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James
Question: What the most remarkable
thing that some relative or ancestor
of yours has done?
Bone box 63 CE with inscription:
“Jacob [James], son of Joseph, brother of Jesus”
How does a NT author write a letter?
Author:
Ray,
To the Family of Grace,
Grace and peace to you all.
Recipients:
Greeting:
Blessing or prayer: I thank God for each of you.
Body:
What to know Since God loves you so much,
What to do
I urge you to be loving too.
Travel plan:
Closing:
I hope to see you again next week,
If you see anyone this week who’s not here
today, greet them for me.
Blessings!
How does James (Jacob) write a NT letter?
James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the
twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
Author:
James, a servant of God and of the Lord
Jesus Christ,
Recipients:
To the twelve tribes scattered among the
nations:
Greeting:
Greetings.
How does James (Jacob) write a NT letter?
Author:
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations
Recipients:
Greetings.
Greeting:
Blessing or prayer: —
1:2 – 5:20
Body:
What to know
Mixed together
What to do
How does James write a NT letter?
Author:
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations
Recipients:
Greetings.
Greeting:
Blessing or prayer: —
1:2 – 5:20
Body:
What to know
Mixed together
What to do
Travel plan:
Closing:
—
—
So how is the book of James especially weird?
There are some surprising things that James doesn’t bring up:
Little attention to Jesus Christ: he is only mentioned 2x (1:1;
2:1 “Lord” 5:4,7-8,14-15)
There is no mention of Jesus’ death or resurrection
There is no mention of the Holy Spirit
Grace is only mentioned in one verse (4:6)
St. James’ epistle is really an epistle of straw, compared to these
others, for it has nothing of the nature of the Gospel about it.
Luther’s Works Vol. 35, pg. 362
It IS about faith (and
also works), but not
about grace . . .
Maybe that why we got …
Frère Jacque, dormez-vous?
Brother James, are you sleeping?
So what’s special about James?
The structure of the book is among the most
difficult in the NT
A tip on reading the Bible:
The main ideas are usually emphasized at
the beginning and end:
James 1:2-8
2
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of
many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so
that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If
any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives
generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he
who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the
wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from
the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (NIV)
Q: What’s the main idea of James 1:2-8?
“joy”
“trials”
“testing”
“perseverance”
“maturity”
“not lacking”
“lacking?”
“ask God”
POINT: There is NO
“not doubt”
single theme, but a
“doubt”
series of linking ideas
“not receive” “unstable”
James 5:13-18
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let
him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the
elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the
name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the
sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will
be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for
each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous
man is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He
prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the
land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens
gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19 My brothers, if one of
you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him
back 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his
way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Q: What’s the main idea of James 5:13-20?
Trouble? v. 13 (trials 1:2 testing 1:3)
Pray v. 13 (ask God 1:5)
POINT: James finishes the way it
Happy? v.13 (joy 1:2)
starts, with a series of linking ideas
Sing praise v. 13
Sick? v. 14
Pray v. 14,15, anoint v. 14 (ask God 1:5)
Faith v. 15 (1:3 believe 1:6) Well v. 15
Sin v. 15
Forgiven, Confess v. 15 Healed v. 16
Prayer v. 16, 17, 18 Power, effective v. 16
Wander from truth v. 19 (unstable 1:8), Sinner v. 20
Saved v. 20 cover sins v. 20
Kind of like ..
There are two things that have really piqued my curiosity lately. By the way, people do funny things with
the word piqued, don’t they? When some people write it they will spell it like, “Discovering new hiking
trails peaks my interest.” As if, you know, like finding a new peak, literally, is a high point experience that
pokes out above their ordinary life. But other people spell it like, “Reading murder mysteries really
peeks my imagination,” as if they really want to get a sneak look (a peek) into the plot, which actually is
a just a metaphor for figuring out the plot. Speaking of metaphors, metaphors themselves are 3D movie
glasses for the mind. They allow our brains to see something in a new way. (Did you notice that I used a
metaphor right there to talk about a metaphor?) Which begs the question, “What is a metaphor?” or
rather, “What is a metaphor for?” But let’s not go there, because all it takes is one person to make a
lame pun, and immediately there are ten people who style themselves as especially clever who start a
pun-fest, all flocking like seagulls around a stinking fish carcass to see who can come up with the best
possible pun. Which itself is sort of an oxymoron. I mean, if you’re the best at something that is, by
definition, the worst, or at least the dumbest, does that make a punner someone who is better at being
worse or someone who is worse at doing better? And which of those two options is better? Or worse?
