Reference: James, Epistle Of
Easton
(1.) Author of, was James the Less, the Lord's brother, one of the twelve apostles. He was one of the three pillars of the Church (Ga 2:9).
(2.) It was addressed to the Jews of the dispersion, "the twelve tribes scattered abroad."
(3.) The place and time of the writing of the epistle were Jerusalem, where James was residing, and, from internal evidence, the period between Paul's two imprisonments at Rome, probably about A.D. 62.
(4.) The object of the writer was to enforce the practical duties of the Christian life. "The Jewish vices against which he warns them are, formalism, which made the service of God consist in washings and outward ceremonies, whereas he reminds them (1:27) that it consists rather in active love and purity; fanaticism, which, under the cloak of religious zeal, was tearing Jerusalem in pieces (1:20); fatalism, which threw its sins on God (1:13); meanness, which crouched before the rich (2:2); falsehood, which had made words and oaths play-things (3:2-12); partisanship (3:14); evil speaking (4:11); boasting (4:16); oppression (5:4). The great lesson which he teaches them as Christians is patience, patience in trial (1:2), patience in good works (1:22-25), patience under provocation (3:17), patience under oppression (5:7), patience under persecution (5:10); and the ground of their patience is that the coming of the Lord draweth nigh, which is to right all wrong (5:8)."
Justification by works, which James contends for, is justification before man, the justification of our profession of faith by a consistent life. Paul contends for the doctrine of "justification by faith;" but that is justification before God, a being regarded and accepted as just by virtue of the righteousness of Christ, which is received by faith.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And having known the grace given to me, James, and Cephas, and John, seeming to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hands of communion; that we for the nations, and they for the circumcision.
Hastings
JAMES, EPISTLE OF
1. The author claims to be 'James, a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ' (Jas 1:1). He is usually identified with the Lord's brother the 'bishop' of Jerusalem, not a member of the Twelve, but an apostle in the wider sense (see Jas 3). The name is common, and the writer adds no further note of identification. This fact makes for the authenticity of the address. If the Epistle had been pseudonymous, the writer would have defined the position of the James whose authority he wished to claim, and the same objection holds good against any theory of interpolation. Or again, if it had been written by a later James under his own name, he must have distinguished himself from his better known namesakes. The absence of description supports the common view of the authorship of the letter; it is a mark of modesty, the brother of the Lord not wishing to insist on his relationship after the flesh; it also points to a consciousness of authority; the writer expected to be listened to, and knew that his mere name was a sufficient description of himself. So Jude writes merely as 'the brother of James.' It has indeed been doubted whether a Jew of his position could have written such good Greek as we find in this Epistle, but we know really very little of the scope of Jewish education; there was every opportunity for intercourse with Greeks in Galilee, and a priori arguments of this nature can at most be only subsidiary. If indeed the late date, suggested by some, be adopted, the possibility of the brother of the Lord being the author is excluded, since he probably died in 62; otherwise there is nothing against the ordinary view. If that be rejected, the author is entirely unknown. More will be said in the rest of the article on the subject; but attention must be called to the remarkable coincidence in language between this Epistle and the speech of James in Ac 15.
2. Date.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And he believed in Jehovah; and it shall be reckoned to him justice.
And he believed in Jehovah; and it shall be reckoned to him justice.
Hear, Israel; Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.
But let your word be Yea, yea, and No, no: but that above this is of evil.
Treasure not up to you treasures upon earth, where moth and gnawing destroy, and thieves dig through and steal:
None can serve two lords: for either he will hate one and love the other; or hold firmly to one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye measure, it shall be repaid to you. read more. And why seest thou the mote which is in thy brother's eye, and the beam in thine eye thou observest not? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let go I will cast out the mote from thine eye: and behold a beam in thine eye. Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam from thine eye, and thou shalt see clearly to cast out the mote from thy brother's eye.
Ask, and it shall be given you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you.
By their fruits shall ye know them. Far from it, do they gather grapes from thorns, or figs from caltrops
And the rain descended, and rivers came, and winds blew, and fell upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded upon the rock.
And whoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whoever shall humble himself, shall be exalted.
For truly I say to you, That whoever should say to this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and should not discuss in his heart, but believe that what he says, is; it shall be to him, whatever he should say.
