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Introduction to James

Summary of the Book of James

This summary of the book of James provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of James.

Author

The author identifies himself as James (1:1); he was probably the brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem council (Ac 15). Four men in the NT have this name. The author of this letter could not have been the apostle James, who died too early (a.d. 44) to have written it. The other two men named James had neither the stature nor the influence that the writer of this letter had.

James was one of several brothers of Christ, probably the oldest since he heads the list in Mt 13:55. At first he did not believe in Jesus and even challenged him and misunderstood his mission (Jn 7:2-5). Later he became very prominent in the church:

1. He was one of the select individuals Christ appeared to after his resurrection (1co 15:7;).
2. Paul called him a "pillar" of the church (gal 2:9).
3. Paul, on his first post-conversion visit to Jerusalem, saw James (Gal 1:19).
4. Paul did the same on his last visit (ac 21:18).
5. When Peter was rescued from prison, he told his friends to tell James (ac 12:17).
6. James was a leader in the important council of Jerusalem (ac 15:13).
7. Jude could identify himself simply as "a brother of James" (jude 1:1), so well known was James. He was martyred c. a.d. 62.

Date

Some date the letter in the early 60s. There are indications, however, that it was written before a.d. 50:

1. Its distinctively Jewish nature suggests that it was composed when the church was still predominantly Jewish.
2. It reflects a simple church order -- officers of the church are called "elders" (5:14) and "teachers" (3:1).
3. No reference is made to the controversy over Gentile circumcision.
4. The Greek term synagoge ("synagogue" or "meeting") is used to designate the meeting or meeting place of the church (2:2).

If this early dating is correct, this letter is the earliest of all the NT writings -- with the possible exception of Galatians.

Recipients

The recipients are identified explicitly only in 1:1: "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations." Some hold that this expression refers to Christians in general, but the term "twelve tribes" would more naturally apply to Jewish Christians. Furthermore, a Jewish audience would be more in keeping with the obviously Jewish nature of the letter (e.g., the use of the Hebrew title for God, kyrios sabaoth, "Lord Almighty," 5:4). That the recipients were Christians is clear from 2:1; 5:7-8. It has been plausibly suggested that these were believers from the early Jerusalem church who, after Stephen's death, were scattered as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Syrian Antioch (see Ac 8:1; 11:19 and notes). This would account for James's references to trials and oppression, his intimate knowledge of the readers and the authoritative nature of the letter. As leader of the Jerusalem church, James wrote as pastor to instruct and encourage his dispersed people in the face of their difficulties (see essay, p. 2539).

Distinctive Characteristics

Characteristics that make the letter distinctive are: (1) its unmistakably Jewish nature; (2) its emphasis on vital Christianity, characterized by good deeds and a faith that works (genuine faith must and will be accompanied by a consistent lifestyle); (3) its simple organization; (4) its familiarity with Jesus' teachings preserved in the Sermon on the Mount (compare 2:5 with Mt 5:3; 3:10-12 with Mt 7:15-20; 3:18 with Mt 5:9; 5:2-3 with Mt 6:19-20; 5:12 with Mt 5:33-37); (5) its similarity to OT wisdom writings such as Proverbs (see essay, p. 970); (6) its excellent Greek.

Outline

I. Greetings (1:1)

2. Trials and Temptations (1:2-18)

A. The Testing of Faith (1:2-12)

• The Source of Temptation (1:13-18)

III. Listening and Doing (1:19-27)

4. Favoritism Forbidden (2:1-13)
5. Faith and Deeds (2:14-26)
6. Taming the Tongue (3:1-12)
7. Two Kinds of Wisdom (3:13-18)
8. Warning against Worldliness (ch. 4)

• Quarrelsomeness (4:1-3)
• Spiritual Unfaithfulness (4:4)
• Pride (4:5-10)
• Slander (4:11-12)
• Boasting (4:13-17)

IX. Warning to Rich Oppressors (5:1-6)

10. Miscellaneous Exhortations (5:7-20)

• Concerning Patience in Suffering (5:7-11)
• Concerning Oaths (5:12)
• Concerning the Prayer of Faith (5:13-18)
• Concerning Those Who Wander from the Truth (5:19-20)

¢w¢w¡mNew International Version¡n

Introduction to James

This epistle of James is one of the most instructive writings in the New Testament. Being chiefly directed against particular errors at that time brought in among the Jewish Christians, it does not contain the same full doctrinal statements as the other epistles, but it presents an admirable summary of the practical duties of all believers. The leading truths of Christianity are set forth throughout; and on attentive consideration, it will be found entirely to agree with St. Paul's statements concerning grace and justification, while it abounds with earnest exhortations to the patience of hope and obedience of faith and love, interspersed with warnings, reproofs, and encouragements, according to the characters addressed. The truths laid down are very serious, and necessary to be maintained; and the rules for practice ought to be observed in all times. In Christ there are no dead and sapless branches, faith is not an idle grace; wherever it is, it brings forth fruit in works.

