LESSONS FROM THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

THE AUTHOR AND THE AUDIENCE

1:1

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ (Com-pare the addresses of Titus 1:1, and Romans 1:1.), to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion, greeting. (See 1 Peter 1:1, and John 11:52.)

COMMENTS:
The Letter of James is a portion of the New Testament that offers clear and bene ficial admonition, but the authenticity of this "general" letter has been disputed by some, ever since the books of the New Testament were brought together as one volume. Part of the reason is based on the presumption that James contradicts Paul on the issue of faith and works (see James 2 and Romans 4). This presumption comes from a misunderstanding of the teaching of Paul that survives today in the modern remnants of 16th century Calvinism, a system which derived much of its error from the 4th century theologian, Augustine. However, there is no conflict between Paul and James, since Paul asserts the fact that justification is by faith in Christ, not by works of the Law of Moses, and James is speaking of works that flow from and in proof of faith in the Word.
A secondary dispute is over the authorship of the letter, since there are several important New Testament men by the name of James. Two apostles wear the name, James the son of Zebedee, and James the son of Alphaeus (Matthew 10:2-4). There is also James the brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55). Though he, and the other kin of Jesus were slow in accepting the Christhood of their brother (John 7:1-5), James is often identified with the man who was prominent in the church at Jerusalem (Acts 15:13, 21:18, etc.). There is reasonable evidence to make this connection. In Galatians 1:18-19, Paul mentions seeing the brother of Jesus at Jerusalem. Later, in the same context, James is mentioned as a "reputed pillar" in the Jerusalem church with Cephas (Peter) and John (Galatians 2:9). Still later, when Cephas came to Antioch, and ate with the Gentiles, he was influenced to separate himself from them when "certain came from James" (Galatians 2:11-12). The antecedent bearer of this name in the context is James the brother of the Lord (1:19).
Since the letter of James is addressed to "the twelve tribes of the Dispersion," the converted Jews scattered in many places in the world, it seems very likely that the author was one accustomed to dealing with such Jews, and James the brother of Jesus is a very likely candidate. However, too much time can be spent in such research, and its accompanying disputes. The effort will rob us of the great benefit of studying the content of the letter. Disputes of this kind, involving seven New Testa-ment books, kept the apostate church from accepting the letter of James as "apostolic" until the 4th Century. The unfortunate thing about this is that Martin Luther, a believer in salvation by "faith only," seized upon these early 4th Century disputes in order to undermine the authority of the letter on the subject of faith and works during the 16th Century Reformation.
Internal evidence shows that James is compatible in every degree with the teach-ing of the Apostles, and of Christ. In fact, there are close connections with the doc-trine of Christ which reinforce the suspicion that one like a brother of Jesus was pro-bably the author. The egalitarian teaching of Jesus (Luke 14:7-11) is reflected in James 1:9-11. "Hearing and doing" the word (James 1:19-25) was emphasized by Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:24-27). Jesus and James both speak of the rich, and their difficulty in finding salvation (see Mark 10:23-27 and James 5:1-6). James' teaching on swearing (5:12) is almost identical to the teaching of Jesus (Matthew 5:33-37). Other internal evidence assures us that the letter of James is apostolic in authority, if not in authorship. As a prophet of God, James speaks to us "words whereby we must be saved."

QUESTIONS:

1. On what two issues was the authenticity of the book of James disputed in the early days of Christianity?______________________________________ ________________________________________________________
2. How many other New Testament books were questioned?___________
3. Show why there is no conflict between the teaching of Paul in Romans 4, and the second chapter of James:____________________________________
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4. Of the several men named James in the New Testament, which is considered by most to be the author of this letter?_______________________________

_________________Give two reasons why it might be true that this man is the author of James:__________________________________________

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5. Which is more important, debating the authorship of James, or studying the con tent of the letter?___________________________________________
6. What doctrine was held by Martin Luther which caused him to doubt the au thenticity of James?__________________________________________
7. Name four doctrines of Jesus that are emphasized by James:_______________ ________________________________________________________
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ENDURING TEMPTATION

1:2-4

2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when you fall into various temptations (Compare 1 Peter 1:6, 4:12; Colossians 1:24, and Luke 6:22-23.); 3 knowing that the proving of your faith produces endurance. (Compare Romans 5:1-5.) 4 And let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing. (Compare 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10.)

