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The Epistle of James

Few books (or letters) in the New Covenant have received as much criticism as James. Some authorities, including Martin Luther, considered it pseudonymous. Admittedly, Luther seems to have oscillated in his point of view, from denying it is the work of an Apostle and relegating it to the appendix of the Bible to treating it as the work of an Apostle and the authoritative word of God. However, it is difficult to understand Luther’s true feelings about the epistle when even as the word of God, he considered it an Epistle of Straw!

In my opinion, James is a courageous work that has been largely misunderstood by the ‘movers and shakers’ of Christian tradition. It was written during the last great persecution of Jesus’ disciples prior to the Jews’ war with Rome. Undoubtedly, the author, James, lost his life due to what he wrote here. James was considered one of the three pillars of the nascent church – Peter, Phillip and James. While the Synoptic Gospels offer a list of all twelve Apostles, the Gospel of John begins with Jesus finding his three leaders (John 1:41-51). The man called Nathanael is James, the son of Alphaeus or James the Less. These were Jesus’ three leading Apostles. They are always mentioned first, fifth and ninth in the lists of the Twelve in the Synoptics and Acts. The three apostles following each of the leaders vary in order within the three groups, but are never listed under the name of a different leader. Thus, Jesus seems to have trained each group to care for different responsibilities and needs within his ministry as that involved the group.

This is the James who wrote this epistle. Some will disagree, and let it be so, because no matter how authoritative one may be in Christian circles, one is only guessing, when it comes to identifying the author of this epistle. Nevertheless, according to Jesus, it would be those who were present with him, seeing what he did and hearing what he said, who would witness to the world about him (Luke 24:48-49; Acts 1:1-8). My understanding of the author of the Epistle of James begins here, let whomsoever will, begin elsewhere.

A Context for the Writing of James:

  1. James – No Epistle of Straw
  2. Trouble from False Brethren
  3. The Need for Wisdom During Persecution
  4. Living in the Perfect Law of Liberty
  5. Favoritism and False Faith
  6. Be Not Many Teachers
  7. The Seductive Face of False Doctrine
  8. Prayer – a Key Defense in Spiritual Warfare

A Study of the Epistle of James

  1. Who Wrote the Epistle of James?
  2. Believers in the Midst of Trial
  3. Wisdom Instead of Mammon
  4. The Rich and the Brother of Low Degree
  5. Preserving One’s Integrity in Christ
  6. Bearing the Image of the Giver of Gifts
  7. Being an Effective Witness for Christ
  8. Pure and Undefiled Religion
  9. Favoring One Over Another
  10. Christ Has Chosen the Poor in Spirit
  11. Living by the Royal Law
  12. Logical and Adversarial Arguments
  13. Perspectives of Those Near and Afar Off
  14. Don’t Be Too Eager to Teach
  15. The Perfect Man
  16. The Power of Man’s Tongue
  17. Against All Nature
  18. I Set Before You a Blessing and a Curse
  19. Hostility, Disputes and the Lord’s Will
  20. James’ Man of Peace
  21. Spreading the Gospel in the Flesh
  22. Friendship with the World is Rebellion
  23. James’ Call for Repentance
  24. Considering the Lord’s Will
  25. Come, Now, You Rich Men
  26. The Rich Man’s Faith Without Works
  27. Vindication Follows Patience
  28. A Call for Patient Endurance
  29. The Power of Fervent Prayer

 

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