The Letter of
JAMES
Author:
In the New Testament there are several persons named James: the brother of John and one of the original apostles (Matt 10:2), the son of Alphaeus who was another of the original apostles (Matt 10:3), the father or brother of Judas who was one of the original apostles (see Luke 6:16 and note), and a younger half brother of the Lord Jesus (Matt 13:55). The author of this letter is generally thought to be the half brother of the Lord Jesus and a leader in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13). On the authorship of the books of the Bible, see the Introduction to Judges.
Date:
Probably sometime between 45 and 50 AD.
Theme:
The very important theme of proving one’s faith by one’s behavior. Genuine faith is shown to be so by enduring trials, by obedience to God’s Word, by love and impartiality toward others, by good deeds and by the words the mouth speaks. A key verse is Jam 2:17.
Contents:
Meeting with testing and trials 1:2-15
Counting it all joy 1:2
Knowing that it will produce good results 1:3-4
Asking God for wisdom 1:5-8
Both the poor and the rich should rejoice 1:9-11
The reward for patiently enduring trials 1:12
God does not tempt his people to do wrong 1:13
Temptation, desire, sin, and death 1:14-15
God’s good gifts 1:16-18
Listening and doing 1:19-25
True religion 1:26-27
Dealing with others without favoritism 2:1-13
Dead faith 2:14-26
The tongue 3:1-12
Two kinds of wisdom 3:13-18
The reason for fights and quarrels 4:1-2
Wrong motive in prayer 4:3
The world is opposed to God 4:4
Humility and submission toward God 4:5-7
Resisting the devil and its result 4:7
How to come to God 4:8-10
Judging is not the Christian’s job 4:11-12
Boasting about tomorrow 4:13-17
Exhortation to the rich 5:1-6
Patience 5:7-11
Swearing 5:12
What to do in good times and bad 5:13-16
Power in prayer 5:17-18
Turning sinners toward God 5:19-20