¢w¢w Matthew Henry¡mConcise Commentary on James¡n

 
James General Review
 
AUTHOR: James, who identifies himself as "a bondservant of God and of
the Lord Jesus Christ" (1:1). There are four men who bear this name in
the New Testament:
 
 James, son of Zebedee and brother of John - A fisherman called by
 Christ (Mt 4:17-22) who later became an apostle (Mt 10:2). Together
 with John, they were nicknamed "Sons of Thunder" because of their
 impulsiveness (cf. Mk 3:17 with Lk 9:51-56). He was killed by Herod
 in 44 A.D. (Ac 12:1-2).
 
 James, son of Alphaeus - Another one of the apostles (Mt 10:3; Ac
 1:12), about whom very little is known. He may be "James the
 younger," whose mother, Mary, was among the women at Jesus'
 crucifixion and tomb (Mt 27:56; Mk 15:40; 16:1; Lk 24:10). In Jn 19:
 25, this Mary is called the wife of Cleophas, perhaps to be 
 identified with Alphaeus.
 
 James, father of Judas the apostle - Even more obscure, one of the
 few references to him is Lk 6:16.
 
 James, the brother of our Lord - A half-brother of our Lord (Mt
 13:55), who did not believe in his brother at first (Jn 7:5). He
 became a disciple following the resurrection (1 Co 15:7; Ac 1:14) 
 and gained prominence in the church at Jerusalem (Ga 2:9). As 
 evidence of his prominence, Peter sent him a special message 
 following his own release from prison (Ac 12:17). James also played
 an important role in the conference at Jerusalem (Ac 15:13-33), and 
 Paul brought him greetings upon arriving at Jerusalem (Ac 21:18-19).
 
"James, the Lord's brother" (Ga 1:19) is most likely the author of this
epistle. Tradition describes James as a man of prayer, which may
explain the emphasis on prayer in his letter. It was said that he
prayed so much, his knees were as hard as those on a camel. He was
martyred in 62 A.D., either by being cast down from the temple, or
beaten to death with clubs. It is reported that as he died, he prayed
as did Jesus, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
 
RECIPIENTS: The epistle is addressed to "the twelve tribes which are
scattered abroad" (1:1). This naturally leads one to think of Jews (Ac
26:6-7) living outside the land of Palestine. Since the Assyrian and
Babylonian captivities, many Jews were scattered throughout different
nations (Ac 2:5-11). While Jews, the epistle makes it clear that they
were also brethren in the Lord, i.e., they were Jewish Christians.
Nineteen times James calls them "brethren" and at least one time he
definitely means those who were brethren "in the Lord" (2:1).
 
It appears many of these Jewish Christians were poor and oppressed.
Being Jews, they would often be rejected by the Gentiles. As Jewish 
Christians, they would also be rejected by many of their own 
countrymen. The letter indicates that most were poor, and some were 
being oppressed by the rich (2:6-7). Because it was not addressed to a
single church or individual, it has been categorized a "General" or
"Catholic" (universal) epistle along with 1 and 2 Peter, 1 John, and 
Jude.
 
TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING: With no mention of the Jerusalem conference
recorded in Acts 15 (A.D. 49), and the use of the word "synagogue"
(assembly, 2:2), A.D. 48-50 is the date commonly given for this
epistle. This would make it the first book of the New Testament 
written. If James, the Lord's brother, is the author, then he probably
wrote it in Jerusalem.
 
PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE: The epistle deals with a variety of themes,
with an emphasis upon practical aspects of the Christian life. Some of
the subjects include handling trials and temptations, practicing pure
religion, understanding the relation between faith and works, the
proper use of the tongue and display of true wisdom, being a friend of
God rather than a friend of the world, and the value of humility,
patience and prayer.
 
