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Introduction to James

Authorship: James the Just

Section titled “Authorship: James the Just”

  1. “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:1).

    1. Identification by simple name “James” without further description (e.g., son of so-and-so, or church office).
    2. Must have been a very well-known “James” within first century Christianity.

  2. There are a number of different men called “James” in the New Testament, but by process of elimination, we arrive at our author.

    1. There was a “James, son of Alphaeus” (Matt 10:3; Acts 1:13), who was one of the 12 disciples. We can cross him off the list as too obscure.
    2. There was a James who was the father of a disciple named Judas, but not Judas Iscariot (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). Also too obscure.
    3. One of the two sons of Zebedee (Matt 4:21; Mk 3:17; 9:2) was James. Now this James was not obscure, but he died early as a martyr (Acts 12:2).
    4. This leaves the famous “James the Just,” the brother of Jesus.

  3. Biographical information about James

    1. Ἰάκωβος = Jacob
    2. Brother of Jesus (Matt 13:55).
    3. The risen Jesus appeared to him (1 Cor 15:7).
    4. Leader of Jerusalem church (Gal 1:19; 2:9; Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18).
    5. Was stoned to death by Jewish Sanhedrin in AD 62.
    6. Eusebius: “Leading him into their midst they demanded of him that he should renounce faith in Christ in the presence of all the people. But, contrary to the opinion of all, with a clear voice, and with greater boldness than they had anticipated, he spoke out before the whole multitude and confessed that our Saviour and Lord Jesus is the Son of God” (E.H. 2.23).
    7. Eusebius, quoting Hegesippus: “He was in the habit of entering alone into the temple, and was frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel, in consequence of his constantly bending them in his worship of God, and asking forgiveness for the people.”
    8. Eusebius: “James was so admirable a man and so celebrated among all for his justice, that the more sensible even of the Jews were of the opinion that this was the cause of the siege of Jerusalem, which happened to them immediately after his martyrdom for no other reason than their daring act against him. Josephus, at least, has not hesitated to testify this in his writings, where he says, ‘These things happened to the Jews to avenge James the Just, who was a brother of Jesus, that is called the Christ. For the Jews slew him, although he was a most just man.’”

Date: Mid 40s

Section titled “Date: Mid 40s”

  1. Must be before AD 62, the year of the martyrdom of James (Josephus, Ant. 20.200).

  2. Probably written in the mid 40s, after the Acts 11:19 scattering of Jewish Christians (AD 43) and before the Jerusalem Council (AD 49).

  3. Argument from diaspora setting

    1. Addressed to: “The twelve tribes in the Dispersion” (James 1:1), i.e., Jewish Christians outside of the land of Israel.
    2. Presupposes scattered communities, shared Jewish Christian identity still maintaining ties with the Jerusalem church.
    3. The existence of these communities is mentioned in Acts 11:19: “Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.”
    4. The letter of James seems to be after this scattering (which occurred ca. AD 43).

  4. Argument from theological development

    1. The theology of James is simple and lacks elaboration.
    2. No hint of controversy over circumcision, the law, or the Gentiles.
    3. Notably absent: references to circumcision debates, food laws, Jew-Gentile tensions.
    4. If written after AD 49, this silence is highly unlikely.
    5. James 2:14-26 addresses a practical problem of nominal Christianity - not a polemic against Paul’s teaching on justification by faith as seen in his letters.
    6. High Christology affirmed (“the Lord of glory,” 2:1) but not elaborated in terms of pre-existence.
    7. Strong emphasis on ethical exhortation, wisdom, obedience.

  5. Argument from oral tradition

    1. Strong parallels to the Sermon on the Mount: trials and perseverance, wealth and poverty, oaths and speech, doing vs. hearing.
    2. Yet no evidence of literary dependence on Matthew or Luke.
    3. Suggests time when Jesus’ teaching was still being circulated in early church in oral form, prior to the written Gospels.
    4. This would point to James being the earliest NT document - in the mid 40s.

Genre and Addressees

Section titled “Genre and Addressees”
  1. The letter is addressed “To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion [diaspora]” (1:1).
  2. Genre: a “diaspora letter”
    1. Jeremiah 29:1-23: “These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles … Build houses and live in them … Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile.”
    2. The Epistle of Jeremiah: “A copy of the letter that Jeremiah sent to those who were to be taken to Babylon as exiles.”
    3. 2 Maccabees 1: “The Jews in Jerusalem and those in the land of Judea, to their Jewish kindred in Egypt: greetings and true peace.”
    4. 2 Baruch 78-86: “The letter of Baruch, the son of Neriah, which he wrote to the nine and a half tribes … Thus speaks Baruch, the son of Neriah, to the brothers who were carried away in captivity: grace and peace be with you …. Are we not all, the twelve tribes, bound by one captivity as we also descend from one father? … My brothers, therefore, I have written to you that you may find consolation with regard to the multitude of tribulations.”
    5. James appears to be a Christian version of a diaspora letter.
  3. But who are “the twelve tribes in the Dispersion”?
    1. Some have taken this as referring to all Jews living outside the land of Israel, whether they believe in Jesus or not.
      1. This is extremely unlikely since “It is clear that James writes as a Christian to fellow Christians” (Ladd).
      2. “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (2:1).
    2. Most scholars think it refers to Jewish Christians living outside the land of Israel.
      1. Majority view among scholars.
      2. “A letter to the Diaspora must come from Jerusalem. A Christian letter to the Diaspora could come from no one more appropriate than from James” (Richard Bauckham, James [Routledge, 1999]).
      3. Jerusalem was viewed as “the mother church.”
      4. Jewishness of audience suggested by:
        1. “Your assembly” (synagōgē) (2:2).
        2. References to “the law” (1:25; 2:8-12; 4:11).
        3. The Jewishness of the author.

