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New Testament Survey
Lesson Seventeen

By Glenn Davis

James

This epistle is "to the twelve tribes scattered abroad", which is the reason most feel it has a Jewish flavour.  The recipients were Christians, who happened also to be Jews, and it is addressed to Christians everywhere.  In the salutation, James calls himself a servant of Jesus Christ and the recipients as brethren.

It would appear that the audience was made up of both the rich and the poor. The rich seemed to have a tendency to oppress the poor.  The Christians he was writing to were experiencing trials and the influence of false teachers.  They had come to know the doctrine of justification by faith, but it was being perverted among them.  This left them in an unsatisfactory state and needed correction.  James comforts them in their trials but rebukes them for their sins.  He aims to give them instructions to correct the erroneous issues.

They seemed in danger of losing their patience in the face of oppression by the rich.  They also seemed to be moving toward an intellectual faith and forsaking the practice of Christian virtues.  The writer seems to have a sense of his authority, for of the 108 verses in the book, 54 are imperatives.

The author's style is simple. He draws images from the realm of nature, much like Jesus did.  He deals with the ethical aspects of Christianity.  He, like Amos of the Old Testament, rebuked social injustice, and so he has been called the Amos of the New Testament.  He is concerned that the redeemed recipients of his letter demonstrate their faith in deed, then word and finally thought.  He also desires that they remain faithful in the midst of trials and temptations until the coming of the Lord.

Some suggest that James opposed Paul. They reach this conclusion by an erroneous interpretation of Gal. 2:12.  James observed Old Testament ordinances, but he was not a Judaizer.  He did not require the Gentiles to live by them.  Rather than opposing Paul, he fought for his cause in the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:13-29).  He was a friend of Paul's to the end (Acts 21:18-25). James deals with a different issue than Paul does.  He values genuine faith (1:3;,6; 2:1,5,22-24; 5:15), but condemns dead orthodoxy and demons (2:29).  Paul would join him in this condemnation.  Paul also taught that good works are a necessary fruit of faith (Rom. 2:6-10; 2 Cor. 9:8; Eph. 6:23; Col. 1:4; 1 Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 2:17).

Certainly, this epistle could not be an adverse reply to Paul's writings as some have suggested, for as we shall see below, Paul's writings did not yet exist.

1. The book contains 5 chapters consisting of 108 verses.

2. The author of the book is a man called James.  The name James occurs forty times in the New Testament, so there needs to be a determination of which James is meant here.  A comparison shows that there were three men named James in the New Testament.
    
a.  James, the son of Zebedee, and the brother of the apostle John. He was martyred by Herod (Acts 12:2) around A.D. 42 and was not the writer of the epistle.

 b. James, the son of Alphaeus.

c. James, the brother of our Lord.    

The book is traditionally said to be written by James, the brother of our Lord (Mk. 6:3). He was an unbeliever during the earthly ministry of Jesus (Jn. 7:3-10), and, after the crucifixion, apparently remained in Jerusalem with his mother.  Jesus appeared to him after the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:7).  He had either been converted or was converted at this appearance because he is among those in the upper room (Acts 1:14).  Paul, when he came from Arabia, visited him in Jerusalem around A.D. 35 or 36 (Gal. 1:18,19).

He was the leader of the church in Jerusalem by A.D. 44 (Acts 12:17) and was the pastor or head of the first church council (Acts 15:13,19; Gal. 2:1,9-10) and was overseeing the Jewish church there (Gal. 2:12). Josephus and Eusebius claim that James was martyred at Jerusalem in A.D. 62 or 63.

James was raised in the same environment as Jesus and was in close touch with Him during the years leading up to His ministry. Therefore, his background was the same as Jesus'.    

3. The dating of the book of James has a uniqueness about it.  It is probably the earliest written of all the New Testament books.  There seems to be a fine line between Judaism and Christianity.  Christian phraseology is absent, and there is very little Christian doctrine in the book.  Gentile Christianity is not referred to in the writing.  In the oldest manuscripts, it is the first of the "Hebrew Christian epistles" which, as a group, precede the writings of Paul.

We can then place the book's date around A.D. 45. The date may not be conclusively provable.  The book's contents fit that era very well.

4. Assuming that our conclusions are correct as to authorship and date, the book would have been written from Jerusalem by James, the chairman or leader of the Christian elders and assembly.

Theme

The theme of the book is that good works prove faith.

Christ

Christ is seen as the unchangeable Father, the Wisdom of God, the coming Lord and the husbandman.

Key Words

The key words are works and faith(ful).  Other important words are doer(s), hearer(s), and righteous.

Key Verse

Jas. 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Jas. 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.