1:12-16

12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him. (See Matthew 10:16-22, 2 Timothy 4:7-8, and Psalm 119:67, 71.) 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil (1 John 1:5), and he himself tempts no man: (Compare Deu-teronomy 8:2-3, 16; 13: 1-3.) 4 but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. (See 2 Timothy 4:3, and 1 Peter 2:11.) 15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin (Compare Psalm 7:14-16.): and the sin, when it is fullgrown, brings forth death. (See Romans 6:23, 7:7-13.) 16 Be not deceived, my beloved brethren.

5:7-11

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. (Compare Romans 8:24-25, and Galatians 6:9.) Look! the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and later rain. (Compare Joel 2:23.) 8 You must also be patient; settle your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is near. (Revelation 22:20, but see 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4.) 9 Do not murmer, one against another, brethren, that you be not judged; look, the Judge stands before the doors. (See Luke 12: 41-48.) 10 Brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of suffering and patience. (See 2 Chronicles 36:15-16, Matthew 5:11-12, and Hebrews 11:32-40.) 11 See, we call them happy that endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job (See Job 23:10-12), and have seen the purpose of the Lord, how that He is full of pity, and merciful. (See Job 42:10-13.)

COMMENTS:
From these three small sections of James, we collect those passages that deal with patience in tribulation. In 1:2-4, we are told that when God permits us to be tried, there are some benefits in which we can rejoice. The progressive gains we receive through the exercise of patience finally reach a stage of maturity, in which we lack nothing.
In 1:12-16, the word temptation seems to have a different meaning from its use in vs. 2, yet the Greek word is the same in both cases. Presuming the meaning to be the same, we must wonder why it must seem joyful to be tempted. We must then distinguish between the sources of temptations. Some can come from without, and these are in the form of tribulations. The Christian must realize that "through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Such trials could have the tendency to discourage us, and make us fall away. However, if we can de-velop the ability through faith and patience to endure and overcome these, we will become mature Christians, and the frequency or force of our trials can be more easily handled. It will not matter to us, after we gain such strength, whether the trials be many or few.
However, we must never accuse God of tempting us "with evil," even though some passages in the Bible seem to suggest it (Isaiah 63:17, Romans 9:17-20). When God permits trials, man may feel that He sends them, but an examination of such passages as Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 16; 13:1-3 shows that God always relieved the trials of Israel, but only after he permitted them to endure the trial for a while, to "humble" and "prove" them. His purpose was to "do them good in the latter end."
Aside from these outward temptations, there is a source of temptation within, fueled by our "own lusts," through which we can be "enticed" to commit sin. In such cases, we must not permit our desires to be so strong that we are vulnerable to the enticements of Satan. The imagery used by James is that of conception and birth, which produces the offspring of sin, but the end result is spiritual death (compare Romans 6:23).
Finally, in 5:7-11, we are told that our development of patience is aided by look-ing at examples. First, James says that our patience must sustain us "until the com-ing of the Lord." So, we need to imitate the farmer who must yield to his circumstances, and not fret over the timing of rains. He must remember that God has promised that "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest...shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22). Other examples of patience are to be seen in the suffering patience of prophets, and the fortitude of Job. The lack of patience creates spiritual dangers, such as discouragement, recriminations against God, and resentment of our "circumstances." But those who are patient, allowing God in His own time to change their circumstances, will see the "end of the Lord, how that He is full of pity, and merciful." God knows His creature man, and he knows that discipline is needed in our lives. The best way for us to be disciplined in the path of humility and submission is to receive trials, and to make use of His commandments to overcome them.

QUESTIONS:

1. Why are the "temptations" of 1:2 to be welcomed with joy (vs. 3)?__________ _______________________________________________________
2. What is the "perfect work" of "endurance" (patience)?__________________
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3. When a man is "approved," after enduring temptation, what will he receive? _______________________________________________________
4. Why should we refrain from saying, "I am tempted of God?"_____________
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5. Why did God permit the Israelites in the wilderness to endure hunger and thirst, and other trials?____________________________________________
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6. What causes us to be vulnerable to "enticements" to sin?________________
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7. What is the final result of letting lust "conceive" to "give birth" to sin?_______
8. How long are we to be patient, according to James, and other New Testament writers?________________________________________
9. For what must the farmer patiently wait?___________________________
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10.Though the "coming of the Lord is near," what did Paul say would "come first" in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4?__________________________
11.List some of the things which prophets had to endure, from Hebrews 11:32-40:__ ________________________________________________________
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12. Was Job more prosperous before, or after his trials?_________
13. What lesson is drawn from Job's experience?_________________________
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