Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mankato
Study of James -- Lesson #1
January 2, 2000
James 1:1 – Introduction

I. A GENERAL EPISTLE

The Epistle of James is classified as a "General Epistle." It is not addressed to a specific person or congregation or situation; nor does it have one specific topic. Other "general epistles" are 1 & 2 Peter; 1, 2, 3 John; and Jude.

II. INTENDED AUDIENCE

• 1 Peter was also written to the "Diaspora"
• There was a pre-persecution "dispersion" (cf: John 7:35)
• Written to Jewish Christians outside of Jerusalem indicates James was in Jerusalem when he wrote the epistle.

The term "twelve tribes" could refer to Gentile believers too (cf: Galatians 6:16 etc.) but there are other indications in the epistle that it was written by a Jew to Jews:

• "synagogue" in James 2:2 (translated "assembly")
• much similarity to Hebrew expressions, etc.
• uses Old Testament illustrations
• similarities to Matthew’s gospel (which was written for a primarily Jewish audience)

III. IDENTITY OF AUTHOR

"James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…"

• only identification of the writer
• "James" is Greek for the Hebrew "Jacob"

Which James?

There is not unanimous understanding on which James wrote the epistle of James. There is not even complete agreement on how many Jameses are mentioned in Scripture. There are many detailed "arguments" for the two basic viewpoints and neither viewpoint can be put forth as being absolutely correct. This "James question" is one that could occupy much detailed, involved study and still no conclusive answer would be found. We will consider the "basics" to be aware of the question and possible answers, and then we’ll go forward, because the exact identity of the writer is not of spiritual importance. The epistle of James is the inspired Word of God—that is enough.

James #1: The father of Judas (not Iscariot) who was one of Jesus 12 disciples (Luke 6:16). This is the only mention of this James. He is not the writer of the epistle.

>James #2: James the son of Zebedee and Salome; brother of John; one of the three "inner circle" disciples; one of the "sons of Thunder" ( Mark 3:17 ); the first of the 12 to be martyred ( Acts 12:2 ). This James’ early death means he is not the writer of the epistle.

James #3: One of the 12 disciples, the son of Alphaeus ( Matthew 10:3/Mark 3:18/Luke 6:15/Acts 1:13 ). This James is the son of Mary who is also called "James the Less" ( Mark 15:40, cf: Matthew 27:56; Luke 24:10 )

James #4 ??: In Galatians 1:19, Paul says, "I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother…" This is the same James Paul again mentions in Galatians 2:9,12: "…when James, Cephas, and John who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me the right hand of fellowship…before certain men came from James…" Is this James the same as James #3 above? Or Is this James a 4^th James?

Related Passages:

• Matthew 13:55 -- "…his mother Mary?…his brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?" ( Mark 6:3 also notes sisters) [James #3’s mother was Mary, with brother, Joses]
• John 7:5 -- "For even His brothers did not believe in Him."
• Acts 1:14 -- "…this all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers…"
• Acts 12:17 -- "…Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren…" [This is the James—the leader in Jerusalem—can’t be James, brother of John who is dead.]
• Acts 15:13, 21:18: James, the Jerusalem leader
• 1 Corinthians 9:5 – "…other apostles, brothers of the Lord, and Cephas…"
• 1 Corinthians 15:7 --- "…seen by James and then all the apostles
• Jude 1 -- "Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James."

What we CAN say:

James, the writer, had authority in the church—based on the content of the epistle; and even his greeting which just identifies himself as James and doesn’t need to give further reason for the authority to write. There is little or no doubt that the James who wrote the epistle is the James who was a pillar in the Jerusalem church.

James as an Apostle:

• "James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…" is the only identification of the writer. The readers of James’ day would have had no doubt who this was. This would lead to the conclusion that there was only one prominent James in the church at that time. James, brother of John, was dead. James, son of Alphaeus and one of the Twelve, would still be a prominent James. After Acts 12:2 (James’ execution) only one James is mentioned throughout the rest of Scripture. Earlier, there had been a distinction between two Jameses…does this imply there were only two?
• Does "bondservant" have to be an apostle? No. A bondservant of Christ does mean James was a believer, but doesn’t indicate anything further. (cf: Philippians 1:1; 1 Peter 2:16 ; and "Additional Study" at the end of this lesson) The writer does not specifically identify himself as an apostle (cf: Romans 1:1 where Paul does identify himself as an apostle and bondservant as does Peter in 2 Peter 1:1)
• Is Jerusalem James spoken of as an "apostle" in a wider sense other than the Twelve? If so, that diminishes Paul’s purpose in Galatians 1:19ff when he was establishing his credibility on the basis of James’ apostolic authority.

James as Jesus’ Brother:

• If James the writer is James the apostle, then "brother" has to refer to cousin
• If James the writer is another James, Jesus 1/2 brother, then he was converted and became an apostle later OR is not included in John 7:3-5.
• The various Gospel references to Jesus’ brothers and sisters (see above) are more "comfortable" when understood as "brothers" rather than cousins.

IV. DATE of WRITING

• "James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…" = only identification of the writer implies being written after James, brother of John, was executed.
• No mention is made about the difficulty between Jews and Gentiles that precipitated the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). This seems to indicate a writing before that Council thus in the mid to late 40s.
• "James the Just" (Jerusalem) was martyred in 62 AD so the writing has to be earlier.