Outline of James

Section titled “Outline of James”

  1. James’ Theology of the Testing of Faith (Ch. 1)

    1. Trials are God’s Way of Testing Our Faith (1:1-18)
    2. Be Doers of the Word, Not Hearers Only! (1:19-27)

  2. The Temptation to Nominal Christianity: Faith’s Obedience (Ch. 2)

    1. The Sin of Showing Partiality to the Rich (2:1-13)
    2. Faith Without Works is Dead (2:14-26)

  3. The Temptation to Doctrinal Strife: Faith’s Gentle Wisdom (3:1–4:12)

    1. Taming the Tongue (3:1-12)
    2. The Wisdom from Above (3:13-18)
    3. Call to Submit to God (4:1-12)

  4. The Temptation to Eschatological Indifference: Faith’s Patience (4:13–5:20)

    1. Condemnation of the Arrogant Rich (4:13–5:12)
    2. Comfort to the Suffering Poor (5:13-20)

Major Themes of James

Section titled “Major Themes of James”

  1. James has been called “The Proverbs of the NT.”

    1. References to “wisdom” (σοφία) in the book:
      1. 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God …”
      2. 3:13: “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.”
      3. 3:15: “This is not the wisdom that comes down from above.”
      4. 3:17: “But the wisdom from above is first pure,” etc.
    2. True wisdom comes from God (as taught in OT wisdom literature):
      1. 3:17: “The wisdom from above” (ἡ ἄνωθεν σοφία)
      2. 1:17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”
    3. Unusually high number of imperative verbs (55).
    4. Memorable images from daily life to illustrate spiritual truths:
      1. 1:23-24: Man looking in a mirror.
      2. 3:3: Bits controlling a horse.
      3. 3:4: Small rudder guides large ship.
      4. 3:5: Small fire sets whole forest ablaze.
      5. 3:11: Salt water vs. fresh water.
      6. 4:14: Fleeting mist/vapor.
      7. 5:7: Farmer patiently waiting for the harvest.
    5. Use of maxims and proverbs.
    6. Seemingly haphazard sequencing of topics (like Proverbs).

  2. Faith

    1. Noun “faith” (16x); verb “believe” (3x)
    2. Faith must be tested by trials (1:2-4, 12)
    3. Faith is a gift of God (1:17-18)
    4. Faith humbly receives the saving Word of God (1:21)
    5. The object of faith is Christ (2:1)
    6. Those who have faith do not show partiality (2:1-4)
    7. The elect are rich in faith (2:5)
    8. Genuine faith manifests itself in good works (2:18, 22)
    9. Faith without works is dead (2:17, 26)
    10. Those who have faith see the image of God in others (3:9)
    11. Those who have faith are not full of jealousy and selfish ambition (3:13–4:2)
    12. Those who have faith are humble before God (4:6, 10)
    13. Those who have faith let God judge others (4:11-12)
    14. Those who have faith do not boast but submit to God’s will (4:13-17)
    15. Those who have faith patiently endure, waiting for coming of Lord (5:7-11)
    16. Prayer must be done in faith (5:15-18; 1:6)

  3. Echoes of the teaching of Jesus (esp. Sermon on Mount)

James Jesus
James 1:5: “Let him ask God.” “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matt. 7:7–8).
James 1:22: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them” (Matt. 7:24, 26).
James 2:5: “Has not God chosen the poor?” “Blessed are the poor” (Luke 6:20).
James 2:8: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matt. 22:39–40.
James 2:13: “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” “Blessed are the merciful” (Matt. 5:7).
James 3:12: “Can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs?” “Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” (Matt. 7:16).
James 4:10: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matt. 23:12).
James 4:11–12; 5:9: “The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law. . . . Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged.” “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matt. 7:1).
James 4:13–14: “You do not know what tomorrow will bring.” “Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself” (Matt. 6:34).
James 5:1: “Come now, you rich, weep and howl.” “Woe to you who are rich” (Luke 6:24–25).
James 5:12: “Do not swear . . . but let your ‘yes’ be yes and your ‘no’ be no.” “Do not take an oath at all. . . . Let your word be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’” (Matt. 5:34–37).
  1. The importance of not sinning in our speech
    1. 1:19: “Be quick to hear, slow to speak.”
    2. 1:26: “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue … “
    3. 2:12: “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.”
    4. 3:1-12: “If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.”
    5. 4:11: “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.”
    6. 5:9: “Do not grumble against one another, brothers.”