And he having lifted up his eyes upon his disciples, said, Happy the poor, for yours is the kingdom of God
But woe to you rich for ye take away your consolation.
If ye know these, happy are ye if ye do them.
Having written by their hand thus; The sent and elders and brethren to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia from the nations, health: Since we heard that certain of us having come out have troubled you with words, destroying your souls, saying, To be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we sent no word:
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, every one judging: for in what thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou judging doest the same.
Who will give back to each according to his works: To them truly by perseverance of the good work they seek glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: read more. But to them of intrigue, and are truly disobedient to the truth, and yielding to injustice, anger and wrath, Affliction and distress, upon every soul of man working evil, both of the Jew first, and of the Greek; But glory, and honour, and peace, to every one working good, both to the Jew first, and to the Greek: For there is no distinction of persons with God. For as many as sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not hearers of the law just with God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
(For not hearers of the law just with God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when nations, not having the things of the law, by nature do the things of the law, these, not having the law, are law to themselves: read more. Which show the work of the law Written in their hearts, their consciousness testifying together, and between one another thoughts accusing or also excusing;) In the day when God shall judge the concealed things of men according to my good news by Jesus Christ. Behold, thou art named a Jew, and restest upon the law, and boastest thyself in God, And knowest the will, and triest things differing, being sounded out of the law; And art persuaded thou thyself to be a guide of the blind, a light of them in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of the inexperienced, having the form of knowledge and of truth in the law.
It may not be: and let God be true, and every man a liar; as has been written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, and mightest conquer in thy being judged.
Therefore from the works of the law shall no flesh be justified before him: for by the law the knowledge of sin.
And the justice of God by faith of Jesus Christ to all and upon all believing: for there is no distinction:
For the manifestation of his justice now in time: for him to be just, and justifying him of the faith of Jesus.
We reckon then man to be justified by faith without the works of the law.
We reckon then man to be justified by faith without the works of the law.
What then shall we say Abraham our father to have found, according to the flesh?
And not only, but also we boast in affliction: knowing that affliction works perseverance; And perseverance, proof; and proof, hope. read more. And hope shames not; for the love of God has been poured in our hearts by the Holy Spirit given us.
And I see another law in my members, fighting against the law of my mind, and taking me captive to the law of sin being in my members.
The night has advanced, and the day has drawn near: therefore let us lay down the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light.
Who art thou judging another's servant? to his own lord he stands or falls. And he shall be made to stand: for God is powerful to make him stand.
And other of the sect I saw not, except James the Lord's brother.
Knowing that a man is not justified from the works of the law, but through faith of Jesus Christ, and we believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified from the faith of Christ, and not from the works of the law: therefore from the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Knowing that a man is not justified from the works of the law, but through faith of Jesus Christ, and we believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified from the faith of Christ, and not from the works of the law: therefore from the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision has any power, nor uncircumcision; but faith being energetic through love.
Who in the days of his flesh, both prayers and supplications to him able to save him from death, with strong crying and tears, having offered, and listened to by means of circumspection;
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with the unbelieving, having received the spies with peace.
James, servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, health.
James, servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, health.
James, servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, health.
James, servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, health. Deem all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into various trials; read more. Knowing that the proof of your faith works patience. And let patience have a perfect work, that ye be perfect and entire, being left behind in nothing. If any of you is forsaken of wisdom, let him ask of God, giving to all plainly, blaming not; and it shall be given him.
And the rich, in his humiliation: for as the flower of the grass he shall pass by.
And the rich, in his humiliation: for as the flower of the grass he shall pass by.
Happy the man who endures temptation: for being tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them loving him.
Be not led astray, my dearly beloved brethren. Every good donation and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom not one change, or shadow of turning. read more. Having willed he brought forth by the word of truth, for us to be some first fruit of his creatures.
Having willed he brought forth by the word of truth, for us to be some first fruit of his creatures. Wherefore, my dearly beloved brethren, let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger:
Wherefore having put away all sordid avarice, and excess of wickedness, in meekness receive the implanted word, able to save your souls. And be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
And be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
And he having stooped into the perfect law of liberty, and remained, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of work, he shall be happy in his doing.
And he having stooped into the perfect law of liberty, and remained, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of work, he shall be happy in his doing.
Religion pure and unpolluted before God and the Father is this, To take a view of the orphans and widows in their pressure, to keep himself free from stain from the world.
