Transcript Intro to the Epistle of James

Introduction to the
Epistle of James
29 June 2014
Author
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus
Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered
abroad, greeting. - James 1:1
Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother
called Mary? and his brethren, James, and
Joses, and Simon, and Judas? - Matthew 13:55
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the
brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and
Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?
And they were offended at him. - Mark 6:3
Author
Now the Jew's feast of tabernacles was at hand.
His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart
hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples
also may see the works that thou doest. For
there is no man that doeth any thing in secret,
and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If
thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
For neither did his brethren believe in him.
- John 7:2-5
Author
... Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he
rose again the third day according to the
scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas,
then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of
above five hundred brethren at once; of whom
the greater part remain unto this present, but
some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen
of James; then of all the apostles.
- 1 Cor. 15:3-7
Author
And I went up by revelation, and communicated
unto them that gospel which I preach among the
Gentiles, but privately to them which were of
reputation, lest by any means I should run, or
had run, in vain ... And when James, Cephas,
and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived
the grace that was given unto me, they gave to
me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship;
that we should go unto the heathen, and they
unto the circumcision. – Gal. 2:2,9
Author
But Peter continued knocking: and when they had
opened the door, and saw him, they were
astonished. But he, beckoning unto them with
the hand to hold their peace, declared unto
them how the Lord had brought him out of the
prison. And he said, Go shew these things
unto James, and to the brethren. And he
departed, and went into another place.
- James 12:16,17
Author
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which
believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them,
and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the
apostles and elders came together for to consider of this
matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter
rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren ... we
believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we
shall be saved, even as they ... And after they had held their
peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren,
hearken unto me ... Wherefore my sentence is, that we
trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned
to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from
pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things
strangled, and from blood. – Acts 15:5-7, 11 13, 19, 20
Author
 Traditionally nicknamed “James the Just”
 Tradition says James had “knees like those
of camels” because of much time spent in
prayer
 Perhaps looked like Jesus
 Josephus recorded that James was
martyred during an uprising against
Christians in 62 A.D.
Namesake
 King James I of England
 Named after James
 Authorized the 1611
English translation
of the Bible; the result
was the “King James
Bible”, which has had
a special anointing
and brought salvation
to millions of souls.
Date
 Probably around 46 A.D.
 Perhaps the earliest N.T. epistle
Recipients
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus
Christ, to the twelve tribes which are
scattered abroad, greeting. - James 1:1
Literary Style and Techniques
 Like a sermon
 Metaphors from rural life, marine life, astronomy,
domestic life and public life
 Illustrations from every day life
 Rhetorical questions
 Excellent Greek
 Relevant
 Plain and direct
 Jewish
 Authoritative
 Different from Paul
 Practical
 Similar to Jesus
James Outline
 1:1-8 Trials are part of life
 1:9-11 Testing / temptation will come
 1:12-18 Response to testing
 1:19-27 Be doers of the Word, not just hearers
 2:1-5 Avoid favoritism and prejudices
 2:6-12 Avoid Apathy and wrong mindsets
 2:13-26 Obedience and action are proof of faith
James Outline
 3:1-12 Our words reflect what is in our soul
 3:13-18 Heavenly vs. devilish wisdom
 4:1-5 Worldly lusts make people enemies of God
 4:6-10 God resists the proud but gives grace to the
humble
 4:11-12 Don’t judge your brother in how he serves
God (ref., Mt. 6:33-7:5)
 4:13-17 Don’t be presumptuous about the future
James Outline
 5:1-6 Woe to the rich men in the last days
(banksters, powerful elite, Illuminati)
 5:7-11 Be patient and endure suffering
 5:12 Do not swear or make oaths
 5:13-18 Pray for and anoint sick Christians
 5:19,20 Help backsliders repent
Key verse
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is
dead, being alone – James 2:17
Closing thought
Be ye also patient;
stablish your hearts:
for the coming of the Lord
draweth nigh.
– James 5:8