While these may appear unrelated, they are crucial to the growth and
development of the Christian. For this reason, I suggest that James'
purpose was:
 TO INSTRUCT CHRISTIANS
  CONCERNING TRUE AND PRACTICAL RELIGION
 
In this epistle is a call to be doers of the Word, manifesting a living
faith through one's works. In 108 verses, there are 54 imperatives
(commands), prompting some to call James "the Amos of the New
Testament."
 
KEY VERSE: James 1:22
 
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
 
BRIEF OUTLINE:
 
SALUTATION (1:1)
 
I. TRUE RELIGION ENDURES TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS (1:2-18)
 
 A. WITH JOY AND PATIENCE (1:2-4)
 
 B. WITH WISDOM FROM GOD (1:5-8)
 
 C. WITH A PROPER PERSPECTIVE (1:9-11)
 
 D. WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF TEMPTATION (1:12-15)
 
 E. WITH AN AWARENESS OF THE FATHER'S GOODNESS (1:16-18)
 
II. TRUE RELIGION CONSISTS OF DOING, NOT JUST HEARING (1:19-2:26)
 
 A. ONE SHOULD BE SWIFT TO HEAR (1:19-20)
 
 B. ONE SHOULD NOT BE HEARERS ONLY, BUT DOERS (1:21-27)
 
 C. ONE SHOULD NOT SHOW PERSONAL FAVORITISM (2:1-13)
 
 D. ONE SHOULD SHOW THEIR FAITH BY THEIR WORKS (2:14-26)
 
III. TRUE RELIGION DISPLAYS WISDOM, NOT JUST SPEAKING (3:1-18)
 
 A. THE DANGER OF THE TONGUE (3:1-12)
 
 B. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEAVENLY AND EARTHLY WISDOM (3:13-18)
 
IV. TRUE RELIGION BEFRIENDS GOD THROUGH HUMILITY (4:1-17)
 
 A. HOW TO BE AN ENEMY OF GOD (4:1-6)
 
 B. HOW TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD (4:7-17)
 
V. TRUE RELIGION BLESSED THROUGH PATIENCE, PRAYER AND LOVE (5:1-20)
 
 A. THE CURSE OF RICH OPPRESSORS (5:1-6)
 
 B. THE BLESSING OF PATIENCE (5:7-12)
 
 C. THE BLESSING OF PRAYER (5:13-18)
 
 D. THE BLESSING OF LOVE FOR THE ERRING (5:19-20)
 
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE INTRODUCTION
 
1) What four men bore the name of James in the New Testament?
 - James, the brother of John
 - James, the son of Alphaeus
 - James, the father of Judas
 - James, the brother of our Lord
 
2) Which one is most likely the author of the epistle?
 - James, the Lord's brother
 
3) To whom was this epistle addressed? (1:1)
 - The twelve tribes which are scattered abroad
 
4) From the epistle itself, who were the original recipients? (cf. 2:1)
 - Jewish Christians
 
5) What is this epistle commonly called, along with 1 & 2 Peter,
 1 John, and Jude? Why?
 - A "general" or "catholic" epistle
 - Because it is not addressed to a particular church or individual,
 but to Christians in general
 
6) When was this epistle likely written? From where?
 - A.D. 48-50
 - Jerusalem
 
7) As suggested in the introduction, what is the purpose of this
 epistle?
 - To instruct Christians concerning true and practical religion
 
8) What might serve as the "key verse" of this epistle?
 - James 1:22
 
9) According to the outline above, what are the main points in this
 epistle?
 - True religion endures trials and temptations (1:1-18)
 - True religion consists of doing, not just hearing (1:19-2:26)
 - True religion displays wisdom, not just speaking (3:1-18)
 - True religion befriends God through humility (4:1-17)
 - True religion blessed through patience, prayer and love (5:1-20)
 
INTRODUCTION(2)
 
1. Not everybody who grows old, grows up; there is a vast difference
  between AGE and MATURITY
 
2. Ideally, the older we are, the more mature we should be; but too
 often the IDEAL does not become the REAL!
 
3. The result is problems--problems in personal lives, in homes, and in
 churches
 a. Problems in these areas are caused by immaturity more than by
 anything else
 b. If Christians would just grow up, they would become VICTORS 
 instead of VICTIMS
 
4. The Epistle of James was written to help us understand and attain
 spiritual maturity:
 a. "...that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (Ja 1:4)
 b. Or as translated by J. B. Phillips: "...any you find you have
 become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak
 spots."
 
