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.
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and because they recognized the favor God had shown me, James, Cephas, and John, the so-called pillar apostles, gave Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, with the understanding that we should go to the heathen and they to the Jews.
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.
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But your way of speaking must be a simple 'Yes' or 'No.' Anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
"Stop storing up your riches on earth where moths and rust make away with them, and where thieves break in and steal them.
No one can be a slave to two masters, for either he will hate one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and money.
"Stop criticizing others, so that you may not be criticized yourselves. For exactly as you criticize others, you will be criticized, and in accordance with the measure that you give to others, it will be measured back to you. read more. Why do you keep watching the tiny speck in your brother's eye, but pay no attention to the girder in your own? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me get that tiny speck out of your eye,' while all the time there is a girder in your own? You hypocrite, first get the girder out of your own eye, and then you can see well enough to get the tiny speck out of your brother's eye.
"Keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you.
You must recognize them by their fruits. People do not pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles, do they?
And the rain fell, and the rivers rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not fall, for its pillars had been laid on a rocky foundation.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
I solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Get up and throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt at all in his heart, but has faith that what he says will take place, shall have it.
Then He fixed His eyes upon His disciples, and began to speak. "Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours!
But a curse on you who are rich, for you are now receiving your comforts in full.
If you know all this, happy are you if you practice it.
They sent this letter by them: "The apostles and elders as brothers send greeting to the brothers from among the heathen in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. As we have heard that some of our number have disturbed you by their teaching, by continuing to unsettle your minds,
Therefore, you have no excuse, whoever you are, who pose as a judge of others, for when you pass judgment on another, you condemn yourself, for you who pose as a judge are practicing the very same sins yourself.
For when He finally judges, He will pay everyone with exactness for what he has done, eternal life to those who patiently continue doing good and striving for glory, honor, and immortality, read more. but wrath and fury, crushing suffering and awful anguish, to the self-willed who are always resisting the right and yielding to the wrong, to every human soul who practices doing evil, the Jew first and then the Greek. But glory, honor, and peace will come to everyone who practices doing good, the Jew first and then the Greek; for there is no partiality in God's dealings. All who sin without having the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For merely hearing the law read does not make men upright with God, but men who practice the law will be recognized as upright.
For merely hearing the law read does not make men upright with God, but men who practice the law will be recognized as upright. Indeed, when heathen people who have no law instinctively do what the law demands, although they have no law, they are a law to themselves, read more. for they show that the deeds the law demands are written on their hearts, because their consciences will testify for them, and their inner thoughts will either accuse or defend them, on the day when God through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the good news I preach, will judge the secrets people have kept. Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on law, and boast about God, and understand His will, and by being instructed in the law can know the things that excel, and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those in darkness, a tutor of the foolish, a teacher of the young, since you have a knowledge of the truth as formulated in the law --
Not at all. Let God prove true, though every man be false! As the Scripture says, "That you may prove yourself upright in words you speak, and win your case when you go into court."
Because no human creature can be brought into right standing with God by observing the law. For all the law can do is to make men conscious of sin.
God's own way of giving men right standing with Himself is through faith in Jesus Christ. It is for everybody who has faith, for no distinction at all is made.
yes, to demonstrate His justice at the present time, to prove that He is right Himself, and that He considers right with Himself the man who has faith in Jesus.
For we hold that a man is brought into right standing with God by faith, that observance of the law has no connection with it.
For we hold that a man is brought into right standing with God by faith, that observance of the law has no connection with it.
Then what are we to say about our forefather Abraham?
And not only that, but this too: let us continue exulting in our sufferings, for we know that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, tested character, and tested character, hope, read more. and hope never disappoints us; for through the Holy Spirit that has been given us, God's love has flooded our hearts.
but I see another power operating in my lower nature in conflict with the power operated by my reason, which makes me a prisoner to the power of sin which is operating in my lower nature.
The night has almost passed; the day is at hand. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness, and put on the weapons of light.
Who are you to criticize another man's servant? It is his own master's business whether he stands or falls, and he will stand, for the Lord has power to make him stand.
and not another single one of the apostles did I see, except James, the Lord's brother.
because we know that a man does not come into right standing with God by doing what the law commands, but by simple trust in Christ, we too have trusted in Christ Jesus, in order to come into right standing with God by simple trust in Christ and not by doing what the law commands, because by doing what the law commands no man can come into right standing with God.
because we know that a man does not come into right standing with God by doing what the law commands, but by simple trust in Christ, we too have trusted in Christ Jesus, in order to come into right standing with God by simple trust in Christ and not by doing what the law commands, because by doing what the law commands no man can come into right standing with God.
For in union with Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor lack of it counts for anything; but only faith that is spurred on to action by love.
For during His human life He offered up prayers and entreaties, crying aloud with tears to Him who was always able to save Him out of death, and because of His beautiful spirit of worship His prayer was heard.
By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who disobeyed God, because she had welcomed the scouts as friends.
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends greetings to the twelve tribes that are scattered over the world.
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends greetings to the twelve tribes that are scattered over the world.
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends greetings to the twelve tribes that are scattered over the world.
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends greetings to the twelve tribes that are scattered over the world. You must consider it the purest joy, my brothers, when you are involved in various trials, read more. for you surely know that what is genuine in your faith produces the patient mind that endures; but you must let your endurance come to its perfect product, so that you may be fully developed and perfectly equipped, without any defects. But if any one of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask God who generously gives to everyone and never reproaches one with its lack, and it will be given to him.
and the rich brother rejoice in his being on a level with the poor, because the rich will fade away like the flower of the grass.
and the rich brother rejoice in his being on a level with the poor, because the rich will fade away like the flower of the grass.