In defense of the punners, I’ll bet it was probably sour, humorless old curmudgeons who gave punning
such a bad rap anyway. And by the way, what does that expression mean? A bad wrap, like with a
birthday present by someone clumsy-fingered? Or a bad rep, as in a lousy reputation with other people?
Or is bad rap like someone with no sense of rhyme or rhythm attempting to do hip-hop? Or is it like a
police record, a “rap sheet,” whatever that is? And if it’s the last of these, how did they decide to call it
that? So in conclusion, I rest my case.
So what else is special about James?
Over half the verses in the book contain commands
It emphasizes backing up what we believe with what we do—
more than any other book in the NT
Its the only NT book that lays out a plan of action for the poor
It’s the NT book that is most like the book of Proverbs
Parallels between James and Proverbs
Wisdom is given by God
Wealth is temporary
Slow to anger
Don’t show favoritism
Favoring the rich dishonors the poor
The wise control their speech
The tongue as a deadly fire
Caution against presumptuous plans
Sins may be “covered” by love
James
1:5
1:10–11
1:19
2:1
2:6
3:2
3:6
4:13–14
5:20
Proverbs
2:6–7
11:28
14:29
18:5
14:20–21
10:19
16:27
27:1
10:12
Other common themes: illustrations from nature, actionsconsequences, blessing, etc.
So what else is special about James?
It’s the NT book that is most like the book of Proverbs
Godly vs. worldly wisdom
Many clever figures of speech and images
What are some of the metaphors and similes
in the Bible … for the Bible?
honey, silver & gold, lamp, light, rock, fire,
hammer, living thing, 2-edged sword, mirror
My metaphors for the Bible: newspaper,
department store, cadaver, map, Play-doh,
coffee, baseball, imaginary world, guitar,
chicken, the eye of Mordor
Images drawn from the world in James
Waves on the wind-blown sea 1:6; 3:4
Withering wildflower in the scorching
sun 1:11
Conception and birth 1:15
Shifting shadows 1:17
Firstfruits 1:18
Reflection in a mirror 1:23-24
Rein for the tongue 1:26
Body without spirit/breath (pneu,matoj)
2:26
Images drawn from the world in James
A bit in a horse’s mouth 3:3
A ship’s rudder 3:4
A forest fire 3:4
Taming of animals 3:7
Deadly poison 3:9
Freshwater spring 3:11
Salt water 3:12
Fig tree 3:12
Olives 3:12
Grapevine 3:12
Images drawn from the world in James
Figs 3:12
Harvest 3:18
Adultery 4:4
Friendship 4:4
Vanishing mist 4:14
Rot 5:2
Moth-eaten 5:2
Corrosion 5:3
Fire 5:3
Fattened for slaughter 5:5
Patient farmer 5:7
So what else is special about James?
Closest to Jesus’ own preaching in the NT
Similar to sayings of the Sermon of the Mount
Parallels between James and the Sermon on the Mount
James
“Whenever you face trials of any kind,
consider it nothing but joy” (1:2).
“You may be mature [teleioi ] and complete,
lacking in nothing” (1:4).
“Ask God . . . and it will be given you” (1:5).
“Be doers of the word, and not merely
hearers” (1:22).
“Has not God chosen the poor in the world
. . . to be heirs of the kingdom?” (2:5).
“Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in
one point has become accountable for all of
it” (2:10).
Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
“When people revile you and persecute you
and utter all kinds of evil against you . . .
rejoice and be glad” (5:11–12).
“Be perfect [teleioi ] . . . as your heavenly
Father is perfect” (5:48).
“Ask, and it will be given you” (7:7).
“Everyone then who hears these words . . .
and acts on them will be like a wise person”
(7:24).
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven” (5:3).
“Whoever, then, relaxes one of the least of
these commandments . . . shall be called least
in the kingdom of heaven” (5:19).
Parallels between James and the Sermon on the Mount
James
“Judgment will be without mercy to anyone
who has shown no mercy” (2:13).
Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive
mercy” (5:7).
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
“What good is it . . . if you say you have faith,
will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only
but do not have works? Can faith save you?”
the one who does the will of my Father”
(2:14).
(7:21).
“Can a fig tree . . . yield olives, or a grapevine “Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from
figs?” (3:12).
thistles?” (7:16).
“A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be
for those who make peace” (3:18).
called children of God” (5:9).
“Friendship with the world is enmity with
“You cannot serve God and wealth” (6:24).
God” (4:4).
“Purify your hearts” (4:8).
“Blessed are the pure in heart” (5:8).
