors and one-line commands, aka ‘zingers’
Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matt. 5:48 NASB95)
This verse from the Sermon on the Mount summarizes the Book of James
- James is known as the “Proverbs of the New Testament”
Chapter 1 - Introduction: Major Themes
- Trials perfect us (James 1.2-4 NASB95)
- Seek for Wisdom (James 1.5-8 NASB95)
- Poverty and Wealth (James 1.9-11 NASB95)
- God’s generosity and the New Birth (James 1.12-18 NASB95)
- Do the Word, don’t just hear it (James 1.19-27 NASB95)
Chapters 2-5 - 12 Wisdom Teachings
- Favoritism vs. Love (James 2.1-13 NASB95)
- Faith and Works (James 2.14-26 NASB95)
- Taming the Tongue (James 2.14-26 NASB95)
- Heavenly Wisdom (James 3.13-18 NASB95)
- Pride and Humility (James 4.1-10 NASB95)
- Slander (James 4.11-12 NASB95)
- Pretension (James 4.13-17 NASB95)
- Perils of Wealth (James 5.1-6 NASB95)
- Patience and Endurance (James 5.7-11 NASB95)
- Swear not (James 5.12 NASB95)
- Prayer in Faith (James 5.13-18 NASB95)
- Restoring a fallen brother (James 5.19-20 NASB95)
Themes
The Way of Wisdom
Hebrew: חָכְמָה (ḥāḵᵉmāh) Greek σοφία (sophía)
For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; (Prov. 2:6-7 NASB95)
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5 NASB95)
For wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
Discretion will guard you,
Understanding will watch over you, (Prov. 2:10-11 NASB95)
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. (3:17)
What is wisdom? Consider Proverbs 26.4-5
- Knowledge is having the facts
- Wisdom is knowing how and when to apply the facts
Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances. (Prov. 25:11)
Faith and Works
James 2.14-26 NASB95
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ (Matt. 7:21-23 NASB95)
Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ (Matt. 25:44-45 NASB95)
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (2:15-17)
James vs. Paul?
The Zinger:
You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. (James 2:19 NASB95)
Singleness of Heart
Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6 NASB95)
Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. (Prov. 3:9-10 NASB95)
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. (Matt. 6:24 NASB95)
do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4 NASB95)
Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. (James 4:9-10 NASB95)
“ALL your heart” - בְּכָל־לִבֶּ֑ךָ - same words as in the SHMA (Deut 6.4)
The Peril of Riches
…if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt. 6:28-34 NASB95)
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” (James 4:13-15 NASB95)
Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17 NASB95)
Have you read Matthew 6? Has Matthew 6 read you?
Patience and Perseverance
Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil. (Prov. 4:25-27 NASB95)
Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. (Matt. 24:11-13 NASB95)
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. (James 5:7-8 NASB95)
Notes
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:26-27 NASB95)
- “Religion” - θρησκεία - occurs 2 other times in New Testament, beside here in James
I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion. (Acts 26:5)
Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels (Col. 2:18)
The habits, customs, etc. (not inherently bad), but when they become the main thing, or the only thing, missing the entire point, namely relationship with the living God. “lots of good works, but you have left your 1st love”
Assignment
Preparing
- Read James
- Read chapter 20 of Introducing the New Testament (James)
- Watch The Bible Project James
Respond to the following:
Knowing
- Which of the 3 New Testament James’s wrote this letter?
- What were his 2 major sources?
Reflecting
- How would you define wisdom?
Communicating
Someone you are speaking with strongly affirms that James contradicts Paul on the question of Faith and Works. How would you answer?
