James

FAITH IN ACTION: THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

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Dr. Paul Manuel—2016

Late First Century Ossuary (allegedly) of James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus¹

The complete study isn't available online but, along with its Bibliography and Endnotes, it can be downloaded as a pdf here.

Below find an outline and the beginning of the study.

The Epistle of James

• James extends his greetings (James 1:1).

I. The Believer and Temptation (James 1)

A. God can bring advantages from difficult situations (vv. 2–12).

1. Trials and testing produce perseverance and maturity (vv. 2–9).
2. Humility and endurance produce blessing and reward (vv. 9–12).

B. God is not necessarily the cause of difficult situations (vv. 13–18).
C. Believers must respond properly in difficult situations (vv. 19–27).

Application: Make sure you engage your mind before you engage your mouth (Prov 13:3).

II. The Believer and Balance (James 2)

A. The partiality among congregants causes division (vv. 1–13).
B. The interplay of faith and works requires balance (vv. 14–26).

Application: You are preparing your case now for how you will be presenting your case later (2 Cor 5:110).

III. The Believer and Speech (James 3)

A. He must keep his tongue in check (vv. 1–12).
B. He must avail himself of godly wisdom (vv. 13–18).

Application: Godly character does not come naturally; you must practice it if you want to posses it (Jms 3:17).

IV. The Believer and Humility (James 4)

A. The cause of many disputes is pride (vv. 1–6).
B. The cure for many disputes is humility (vv. 7–10).
C. The complement (to humility) in many disputes is love (vv. 11–12).
D. The complication to many disputes is boasting (vv. 13–17).

Application: Do not allow an occasion of tension to become a cause of division (Matt 7:12).

V. The Believer and Prayer (James 5)

A. He should not brag about the future (vv. 1-6).
B. He should persevere in prayer (vv. 7–12).
C. He should petition for the congregation’s health (vv. 13–20).

Application: As much as you are able, be alert to what you can do, especially to pray for each other’s spiritual condition and to help each other stay the spiritual course (Eph 6:18).

The epistle of James (A.D. 62) is the first New Testament letter a writer addresses specifically to Jews in the diaspora.² The author is generally thought to be the (half) brother of Jesus, also known as James the Just, head of the Jerusalem congregation.³ The opening introduction is a common feature in most New Testament letters of this period, containing the author’s name, the addressee, and a salutation:⁴

Jms 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered [diaspora] among the nations: Greetings.⁵

• James extends his greetings (James 1:1).

Sometimes a letter’s salutation (often introduced by the preposition “to”) is brief, naming one group or one individual (e.g., Corinthians); other times a salutation is quite extensive, naming several people (e.g., Philemon). In this case, James addresses his letter broadly to Jewish believers in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). These may include some of those Paul reached on his missionary journeys.

The Jews to whom James is writing either chose to remain outside the land of their forefathers after the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles or chose to move there later. Either way, they are separated from the majority of their brethren in Israel and now live in close-knit communities surrounded by pagans whose societies are quite different, with different practices (e.g., diet, holidays) and different priorities (e.g., worship, lifestyle). In much of his letter, though, James treats subjects that are broadly applicable to all believers, be they Jews or gentiles, in any congregation, elsewhere in Asia Minor or in Israel.

I. The Believer and Temptation (James 1)

He begins with an assertion that is similar to what Paul writes in his letter to the Roman church: “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).

A. God can bring advantages from difficult situations (James 1:2–12).

1. Trials and testing produce perseverance and maturity (vv. 2–9).

Jms 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,⁶ 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete,⁷ not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,⁸ who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a doubleminded man, unstable in all he does.

According to Jesus, perseverance is an important trait for a person to have, one that affects his future, which he will spend either with God or apart from God. Jesus told his disciples: “He who stands firm [or ‘perseveres’] to the end will be saved” (Matt 24:13).⁹ The request for wisdom is probably for situations that require perseverance, as is the need for faith.

2. Humility and endurance produce blessing and reward (James 1:9–12).

Jms 1:9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.¹⁰

James describes a radical reversal of fortunes similar to Jesus’ “many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first” (Matt 19:30).¹¹ Whereas Jesus is referring to a person’s status in heaven, James is referring to a person’s status on earth and reminding his readers about the transient nature of wealth.

B. God is not necessarily the cause of difficult situations (James 1:13–18).¹²

Jms 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” [n. 17] For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire,¹³ he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,¹⁴ who does not change like shifting shadows.¹⁵ 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

God is sovereign, so He is ultimately responsible for everything that happens. Does that divine responsibility include the bad things that happen, like man’s bad choices?¹⁶ …There is a difference between what God permits and what He proscribes. He allows man’s free will, including many of man’s bad decisions, such as when “by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed [and] desire….gives birth to sin” (James 1:15-16), but God does not compel or even entice him to sin; that is man’s choice alone.¹⁷

The complete study isn't available online but "FAITH IN ACTION: THE EPISTLE OF JAMES" along with its Bibliography and Endnotes, can be downloaded as a pdf here.