| �Resist the Devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.� |
| Author: James the brother of Christ Date: 57-60 A.D. Theme: The sinful nature of the flesh at war with the righteous desire of the Spirit. Key Words: �Test� or �Trial� �Wisdom� �Desire� �Prayer� �Faith� Parallel Readings: Matthew 5-7 Luke 6 The Circumstances As a boy, James was not a believer in or a follower of His older brother Jesus (Jn.7:5), but after Christ�s resurrection he became a devout disciple. He was even appointed to be an Elder of the church in Jerusalem by Peter, James, and John in A.D. 40. By the time his letter was penned, James had gained enough respect and was in a position of such great authority that he could write to an audience as large as � the twelve tribes scattered among the nations,� and introduce himself by simply using his name, �James.� The letter was probably written sometime around 60 A.D. Persecution from both the Roman empire and hostile Jewish forces was growing increasingly fierce. Jewish Christians were gradually losing their sense of nationality and needed desperately to lean on the concrete teachings of the Messiah. It was for this purpose that the letter is written. It is patterned identically after the model of Jesus� sermon on the mount (Matt. 5-7). James quotes and paraphrases the sermon enough times in 5 chapters to account for a third of the entire book. According to several historians, the governor of Jerusalem incited the Jews against James sometime in 62 A.D. and had him hurled from the pinnacle of the temple. (Ant.XX.ix) The Message Many themes can be brought out of the book of James. For a careful study of the book it would be good to read it through several times focusing on a different theme in each reading. As was previously mentioned, the letter is formed from the mold of Jesus� sermon on the mount. The book also details the ongoing struggle between light and dark: the fleshly nature versus the wisdom that comes from above. The key subject of the book is the testing of our faith through trials. The book can be best understood when looking at it in this light. The Test: Of Riches & Poverty 1:9-11; 5:1-6 Of Anger 1:19; 4:11-12; 5:7-11 Of The Tongue 1:26; 3:1-12 Of Prayer 1:5-8; 4:1-10; 5:13-20 Of Faith 1:1-4; 2:14-26 Of Social & Ethnic Classes 2:1-9 Of Every-day Life 5:13-15 The ultimate answer to overcoming the various tests that are thrown our way lies in transforming our nature and changing our desires through the wisdom that He gives us. It�s for this reason that the book opens with a plea to the reader to ask for wisdom. Wisdom, unlike knowledge, cannot be reflected in a written exam, but only in a �godly life!� (3:13). The Relevance When Jesus spoke his sermon on the mount, many of his teachings targeted those Jews who had fallen in love with a religion without falling in love with the God of the religion. So many church-goers have fallen into the same trap today. They give plenty to the church. They sing, they come regularly, some may even evangelize, but they don�t walk with Him. They don�t pray, and their hearts don�t praise. This kind of shallow faith is really no faith at all, and will certainly fail when presented with the fiery trials of life. The only way to truly overcome the great tests of faith is to wear our knees out in prayer, and to let our minds dwell on His word. His wisdom teaches us not only to be righteous, but to hunger and thirst after that righteousness! After all, the world will not recognize us by what we know, but by how we live! (Matt. 7:20; Jn. 13:35). Just as fire purifies gold, so the fiery trials of life purify and prove the genuineness of our faith. Passing through these trials is the ultimate praise of God! No wonder we are called to consider them �pure joy!� (1:2). May the trials that God has prepared to prove and strengthen your faith make you mature and complete, lacking in nothing! (1:4). |
| James |
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