CHAPTER 23: SURVEY OF THE LETTER OF JAMES PART 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK Section 1: The Human Author of the Book of James The book of James is named for the man who wrote it (1:1). Four men in the New Testament are named James. Most likely, the author of this book was the oldest half-brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3). Initially, James (along with Jesus other half-brothers) did not believe Jesus claims to be the promised Messiah (John 7:5). However, Jesus resurrection from the dead convinced James that Jesus really was the Son of God. Jesus appeared to James personally after the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7). James and his brothers were among the believers who waited in Jerusalem after Jesus ascension for the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14). James became a key leader in the church of Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; 15:13-21; 21:18; Galatians 2:12). Paul recognized James as an associate of the apostles (Galatians 1:19) and as a pillar of the church (Galatians 2:9). According to the Jewish historian Josephus, James was martyred around AD 62. Section 2: The Date and Setting of the Book of James The book of James is addressed to Jewish Christians who were scattered outside of Palestine (James 1:1). James addressed his readers as brothers repeatedly (1:2, 16, 19; 2:1, 5, 14; 3:1, 10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19). There were Jews in almost every city where Christianity was spread (Acts 2:9-11). The faith of the brothers to whom James wrote was being tested (1:2-3). Likely, the church was made up almost exclusively of Jews who were scattered because of persecution. It is 435
also likely that the Jerusalem Council, which took place around AD 49 (at which James presided see Acts 15:13) had not yet taken place. Therefore James may have been one of the earliest New Testament books written, likely around AD 45). Section 3: The Key Word in the Book of James Faith Section 4: The Theme and Purpose of the Book of James The theme of the book of James is the characteristics of true Christian faith. The purpose of the book of James is to exhort Christians to demonstrate in their lives the truths of Scripture they claim to believe. Section 5: Outline of the Book of James 1. Tested Faith (1:1-18) 2. True Faith (1:19 5:6) 3. Triumphant Faith (5:7-20) 436
PART 2: CONTENT OF THE BOOK Section 1: Tested Faith James 1:1-18 Introduction James To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion (1) 1. Tested faith produces steadfastness (2-4). a. Count all of your trials as joy (2-3). b. Let steadfastness work fully, so that you will lack nothing (4). 2. Tested faith produces wisdom (5-11). a. The Requirements for Wisdom (5-8) i. Ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach (5). ii. Ask in faith, with no doubting One who doubts is double-minded, unstable, and will not receive anything from the Lord (6-8). b. The Results of Wisdom Humility (9-11) i. Rich and poor should boast in their temporary positions (9-10). ii. The temporary nature of our riches should lead us to humility (11). 3. Tested faith produces blessing (12-18). a. The Promise of God (12-13) i. He will give the crown of life to those who endure temptation (12). ii. He is not the source of evil temptation (13). b. The Pattern of Temptation Temptation brings forth desire, which brings forth sin, which brings forth death (14-15). c. The Perfection of Blessing (16-18) i. The Father gives every good gift (16-17). ii. The Father brought us forth by the word of truth (18). 437
Section 2: True Faith 1. True faith obeys the word (1:19-27). a. Receive the word of God (1:19-21). i. Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger (19-20). ii. Put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness (21). b. Act on the word of God (1:22-27). i. Expectation Be doers of the word, and not hearers only (22). ii. Explanation (23-25) 1. One who only hears looks in a mirror but changes nothing (23-24). 2. One who looks into God s law and acts will be blessed (25). iii. Exhortation (26-27) 1. True religion controls the tongue (26). 2. True religion visits those in affliction and remains unstained (27). 2. True faith shows no partiality (2:1-13). a. Partiality and the Church (1-7) i. Expectation Show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord (1). ii. Explanation (2-4) 1. If a well-dressed man and a poorly-dressed man enter (2) and 2. You invite the first man near but shun the second man (3), then 3. You made distinctions and judged with evil thoughts (4). iii. Exhortation (5-7) 1. God has chosen the poor to inherit his kingdom (5). 2. The rich oppress you and take you to court (6). 438
