James Chapter 1 Handout

 

Introduction

 

Review

History

Neglected, not rejected; complementary not contrary to Paul’s letters; addresses different issues.

Paul addresses how salvation is received; James addresses how salvation is verified

Authorship

James the brother of Jesus; leader of the church at Jerusalem;

Date, Place, Circumstances

                        Likely written about AD 45-48, almost certainly before the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15

                        Written to Jewish Christians, likely those who had left Palestine for Syria and Asia Minor

Form & Style

An open letter, Greek in language and style but with strong Hebrew and proverbial influences

Strong tone of pastoral exhortation – more imperatives than any other NT book

Themes

Eschatology, Faith/Works/Justification, The Law, The Christian Life, Wisdom, Poverty/Wealth

James wants the faith of the Jewish Christians to be genuine and not a counterfeit based on Judaism.

A true and living faith is of primary concern for James

 

Chapter One

Greeting

Trials and Christian Maturity

2-4       Trials, Joy, Steadfastness

5-8       Seek Wisdom from God in Faith

9-11      Boasting of the Lowly and the Rich

12-15    Trials from God vs Temptation

16-18    Good Gifts from our Father

True Christianity Seen in its Works

19-21    Hearing, Speaking, and Anger

22-25    Doers vs Hearers of the Word

26-27    True Religion: Speech, Orphans and Widows, Worldliness

 

Themes

Trials and Steadfastness

Now and Not Yet

Mature, Perfect

Goodness of God

The Tongue

Doers of the Word

 

Content

 

1           Greeting

 

2-4       Trials, Joy, Steadfastness

Circumstances of readers – dire: famine, persecution

God is at work in them, and in us, through trials

Whatever the trials may be, we are to consider them to be an occasion of rejoicing

James’ desire is a mature, stable faith in believers

Luke 22:31-32 – Satan and Peter

Rom 5:3-5 – Sufferings produce endurance

 

5-8       Seek Wisdom from God in Faith

Trials bring a need for God’s wisdom

Our nature – Lacking wisdom, need to seek it; doubting needing faith

God’s nature – He is generous and gives freely to those with faith

The divided person has no fixed beliefs or direction; no “anchor of the soul” (Heb 6:19)

I Kings 18:21 – Elijah, God, and Baal

Matt 7:24-27 – Wisdom connected to hearing and doing

 

9-11      Boasting of the Lowly and the Rich

Boasting in God not ourselves, regardless of station in life

God exalts the lowly and brings low the rich

Clearly echoing Isiah 40:6-8

 

12-15    Trials from God vs Temptation

Trials again connected with steadfastness

Differentiation between trials from God and temptations from within and without

Trials strengthen our faith; Temptations lead us to sin

Progression of temptation:  desire, sin, death

Rev 2:8-10 – Church at Smyrna in trials

 

16-18    Good Gifts from our Father