Blessed is the person who endures trial, for when he stands the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.
You must avoid being misled, my dearly loved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect boon is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, in whom there is no variation or changing shadow. read more. In accordance with His will He made us His children by the message of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.
In accordance with His will He made us His children by the message of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. You must understand this, my dearly loved brothers. Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to get angry;
So strip yourselves of everything impure and all the evils prevailing around you, and in humble spirit welcome the message which when rooted in your hearts is able to save your souls. Keep on obeying this message; do not merely listen to it, and so deceive yourselves.
Keep on obeying this message; do not merely listen to it, and so deceive yourselves.
But the man who looks at the flawless law that makes men free, and keeps on looking, proving himself to be, not a forgetful hearer but an actual doer of what it requires, will be blessed in what he does.
But the man who looks at the flawless law that makes men free, and keeps on looking, proving himself to be, not a forgetful hearer but an actual doer of what it requires, will be blessed in what he does.
A religious worship that is pure and stainless in the sight of God the Father is this: To look after orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep one's own self unstained by the world.
My brothers, stop trying to maintain your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious presence of God on earth, along with acts of partiality to certain ones. For if a man with a gold ring, dressed in fine clothes, comes to your meeting, and at the same time a poor man clad in dirty clothes,
Listen, my dearly loved brothers. Has not God chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith and to possess the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
Listen, my dearly loved brothers. Has not God chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith and to possess the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
Listen, my dearly loved brothers. Has not God chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith and to possess the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
Listen, my dearly loved brothers. Has not God chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith and to possess the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you, in contrast, have humiliated the poor man. Are not the rich men those who oppress you and drag you to court?
But you, in contrast, have humiliated the poor man. Are not the rich men those who oppress you and drag you to court? Are not they the ones who scoff at the beautiful name you bear? read more. But if you really observe the law of the King in accordance with the Scripture, "You must love your neighbor as you do yourself," you are doing right;
So faith by itself, if it has no deeds to back it up, is dead.
Do you believe in one God? Very well; the demons, too, believe that, and shudder.
Was not our forefather Abraham shown to be upright by his good deeds, namely, by offering Isaac his son upon the altar?
Was not our forefather Abraham shown to be upright by his good deeds, namely, by offering Isaac his son upon the altar?
Was not our forefather Abraham shown to be upright by his good deeds, namely, by offering Isaac his son upon the altar?
Was not our forefather Abraham shown to be upright by his good deeds, namely, by offering Isaac his son upon the altar?
You see that a man is shown to be upright by his good deeds, and not merely by his faith. Was not even Rahab the prostitute shown to be upright by her good deeds, namely, by entertaining the scouts and sending them off by a different road?
A fountain cannot pour from the same opening fresh and brackish water, can it?
What causes wars and quarrels among you? Is it not your different desires which are ever at war within your bodies? You desire things and cannot have them, and so you commit murder.
What causes wars and quarrels among you? Is it not your different desires which are ever at war within your bodies? You desire things and cannot have them, and so you commit murder.
You faithless wives! Do you not know that the friendship of the world means enmity with God? So whoever wants to be a friend to the world puts himself down as an enemy to God.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you high. Stop talking against one another, brothers. Whoever is in the habit of talking against a brother or of criticizing his brother is criticizing and condemning the law. But if you are in the habit of criticizing the law, you are not a practicer but a critic of the law.
Stop talking against one another, brothers. Whoever is in the habit of talking against a brother or of criticizing his brother is criticizing and condemning the law. But if you are in the habit of criticizing the law, you are not a practicer but a critic of the law.
Stop talking against one another, brothers. Whoever is in the habit of talking against a brother or of criticizing his brother is criticizing and condemning the law. But if you are in the habit of criticizing the law, you are not a practicer but a critic of the law.
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to such and such a city and stay a year, go into business and make money,"
See, the wages that you have kept back from the laborers who reaped your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
You have condemned and murdered the upright man; he offers no resistance.
You have condemned and murdered the upright man; he offers no resistance. So be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer keeps on waiting and waiting for the precious crop from his land; how he keeps up his patience over it until he gets the early and late rains, read more. You must be patient, too; you must put iron into your hearts, because the coming of the Lord is close at hand.
As an example of ill-treatment and patience, brothers, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord. See how we call those who thus endured happy! You have heard how patiently Job endured and have seen how the Lord finally blessed him, because the Lord is tenderhearted and merciful.
See how we call those who thus endured happy! You have heard how patiently Job endured and have seen how the Lord finally blessed him, because the Lord is tenderhearted and merciful. Above all, my brothers, stop swearing, either by heaven or by the earth, or by anything else. Let your "Yes" mean Yes, and your "No," No, so as to keep from falling under condemnation. read more. Is any one of you suffering ill-treatment? He should keep on praying. Is anyone in a happy mood? He should keep on singing praise to God. Is anyone sick among you? He should call in the elders of the church, and they should pray over him, and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord,
Elijah was a man with feelings just like ours, and yet he earnestly prayed for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
My brothers, if any one of you has wandered away from the truth, and someone brings him back,
Indeed, it was to this kind of living that you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you might follow His footsteps.
speaking of it as he does in all his letters. In them are some things hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsteady twist to their ruin, as they do the rest of the Scriptures.
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