Parallels between James and the Sermon on the Mount
James
“Who, then, are you to judge your
neighbor?” (4:12).
“Your riches have rotted, and your clothes
are moth-eaten; your gold and silver have
rusted” (5:2–3).
“Do not grumble against one another, so that
you may not be judged” (5:9).
“Do not swear, either by heaven or by earth
or by any other oath, but let your ‘Yes’ be yes
and your ‘No’ be no” (5:12).
Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
“Do not judge, so that you may not be
judged” (7:1).
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moth and rust consume and
where thieves break in and steal” (6:19).
“Do not judge, so that you may not be
judged” (7:1).
“Do not swear at all, either by heaven . . . or
by the earth. . . . Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or
‘No, No’” (5:34–37).
Other passages in James that parallel sayings of Jesus include 1:6 (cf. Matt. 21:21); 1:9 and 4:10 (cf.
Matt. 23:12); 1:12 (cf. Matt. 10:22); 1:21 (cf. Mark 4:14); 4:9 (cf. Luke 6:21, 25); 4:17 (cf. Luke 12:47);
5:1–6 (cf. Luke 6:24); 5:9 (cf. Matt. 24:33); 5:17 (cf. Luke 4:25).
Mark Allan Powell, Introducing the New Testament. Published by Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group. © 2009. Used by permission.
Point: Though the
book of James isn’t
really about Jesus, his
teachings is more LIKE
Jesus’ than any other
book of the Bible!
Themes in James
Suffering / trials / temptation 1:2,12-15
Trials bring virtues 1:2-4
They result in a crown of righteousness
1:12
The source of temptation not God,
but human desires/ambitions
1:13-15; 3:14-16; 4:1-3
Yielding to temptation leads to death
1:15
Trouble, sickness 5:10,13-15
Themes in James
God’s Word
Quotations: 2:8 (Lev. 19:18); 2:11 (Ex. 20:14;
Dt. 5:18); 2:11 (Ex. 20:13; Dt. 5:17); 2:23 (Gen. 15:6);
4:(5)6 (Prov. 3:34)
Allusions to characters from HB: Abraham
2:21-23; Isaac 2:21; Rahab 2:25; the prophets 5:10;
Job 5:11; Elijah 5:17-18
Birth through the word of truth 1:18
Humbly accept the word planted in you 1:21
Do what it says, don’t just hear it 1:22-25; 2:8-12
Law described as perfect 1:25; royal 2:8
Themes in James
Wisdom
Given ‘from above” by God 1:5; 3:17
Shown in good works, humility 3:13,17
Contrasting with earthly wisdom 3:14-16
Themes in James
The tongue / speech (speech-ethics)
We should be slow to speak 1:19
Controlling what we say 1:26; 3:2-12
Speak as those who will be judged 2:12; 3:1
Caution against teaching 3:1
Don’t slander, grumble 4:11; 5:9
Don’t speak hastily, boast 4:13-16
Speak truthfully 5:12
Prayer 5:13-18
Asking God for wisdom 1:5-6
Prayerlessness, improper motives 4:2-3
Prayer in trouble, happiness, sickness 5:13-15
Effective prayer 5:16-18
Themes in James
Perseverance
Leads to maturity 1:3,4
The one who perseveres will be honored 1:12
Patience for God’s intervention 5:7-8,10-11
Faith/believe
(2:1)
When praying 1:6; 5:15-16
Must be accompanied with works 2:14-26
Themes in James
Rich (proud) vs. Poor (humble)
Riches are temporary 1:9-11; 5:1-3
Care for the poor 1:27 ; 2:15-16
Don’t show favoritism 2:1-7,9
Good deeds should be done in humility 3:13
God opposes the proud, gives grace to the humble 4:6; 5:1-6
Humility is rewarded 4:10
Themes in James
Judge/Judgment
Speak & act as those who will be judged 2:12-13
Mercy > judgment 2:13
Teachers judged more strictly 3:1
Caution against judging others 4:11-12; 5:9
God will judge 5:9
James' Themes by Number of Verses
25
20
15
10
5
0
I think the greatest weakness in the church today is that almost
no one believes that God invests his power in the Bible.
Everyone is looking for power in a program, in a methodology, in
a technique, in anything and everything but that in which God
has placed it: his Word. He alone has the power to change lives
for eternity, and that power is focused on the Scriptures.
— R. C. Sproul
Main Idea of James
Wisdom “from above” combines faith with gracious speech and
kind actions.
Jesus: “But
wisdom is
proved right
by her
actions.”
(Mat 11:19)
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good
life, by actions done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”
3:13