Study 0 From the Book of James is: The Introduction
of the Book of James
It is generally believed
that this letter was written by James, the brother of our Lord. During Christ’s
life on earth he was an unbeliever (Jn 7:5), but was converted when Jesus
appeared to him after His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:7). He was austere in
disposition and practical in character. In the book of Acts (see 12:17; 15:13-21;
21:18 and also Gal. 2:9) he appears as leader of the church at Jerusalem. He
was killed by the Jews about AD 61.
The letter addressed to the
‘twelve tribes in the dispersion’ (1:1), that is, to fellow-Jews living outside
Palestine. It is terse and forceful, yet vivid and dramatic in style. It begins
and end abruptly, to encourage those who were passing through a period of trial
and suffering; but at the same time rebukes such failings as profession of
faith without the practice of it, sins of speech, strife and envying, eagerness
to take the positions of teachers, and lack of steadfast endurance. He urges
his readers to the ‘doers of the word, and not hearers only’, to express their
Christian faith not in outward formality and barren profession, but by seeking
to obey from the heart God’s perfect law of liberty in the manifold
relationships of life.
The central thought is that
‘faith apart from works is barren’ (2:20). Justification is by faith, but the
faith that justifies is a living faith which, by an inherent irrepressible
necessity, must produce good works, or express itself in active self-committal
and obedience.