Purpose

1. The primary purpose of the epistle was to encourage them in their trials and tribulations.

2. It was given to correct erroneous practices that came from a false view of faith and works.

3. It was written to warn against the struggle for position rather than service.

4. It was given to show that patience is needed if we are to be successful in the Christian life.

Events And Characters

1. He begins by stating that we are to rejoice when we face trials and tribulations.  We can receive wisdom if we ask in faith and not waver.  Wavering means we are unstable.  Temptation comes from our own lusts because God only brings us good things.  Therefore, we are to hear the word and do it.  Part of doing pure religion is helping those in need. The Christian is not to give precedence to the rich and despise the poor. Very often, it is the rich who persecute and oppress those less fortunate than themselves.  Therefore, if one has faith, he will not just "pray" for the brother or sister in need but will do what he can to assist them. It is these works that show our justification, just as Abraham's obedience demonstrated his righteousness.  It takes work and faith together to produce life.

2. A Christian is not to seek a position because there is a greater responsibility and judgment if they fail.  The tongue is the area where most fail and cannot be tamed, and sets a fire that is very difficult to quench. We are saved, and we should not have bitter and sweet water flowing from the same well.  Each one who is wise will lead a gentle, peaceable lifestyle.  Wars and strife come out of our own carnal nature.  Even when we ask, we do so often out of wrong motives and so do not receive.  This is divided loyalties.  Lust and envy are friendship with the world, which is the enemy of God.  Therefore, we are to submit to God and resist these things of the devil, and we will have victory. As we draw near to God, He draws near to us.  When we humble ourselves, He lifts us up.

3. We are not to speak evil of one another because God is the judge and will deal with His own.  We are to go about our business, making plans, but leaving them in God's hands. When we know to do good and don't, then we are sinning.

4. Rich people have a special responsibility, especially if they have gotten rich by treating others unjustly.  They will be judged at the coming of the Lord for their activity.  Those who have been the object of their injustices are to be patient. God will deal with them in His time.  In the meantime, we are to honour one another and follow the example of the prophets who joyfully endured the enemy's attacks.  We are to maintain our integrity, letting a "yes" mean yes and a "no" mean no.  When one is sick, we can anoint with oil and pray, his sins will be forgiven, and he will be healed.  We are not to despise what God has given, for Elijah was just a man like us, yet his prayers were effective in the nation.  When a brother strays from the truth, we are to work for his restoration.  To save a sinner from error is to save him from death and obliterate a whole multitude of sins.

Lessons To Remember 

1. Temptation and trials are a part of the Christian life, so we are to rejoice that we can identify with His sufferings.

2. If we desire to receive from God, we must act in unwavering faith.

3. Temptation comes from our own lustful natures.

4. God intends that we act on the Word He has given us, not simply be hearers of it.

5. Pure and acceptable religion is to help those in need.

6. It is a sin to show respect to a person in the church simply because he is rich.

7. The seeking of a position is dangerous; we must seek to serve instead.

8. A little thing like the tongue can cause untold harm and change the course of things.

9. Envy and strife bring confusion and every evil work.

10. Wars and fighting come from our own carnal nature.

11. God will resist the proud, so we must humble ourselves before Him.

12. All our plans must be submitted to the will of God.

Outline

I. Faith Tested    1 - 2

    A. By Trials        1:1 - 8
    B. By Position        1:9 - 11
    C. By Temptation        1:12- 18
    D. By Action of the Word        1:19  -  27
    E. By Our Attitude to Fellow man        2:1  -  13
    F. By Good Works        2:14  -  26

II. The Tongue and Wisdom    3

III. Worldliness    4

IV. Admonitions    5

Outline (Alternative)

I. Salutations    1:1  

II. The Nature of True Religion    1:2  -  27

    A. Stability        1:2  -  11
    B. Endurance        1:12  -  18
    C. Action        1:19  -  27

III. The Nature of True Faith    2:1 -  3:12

    A. Avoidance of Discrimination        2:1  -  13
    B. Avoidance of Inactive Profession        2:14  -  26
    C. Avoidance of Boastful Officiousness        3:1 - 12

IV. The Nature of True Wisdom    3:13 -5:18

    A. Wisdom Defined        3:13  -  18
    B. Wisdom in Spiritual Life        4:1  -  10
    C. Wisdom in Legal Relationships        4:11  -  12
    D. Wisdom in Commercial Plans         4:13  -  17
    E.Wisdom in Labour Problems         5:1  -  6
    F. Wisdom in Waiting for the Lord         5:7  -  11
    G. Wisdom in Language        5:12
    H. Wisdom in Affliction        5:13  -  18

V. Conclusion: The Purpose of Wisdom An Effective Testimony        5:19  -  20

Assignment

Before the next lesson, do the following:

1.  Read through the Books of I & II Peter two times each.

2.  Do your own outline of each book.

Return to Lessons.

For more information about Glenn Davis, see our About Glenn page or visit Glenn Davis Books.

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