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, of glory, with distinction of faces. For if there come into your synagogue a man wearing gold rings on is fingers, in brilliant clothing, and there come in also a beggar in filthy clothing;
Hear, my dearly beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the beggars of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them loving him?
Hear, my dearly beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the beggars of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them loving him?
Hear, my dearly beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the beggars of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them loving him?
Hear, my dearly beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the beggars of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them loving him? And ye have despised the beggar. Do not the rich bring you into subjection, and draw you before tribunals?
And ye have despised the beggar. Do not the rich bring you into subjection, and draw you before tribunals? And do they not defame the good name called upon you? read more. If yet ye complete the royal law according to the writing, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:
So also faith, if it have not works, is dead by itself.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: and the evil spirits believe, and shudder.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, having brought up Isaac his son upon the altar
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, having brought up Isaac his son upon the altar
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, having brought up Isaac his son upon the altar
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, having brought up Isaac his son upon the altar
Therefore ye see that man is justified from works, and not from faith alone. And likewise also was not Rehab the harlot justified by works, having received the messengers, and cast out by another way?
Much less from the same aperture does a fountain bubble out sweet and bitter?
Whence wars and fights among you? are they not hence, out of your sensual pleasures making war in your members
Whence wars and fights among you? are they not hence, out of your sensual pleasures making war in your members
Adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is the enmity of God? whoever therefore would wish to be the friend of the world is set the enemy of God.
Be ye humbled before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Speak not against one another, brethren. He speaking against a brother, and judging his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law: and if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Speak not against one another, brethren. He speaking against a brother, and judging his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law: and if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Speak not against one another, brethren. He speaking against a brother, and judging his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law: and if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Come on now, ye saying, To day or to morrow let us go to this city, and do there one year, and let us trade, and derive profit:
Behold, the hire of laborers having reaped your farms, withheld by you, cries out, and the cries of the reapers have entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
Ye have condemned, ye have killed the just one; and he resists you not.
Ye have condemned, ye have killed the just one; and he resists you not. Therefore be longsuffering, brethren, even to the arrival of the Lord. Behold, the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the earth, being longsuffering for it, even till he should receive the early and late rain. read more. Be longsuffering, ye also; make your hearts firm: for the arrival of the Lord has drawn near.
Take a pattern of affliction, my brethren, and of longsuffering, the prophets, who spake in the name of the Lord. Behold, we esteem those enduring happy. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and ye see the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
Behold, we esteem those enduring happy. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and ye see the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. And before all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, nor by earth, nor any other oath: and let your yea be yea; and nay, nay; that ye fall not under. judgment. read more. Does any suffer among you? let him pray. Is any cheerful? let him play on the harp. Is any sick among you let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, having anointed him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Elias was a man having similar feelings with us, and in prayer he prayed for it not to rain: and it rained not upon the earth for three years and six months.
Brethren, if any among you be led astray from the truth, and any should turn him back;
For to this were ye called: for also Christ suffered for you, leaving behind to you an underwriting, that ye should follow upon his footsteps:
As also in all the epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things difficult to understand, which the unlearned and unstable pervert, as also the rest of the writings, to their own perdition.
Morish
This was written to the twelve tribes which were in the dispersion, viewing them as still in relationship with God, though it was only the Jewish remnant, now become Christians, who professed the faith, which the Spirit gave, in the true Messiah. The moral measure of the life presented is the same as when the Lord was here among His disciples: it does not rise up to the position and principles of the church as found in Paul's epistles. The believers being in the midst of the Israelites, some of whom merely professed faith in Christ, accounts for the apostles address to the mass and the warning to professors. The epistle belongs in character to the transitional time in the early part of the Acts, when the believers went on with the temple worship, etc., before Paul's testimony came in. In some Greek MSS this epistle follows the Acts, preceding Paul's writings.
Referring to the various temptations into which saints fall, the apostle bids them count it all joy, inasmuch as the proving of faith works endurance. But this last must have her perfect work that they might be lacking in nothing. If wisdom be lacking, it should be sought in faith from God. The man who doubts will get nothing.
The poor and the rich had both that in which they could glory; the one in his exaltation, the other in his humiliation, being able rightly to judge of that which is but for a moment. The crown of life is for him who endures trial