3. The rich blaspheme [your] honorable name (7). b. Partiality and the Law (8-13) i. Analyzing the Law (8-9) 1. If you fulfill the law by loving your neighbor, you do well (8). 2. If you show partiality, you are committing sin (9). ii. Accountable to the Law One point of failure in the law is the same failing in every part (10-11). iii. Applying the Law Speak and so act as those who are to be judged in order to receive mercy (12-13). 3. True faith is evidenced by works (2:14-26). a. Faith without Works (14-20, 26) i. Faith without works is no good (14-16). 1. Claiming to have faith without showing works cannot save (14). 2. Seeing needs and not meeting them does not display faith (15-16). ii. Faith without works is dead (17, 26). iii. Faith without works is useless (18-20). 1. Faith can be displayed by actions (18). 2. Faith without action is demonic and foolish (19-20). b. Faith with Works (21-25) i. Abraham (21-24) 1. He offered up Isaac on the altar as an act of faith (21-22). 2. He was counted as righteous because of his active faith (23-24). ii. Rahab She received the messengers and kept them safe (25). 439
4. True faith tames the tongue (3:1-12). a. The Teacher s Strictness Not many should be teachers because of judgment (1). b. The Tongue s Strength (2-12) i. Illustrations (2-8) 1. Horses Bits in their mouths guide their bodies (3). 2. Ships They are guided by a very small rudder (4). 3. Fire Start small, but left untamed can burn through a large forest (5-6). 4. Beasts Can be tamed, but the tongue cannot be tamed. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison (7-8). ii. Inconsistencies (9-12) 1. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers these things ought not be so (9-10). 2. It is not natural for something designed to produce one thing to also produce something else (11-12). 5. True faith displays heavenly wisdom (3:13-18). a. Command Let the wise man show his works in the meekness of wisdom (13). b. Comparison (14-18) i. Earthly Wisdom (14-16) 1. Jealous and selfish = earthly, unspiritual, demonic (14-15). 2. These lead to disorder and every vile practice (16). ii. Heavenly Wisdom Pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere (17-18). 440
6. True faith resists worldliness (4:1-12). a. Our behavior toward the world (1-10) i. Sin (1-4) 1. Your passions are at war within you (1). 2. Desire leads to murder, and covetousness leads to fighting (2). 3. You ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions (3). 4. Befriending the world leads to enmity with God (4). ii. Scripture (5-6) 1. God is jealous for us (5). 2. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (6). iii. Solutions (7-10) 1. Submit to God and resist the devil (7). 2. Draw near to God and be cleansed and purified (8). 3. Mourn over sin rather than celebrating it (9). 4. Humble yourself before the Lord (10). b. Our behavior toward brothers (11-12) i. Do not speak evil against brothers (11). ii. Do not judge your neighbors (12). 7. True faith submits to the will of God (4:13-17). a. The Knowledge of God s Will (13-16) i. God s will should determine our plans (13-14). ii. God s will should diminish our pride (15-16). b. The Obedience of God s Will To know and not do, is sin (17). 441
8. True faith avoids the dangers of riches (5:1-6) Section 3: Triumphant Faith 1. Triumphant faith is patient in suffering (5:7-12). a. Anticipate the coming of the Lord (7-11). i. The Farmer Wait patiently for the Lord, and avoid grumbling, just as the farmer waits for his fruit (7-9). ii. The Prophets spoke in the name of the Lord (10). iii. Job Remain steadfast like Job, who was the Lord s purpose (11). b. Avoid the condemnation of the Lord Do not take oaths (12). 2. Triumphant faith is prayerful in sorrow (5:13-18). a. The Power of Prayer (13-16) i. Pray when suffering and sing when cheerful (13). ii. Elders should pray for those who are sick (14). iii. The prayer of faith will save the sick (15). iv. Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another (16a). v. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working (16b). b. The Picture of Elijah (17-18) i. His prayers resulted in three and a half years of no rain (17). ii. His prayers returned the rain to the land (18). 3. Triumphant faith is protective of the saints (5:19-20). a. Restore others Bring back a wandering brother (19). b. Reward others Save his soul and cover his sins (20). 442