V. CONTENT

General Comments:

• In 108 verses, there are 54 imperatives---urgency! Act on your faith! Repent if you’ve not been bearing good fruit!
• "The epistle is less doctrinal than any other in the New Testament. The purpose of the writer is not so much to instruct as it is to exhort and admonish. This is the Epistle of Holy Living. Great stress is laid upon works, not apart from faith, but as both the proof and the fruit of faith…" [Kretzman, p.497]
• "It is obvious that James’ whole letter is one great call to repentance, repentance as the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist, and Jesus Himself had proclaimed it." [Franzmann, p.29]

Luther’s Difficulty with the Epistle of James

Because James emphasizes good works and sanctified living, Luther at times wrote and spoke saying that James contradicted Paul’s letters and the rest of Scripture. Luther’s objections were that James was a) "flatly against St. Paul and the rest of Scripture by ascribing righteousness to good works; and b) it’s purpose is to teach Christians and in all the teaching it doesn’t once mention Christ’s Passion, Resurrection, or the Spirit of Christ. What does not teach Christ is not apostolic." [Preface to the Epistle of James]

• Consider Luther’s background and why a book that emphasizes good works might cause him great concern.
• If we keep in mind the purpose behind James’ epistle, the difficulty is solved.

Luther: "these books [Romans and 1 Peter] show you Christ and teach you all that is necessary and salutary for you to know, even thou you were never to see or hear nay other book or doctrine. Therefore, St. James’ epistle is really an epistle of straw compared with them, for it lacks this evangelical character." [WLS #3124] At other times, Luther compared Paul and James favorably showing that they were both in agreement with each other [cf: WLS #3128].

Luther: "Though this epistle of St. James was rejected by the ancients, I praise it and hold it a good book, because it sets up no doctrine of men and lays great stress upon God’s law" [Preface to the Epistle of St. James]

"Though James never quotes Jesus directly, he is constantly recalling and echoing words of Jesus…then one can see how the Lord who is so rarely mentioned by James, nevertheless, casts His bright light across every page and see that James’ work is essentially the recalling of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, with comment and explication which applies to His church here and now." [Franzmann, p.38] {also see Appendix 1-1}

Comparing Paul’s Theology with James’ Theology {also see appendix 1-1}

• "Paul emphasizes the fact that our salvation is wholly God’s grace and entirely His doing and that faith is therefore first and foremost pure receiving…James emphasizes the fact that faith is union and communion with God and commits us wholly, with all our thoughts and all our doing to God…
• …Paul speaks to the sinner’s desperation; James speaks to the Christian’s complacency" [Franzmann, p. 43]
• "Paul writes against the self-righteous man, who does not want to be justified and saved by the grace of God in Christ Jesus alone, but insists on good works as being necessary for obtaining salvation. James writes against the vain, foolish man, who trusts for salvation in a barren orthodoxy, imagining that mere belief in the intellect and a mere profession of the mouth without any works is saving faith." [Kretzmann, p. 497]

Similarities between Paul and James. Compare: James 1:12 & 2 Timothy 4:8; James 2:5 & 1 Corinthians 1:26; James 4:5 & Galatians 5:17

VI. Outlines

It is possible to outline a book of the Bible in many ways Below are three sample outlines ranging from the very basic to more in depth. All three are good and provide an overview of the Scripture we will be studying.

1. Exhortations pertaining chiefly to the 1^st table of the Law (chapters 1-2)
2. Exhortations pertaining chiefly to the 2^nd table of the Law (chapters 3-5)

[John Schaller, Book of Books]

1. Greeting (1:1)
2. True Religion (1:2-27)
3. True Faith (2:1-3:12)
4. True Wisdom (3:13-5:18)
5. Conclusion (5:19-20)

[NASB Study Bible]

TURN YE!

1. Turn to your God, the good Giver of perfect gifts (1:2-27)
2. Turn from a self-contradicting faith and from a faith that exhausts itself in words to the true and active faith which the Lordship of Jesus demands (2:1-26).
3. Turn, you who would be teachers in the church, from your hopelessly sinful selves and from your human wisdom to the God who gives true wisdom from on high (3:1-18).
4. Turn from assimilation of the world, with its passionate strife and its passionate enmity against God, to God the Giver of the Spirit and all grace (4:1-12)
5. Turn from the world in its haughty and godless self-assurance (4:13-5:6).
6. Turn to the returning Lord: Rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him, and let your whole life be attuned to His coming (5:7-20).

[Martin Franzmann, The Word of the Lord Grows, p.29ff]

ADDITONAL STUDY:

Bondservant

James refers to himself as "a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (1:1).

• A "bondservant/slave" was someone who gave himself up to the will of another – sometimes willingly as a fairly paid servant; sometimes more as an actual slave. In either case, the bondservant was "bonded/bound" to his master for as long as he remained a bond-servant (it was possible for bondservants to gain freedom). The bondservant became the property of the owner for the duration of the bond.
• The apostle Paul frequently called himself a bondservant of Christ too ( Romans 1:1, Galatians 1:10, Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:1). He also draws a dramatic contrast between being bondservants (owned by; giving service to…) of the Devil vs. bondservants of Christ ( Romans 6:16-20). Peter uses the term too: 1 Peter 2:13-17.

Read the passages listed above and consider/discuss what it means to be a bondservant of Christ…how does one become a bond servant of Christ…what are the advantages & disadvantages…is the "bonding" as a bondservant of Christ lifetime guaranteed?