Intro Part 2

More introduction material from our study guide:

On purpose:
Most of the epistles deal with solving problems and amending errors among early Christians/Churches. "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (1:1) wrote this letter as a message to Christians to correct a distortion of the gospel: the idea that spiritual rebirth meant we could remain babies forever. He exhorted Christians to maturity.

More on authorship:
As mentioned previously, there were a number of Jameses around the early church. However, most scholars, including the ones who wrote our study guide, attribute the letter to James, the Lord's brother, who is mentioned in Galations 1:19. He was also known as "James the Just" or "the Righteous" by both Christians and non-Christians.

Faith Vs. Works?
Many modern Christians have tried to set up a dichotomy between James and Paul, with the misunderstanding that James was written as a response to Paul's "justification by faith alone." However, this view fails several tests. First, James died in 62AD and most likely would never have had the opportunity to read Paul, who wrote the book of Romans about 57AD. In addition, tradition has James' letter dated at around 45AD. Even with a later dating of the letter, it is highly unlikely that Paul's writings would have been available for James to study. Furthermore, James never addresses any of Paul's teachings nor does he quote Paul at all.

Instead, James's epistle is an exhortation to live what we believe and not to disregard God's moral law - a distortion that Paul also fought against in Romans 6.

The Gospel
Nonetheless, James is as much about the gospel as is the book of Matthew. In fact, when we look at Chapter 2, we will see the parallels with the Sermon on the Mount.

Do you often feel like a "practical atheist"? Maybe you don't think so. I sure don't think this way on my own, but in light of God's Word, I can see that I really do fall short of treating people as God would have me to, of loving others, of bridling the tongue, of a whole host of words and deeds. In truth, if I really believed consistently and perfectly in a holy and just God, my life would look differently. James will challenge us to leave our roles of the "practical atheist" behind.

While James does not discuss the doctrines of Christ, he does focus on the character of God and who we are called to be as his children/new creations. James takes for granted that the audience is rooted in the gospel, in our union with Christ in His death and His resurrection. He goes straight to the practical: Here is precisely how to live in light of the gospel.

James's letter is a vigorous call to a tested, mature faith to which we may say, Amen!

Read the book through one time and take a look at the overview Chapter, if you have time. I will post up some of the questions next week.

Introduction

THE PURPOSE OF JAMES' EPISTLE

The message of the book of James is that faith must include a living reality. James writes that faith cannot exist without works.

Many people have misunderstood James to say that he contradicts the teachings of Paul -- that he is teaching a gospel of works for salvation. This is not so. James does not teach works for salvation. He teaches works WITH salvation.

When you come to Jesus Christ in faith, trusting Him as your Savior and Lord, a process begins. The Bible calls it SANCTIFICATION. The Holy Spirit begins to do a work within you, producing His fruit in your life and molding you into the character of Jesus Christ.

James is a book with which many Christians have struggled. Its presentation of faith and works seems at first glance to contradict the foundational doctrine of justification by faith. As a result, some have studied this epistle only with the aim of dispelling and “problem texts.” A closer examination will show great riches of spiritual teaching within this book.

This is a book which is rich in spiritual dynamics. It will be motivating and sobering in its message. It is a book of faith, a book of promise and a book of warning.


DATE OF WRITING

It is commonly thought that this epistle was written around 45-50 A.D., making it one of the first epistles to be written. It contains no mention of Gentile believers or the controversy that eventually arose in the church concerning Gentile Christians and the Law. It was evidently written before this had become an issue in the church.

The first of Paul’s missionary journeys had not yet taken place and the church was made up almost entirely of either Jews or Jewish proselytes -- Gentiles who had undergone circumcision and who had become Jewish.


AUTHORSHIP OF THE EPISTLE

The opening salutation identifies the writer as James. The Greek text describes him as IakwboV -- or as we would say, “Jacob.” The problem is that there are a number of different men in the New Testament possessing this name.

· James the brother of John and son of Zebedee (Matthew 10:2).
· James the son of Alphaeus (Matthew 10:3).
· James the half-brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19).
· James the son of Mary (Matthew 27:56).
· James the father of Jude (Acts 1:13).


STYLE OF WRITING

There are some notable similarities between this epistle and the statements of James made at the Jerusalem Council and the letter that was written by that Council.

· The phrase “beloved” (James 1:16, 19; 2:5 and Acts 15:25).
· The exhortation, “Listen, my beloved brethren” (James 2:5 and Acts 15:13).
· The use of the infinitive salutation, “Greetings” as the opening of the letter (James 1:1 and Acts 15:23).
· The idea of a man turning back to the truth (James 5:19-20 and Acts 15:19).
· The use of the word “soul” (James 1:21; 5:20 and Acts 15:24).

Even greater similarities can be seen when we compare the epistle of James with the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus gave in Matthew 5-7.

Come to class starting on September 3rd to learn more about these similarities - and more!