The Truth About James
This week we will be looking at the book of James. This information came from http://www.landmark-lakewood.org/james.htmIntroduction To The Book of James
James is the first of the five epistles called "general" in their titles (James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1 John, and Jude). These epistles were addressed not to individual churches, as were most of Paul's epistles, but to Christians in general and to Jewish Christians in particular. The book is characterized by its hard-hitting, practical spirituality. Each of the five chapters is packed with pointed illustrations and reminders designed to motivate the wills and hearts of believers to grasp a truth once taught by Jesus: "A tree is known by its fruit" (Matt 12:33).
Author:
The author identifies himself as "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (1:1). At least five personalities named JAMES appear in the New Testament. The author of this epistle is James, the Lord's physical half-brother. Apparently neither a disciple nor an apostle during Jesus' lifetime, he is first mentioned in Mark 6:3, where he is listed as the first (oldest) of Jesus' four younger half-brothers. After the ascension of Jesus, James became the pastor of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13; 1 Cor 15:7; Gal 2:9)-a position he must have occupied for nearly 30 years, until his martyrdom, according to church tradition. This James is probably the author of the epistle that bears his name. He refers to himself simply as "James," with no explanation added. This indicates he was well-known to his readers. He calls himself a "servant" rather than an apostle; and he begins the epistle with the same "greetings" (1:1) with which he begins the apostolic decree following the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:23).
Time Period:
The epistle of James may be presumed to be very early, possibly the first epistle to Christians. This is indicated by the early martyrdom of James, according to tradition in the year A.D. 62. Many more substantial reasons, however, are adduced from the internal evidence. The epistle shows no trace of the distinctive references concerning the relationship of Gentile converts to the law of Moses, which resulted in the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15, over which James presided. The general absence of doctrine in the epistle, its Palestinian atmosphere, and its OT flavor combine to substantiate this view. The epistle shows no evidence of the fall of Jerusalem.
Theme:
The Epistle of James is a sturdy, compact letter on practical spirituality. For James, the acid test of true religion is in the doing rather than in the hearing, "believing," or speaking. James exalts genuineness of faith, and is quick to encourage the lowly that God gives grace to the humble (4:6), wisdom to the ignorant (1:5), salvation to the sinner (1:21), and the kingdom to the poor (2:5). He is equally quick to condemn counterfeit religion which would substitute theory for practice, and he does so with biting sarcasm. True religion is doing the right thing in one's everyday life. In this respect James echoes clearly the ethical teaching of Jesus, especially as it is recorded in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7). "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matt 7:21).
