Introduction%20to%20the%20Epistle%20of%20James

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Introduction to the Epistle of James
29 June 2014
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Author
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus
Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered
abroad, greeting. - James 11 Is not this the
carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary?
and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon,
and Judas? - Matthew 1355 Is not this the
carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James,
and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not
his sisters here with us? And they were offended
at him. - Mark 63
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Author
Now the Jew's feast of tabernacles was at hand.
His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart
hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples
also may see the works that thou doest. For there
is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he
himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do
these things, shew thyself to the world. For
neither did his brethren believe in him. - John
72-5
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Author
... Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures And that he was buried, and that he
rose again the third day according to the
scriptures And that he was seen of Cephas, then
of the twelve After that, he was seen of above
five hundred brethren at once of whom the
greater part remain unto this present, but some
are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of
James then of all the apostles. - 1 Cor. 153-7
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Author
And I went up by revelation, and communicated
unto them that gospel which I preach among the
Gentiles, but privately to them which were of
reputation, lest by any means I should run, or
had run, in vain ... And when James, Cephas, and
John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the
grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and
Barnabas the right hands of fellowship that we
should go unto the heathen, and they unto the
circumcision. Gal. 22,9
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Author
But Peter continued knocking and when they had
opened the door, and saw him, they were
astonished. But he, beckoning unto them with the
hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how
the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And
he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to
the brethren. And he departed, and went into
another place. - James 1216,17
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Author
But there rose up certain of the sect of the
Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was
needful to circumcise them, and to command them
to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and
elders came together for to consider of this
matter. And when there had been much disputing,
Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and
brethren ... we believe that through the grace of
the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as
they ... And after they had held their peace,
James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken
unto me ... Wherefore my sentence is, that we
trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles
are turned to God But that we write unto them,
that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and
from fornication, and from things strangled, and
from blood. Acts 155-7, 11 13, 19, 20
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Author

• Traditionally nicknamed James the Just
• Tradition says James had knees like those of
  camels because of much time spent in prayer
• Perhaps looked like Jesus
• Josephus recorded that James was martyred during
  an uprising against Christians in 62 A.D.

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Namesake

• King James I of England
• Named after James
• Authorized the 1611English translationof the
  Bible the resultwas the King James Bible,
  which has hada special anointing and brought
  salvationto millions of souls.

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Date

• Probably around 46 A.D.
• Perhaps the earliest N.T. epistle

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Recipients
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus
Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered
abroad, greeting. - James 11
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Literary Style and Techniques

• Like a sermon
• Metaphors from rural life, marine life,
  astronomy, domestic life and public life
• Illustrations from every day life
• Rhetorical questions
• Excellent Greek
• Plain and direct
• Authoritative
• Practical

• Relevant
• Jewish
• Different from Paul
• Similar to Jesus

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James Outline

• 11-8 Trials are part of life
• 19-11 Testing / temptation will come
• 112-18 Response to testing
• 119-27 Be doers of the Word, not just hearers
• 21-5 Avoid favoritism and prejudices
• 26-12 Avoid Apathy and wrong mindsets
• 213-26 Obedience and action are proof of faith

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James Outline

• 31-12 Our words reflect what is in our soul
• 313-18 Heavenly vs. devilish wisdom
• 41-5 Worldly lusts make people enemies of God
• 46-10 God resists the proud but gives grace to
  the humble
• 411-12 Dont judge your brother in how he serves
  God (ref., Mt. 633-75)
• 413-17 Dont be presumptuous about the future

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James Outline

• 51-6 Woe to the rich men in the last days
  (banksters, powerful elite, Illuminati)
• 57-11 Be patient and endure suffering
• 512 Do not swear or make oaths
• 513-18 Pray for and anoint sick Christians
• 519,20 Help backsliders repent

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Key verse
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead,
being alone James 217
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Closing thought
Be ye also patient stablish your hearts for
the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. James 58