5. With this lesson, we shall begin a series of expository lessons
 based upon The Epistle of James, which I hope will help us all to
 reach this goal of spiritual maturity!
 
6. Beginning a study of a book of the Bible is something like preparing
 for a trip...you like to know ahead of time:
 a. Where you are going
 b. What you can expect to see
 -- So perhaps the best way to launch a study of The Epistle of James
 is to answer some important questions
 
[The first question is...]
 
I. WHO WAS JAMES?
 
 A. SEVERAL MEN BORE THIS NAME IN NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY...
 1. James, son of Zebedee and brother of John
 a. A fisherman, he was called by Christ - Mt 4:17-22
 b. Together with John, they were nicknamed "Sons of Thunder"
 because of their impulsiveness - cf. Mk 3:17 with Lk 9:
 51-56
 c. Killed by Herod in 44 A.D. - Ac 12:1-2
 2. James, son of Alphaeus
 a. Another of the apostles - Mt 10:3; Ac 1:12
 b. Very little is known about him
 c. There is no indication that this James wrote the epistle
 3. James, father of Judas the apostle
 a. He is even more obscure
 b. One of the few references to him is found in Lk 6:16
 4. James, the brother of our Lord
 a. He is the most likely candidate for the author of this
 epistle
 b. Even though he humbly identifies himself only as "a servant
 of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (Ja 1:1)
 c. That Jesus had a brother named James is evident - Mt 13:55
  1) Who at first did not believe in Jesus - Jn 7:5
 2) But after the resurrection of Jesus and an appearance by
 Jesus to him, he became a disciple - 1 Co 15:7; Ac 1:14
 3) Eventually becoming a leader of the church in Jerusalem
 - Ga 2:9
 a) When Peter was delivered from prison, he sent a special
 message to James - Ac 12:17
 b) He played an important role in the conference at
 Jerusalem - Ac 15:13-33
 c) When Paul visited Jerusalem, it was to James that he
 brought greetings - Ac 21:18-19
 
 B. WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS JAMES?
 1. He must have been a deeply spiritual man to gain such 
 prominence in the church at Jerusalem
 2. Tradition tells us that he was a man of prayer
 a. This may explain the emphasis on prayer in his letter
 b. It was said that he prayed so much, his knees were as hard
 as a camel's!
 3. Again, tradition tells us that James was martyred in 62 A.D.
 a. That he was cast down from the temple, and then beaten to
 death with clubs
 b. That as he died, he likewise prayed "Father, forgive them,
 for they know not what they do."
 
[It most likely this man who wrote the epistle bearing his name. The
next question is...]
 
II. TO WHOM DID JAMES WRITE THIS EPISTLE?
 
 A. "TO THE TWELVE TRIBES WHICH ARE SCATTERED ABROAD" (Ja 1:1)
 1. James wrote to Jews living outside the land of Palestine
 a. "Twelve tribes" most probably refers to people of Israel,
 the Jewish nation - Ac 26:6-7
 b. Since the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities, many of the
 Jews were scattered throughout different nations - cf. Ac
 2:5-11
 2. James wrote his letter to Christian Jews
 a. At least nineteen times he addresses them as "brethren"
 b. That these were brethren "in the Lord" and not just brethren
 "in the flesh" is evident from Ja 2:1
 
 B. IT IS LIKELY THAT MANY OF THESE CHRISTIAN JEWS WERE POOR AND
 OPPRESSED...
 1. Being Jews, they would often be rejected by Gentiles
 2. Being Christian Jews, they would also be rejected by many of
 their own countrymen
 3. The letter indicates that most of these believers were poor,
 and some were being oppressed by the rich - Ja 2:6-7
 
[Another question is...]
 
III. WHY DID JAMES WRITE THIS EPISTLE?
 
 A. THE EPISTLE SUGGESTS THAT PEOPLE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS IN THEIR
 PERSONAL LIVES AND IN THE CHURCH...
 1. They were going through difficult trials
 2. They were facing temptations to sin
 3. They were hearers, but not necessarily doers
 4. Some were catering to the rich, others were oppressed by the
 rich
 5. Some were competing for positions in the church
 6. Improper use of the tongue was a problem, as was worldliness
 7. Some were straying from the faith
 
 B. THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OFTEN BESETTING
 CONGREGATIONS TODAY!
 1. Are there not in churches people who are suffering for one
 reason or another?
 2. Are there not members who talk one way, but walk another?
 3. Is not worldliness a serious problem?
 4. Are there not Christians who cannot control their tongues?
 -- It appears that James is dealing with very "up-to-date" 
 problems!
 
