What is the Letter of James?
It’s a short book in the New Testament of the Bible.
Who wrote it?
We don’t really know. Jesus had a brother named James and, at one time, people thought this letter was written by Jesus’ brother. But most contemporary scholars don’t think that is the case. Among the persuasive arguments that have led to this conclusion: scholars point out that no book in the New Testament says less about Jesus, which belies the suspected intimacy of a brother. The letter also was written in high Greek, not Aramaic, the native tongue of James, Jesus’ brother, nor Hebrew, nor the colloquial Jewish Greek of Palestine, which Jesus’ brother might have known.
The best conjecture is that this book was written between 70-80 CE during a time of war.
What is distive about this book?
James introduces himself in a unique way in the New Testament; he designates himself as a “bond servant” of both God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord as a title of Christ occurs in James 1:1, 2:1, and 5:14 with the name of Jesus mentioned only in the first two. The word “Lord” refers to God, not Jesus, in the other eleven times it is used in the Epistle.
The minimalist greeting is cool and impersonal indicating a less than personal relationship between the author and the readers. Since the Epistle is free from specific time, persons and place—it is ironically as fresh and useful today as when it was written.
The Letter of James is often listed among biblical “wisdom” literature. It has no general theme except as moral and ethical instruction made through brief statements with no logical order to their form. The style is from the Greek literary tradition but the content is Hebraic-Christian.
What does it say?
In the course of reading our new book (or studying it with a small group for 8 weeks), you’ll learn a lot about the wisdom in this little book.
Most Americans own more than one Bible, so you might want to flip open a couple of translations and get more acquainted with the text. You may even begin to discern how many of the nuggets of wisdom in James might relate to themes in James Bond’s adventures.
Within each chapter of the new book, biblical texts are shared in a King James Version.
But, for easier reading of the entire Letter of James, the International Bible Society has included a complete version of its innovative new “The Books of the Bible” format of this letter within our new book. This is a more contemporary version of James, developed by the IBS, which eliminates distracting chapter and verse markings to encourage smooth reading. We thank the IBS for sharing a sample of their new format with you via our Bond study book.
Brief excerpts from James:
The following text is taken from a King James Version, shortened and adapted here to give you a taste of what’s inside the biblical letter. It begins this way…
James, a bond servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greeting!
Friends, count it all joy when you fall into temptations, knowing this: that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and whole, wanting nothing.
If any of you lack wisdom, ask of God … and it shall be given. But ask in faith, nothing wavering.
Everyone is tempted…drawn away in lust and enticed. Then lust brings forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. Do not err, my beloved.
Do not let your faith show partiality toward persons. If a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, comes into your assembly and then a poor man in vile raiment comes after him—and you show respect to the one in goodly clothing, and say to this one: Sit here in a good place; and say to the poor: Stand over there, or sit here under my footstool—are you not showing partiality and are judges of evil thoughts?
Has not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, as heirs of the kingdom? But you have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do they not blaspheme that worthy name by which you are called?
Where envying and strife are—there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Now, you rich, weep and howl for miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. You have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the laborers who have reaped your fields, whom you have defrauded, cry out to you; and their cries have entered into the ears of the Lord.
Be patient therefore unto the coming of the Lord. Establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is near.
Are any among you afflicted? Pray.
Are any merry? Sing psalms.
Are any sick among you? The prayer of faith shall save the sick.
Confess your faults one to another; and pray one for another, that you may be healed.