 C. BUT JAMES WAS NOT DISCUSSING AN ARRAY OF UNRELATED PROBLEMS...
 1. All of these problems had a common cause: SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY
 a. These Christians were in need of "growing up"
 b. Look again at some the problems dealt with and you can see
 that each one of them is characteristic of little children:
 1) Impatience in difficulties - Ja 1:1-4
 2) Talking but not living the truth - Ja 2:14ff
 3) Lack of control over the tongue - Ja 3:1ff
 4) Fighting and coveting - Ja 4:1ff
 5) Collecting material "toys" - Ja 5:1ff
 2. This gives us a strong hint as to the basic theme of this
 epistle: MARKS OF MATURITY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
 a. In fact, James uses the word "perfect" several times, a word
 that means "mature, complete"
 b. By the expression "a perfect man" (3:2), James did not mean
 a sinless man, but rather one who is mature, balanced, one
 who is "grown-up"
 
 D. AND SO JAMES WRITES TO FULFILL A GREAT NEED: THAT OF SPIRITUAL
 MATURITY...
 1. Spiritual maturity is one of the greatest needs in churches
 today
 a. God is looking for mature men and women to carry on His work,
 and sometimes all He can find are little children who cannot
 even get along with each other!
 b. As one person said, "Too many churches are playpens for
 babies instead of workshops for adults."
 2. James wrote to meet this need, so his epistle is very RELEVANT
 today!
 
[Finally, the last question to consider...]
 
IV. HOW CAN WE GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS EPISTLE?
 
 A. FIRST, WE MUST BE "BORN AGAIN"...
 1. Apart from spiritual birth there can be no spiritual maturity
 2. James writes with assumption his readers have been born again
 - Ja 1:18
 3. This "rebirth" is brought about by obedience to the Word of God
 (1 Pe 1:22-23)
 4. It involves being "born again of water and Spirit" (Jn 3:5),
 traditionally understood to refer to baptism (cf. Mk 16:16;
 Ti 3:5)
 5. So to benefit the most of this study, we must have been born
 again through obedience to the truth (cf. Ac 2:38-39)
 
 B. SECOND, WE MUST HONESTLY EXAMINE OURSELVES IN THE LIGHT OF GOD'S
 WORD...
 1. James compares the Word of God to a mirror - Ja 1:22ff
 2. As we study the Word...
 a. We are looking into the divine mirror
 b. And seeing ourselves as we really are
 3. We must be honest about what we see and not merely glance at
 the image and walk away
 
 C. THIRD, WE MUST "OBEY" WHAT GOD TEACHES, NO MATTER THE COST...
 1. We must be "doers" of the Word, and not "hearers" only
 2. The "blessing" does not come in STUDYING the Word, but in DOING
 the Word - Ja 1:25
 
 D. FOURTH, WE MUST BE PREPARED FOR SOME EXTRA TRIALS AND TESTING...
 1. Whenever we are serious about spiritual growth, the ENEMY gets
 serious about opposing us!
 2. But if you wish to develop patience, you should expect some
  trials - Ja 1:3
 3. However, in the end it will be worth it! - Ja 1:12
 
 E. FINALLY, WE MUST MEASURE OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH BY THE WORD OF
 GOD...
 1. We should not measure ourselves by comparing ourselves to other
 Christians - cf. 2 Co 10:12
 2. But by the WORD OF GOD, and by the SON OF GOD!
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. Remember, not everyone who grows old, grows up
 a. There is often a vast difference between age and maturity
 b. Just because a Christian has been saved 10, 20, or 60 years does
 not guarantee that he or she is mature in the Lord
 
2. Mature Christians are:
 a. Happy Christians, despite the trials they face
 b. Useful Christians, overcoming the temptations that cross their path
 c. Christians who help encourage others and build their local churches
 
As we study The Epistle of James together, may we with God's help
grow and mature together...
 
Note: Much of the material for this introduction was adapted heavily
from The Bible Exposition Commentary, Volume 2, by Warren W. Wiersbe,
pages 334-337.

¡Ð¡Ð¡mExecutable Outlines¡n