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INDEX TO WHOLE SERIES
READ: JAMES 1:1-26 TEXT: v1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
If our copies/NT were published in the chronological order of the
writing of the Books, then some say this epistle/James would occupy
first spot
They say it was written early - some reckon between 45-53 AD
Others date it later, although ultimately it doesn't matter that much
It is a relatively short but very gritty little epistle
It's writer has been called the Amos/NT
Like his rustic OT counterpart, James called a spade a spade
His language in 4:4 surely ruffled a few feathers!
And that from a man who had just warned about the abuse/tongue
According to early church sources: Place in the canon was disputed
Later, even Martin Luther initially called it a "right strawy epistle"
(Remember: Rome had re-floated the Apocrypha and created confusion)
John Calvin said that he accepted it as authentic Scripture:
"I, however, am inclined to receive it without controversy, because I see no just cause for rejecting it"
"It is enough to make men to receive this Epistle, that it contains nothing unworthy of an Apostle of Christ"
Calvin notes the several objections and believed they could be answered
Some other Books/Scripture were likewise treated in the early days
Whole Epistle/Hebrews and the Song/Solomon etc.,
Chapters/Books were sometimes doubted (2 Peter 2/3)
Passages; John 7:53-8:11/Mark 16:12-20 and many individual verses
We reject the rejections and we run with this Epistle being from God
We believe it was given by inspiration and preserved by providence so that we can read/study it for ourselves
The world has changed much since James' day, but only in certain things
Fundamentally, human nature/human needs remain the same
This Epistle is as needful today as it ever has been
In this introductory message, must concentrate our thoughts on its opening verse (1:1) and see 3 main thoughts:
1) THE AUTHOR OF THE EPISTLE
When Calvin dismissed the controversy over the authenticity/Epistle, he had to confess:
"But as to the author, there is somewhat more reason for doubting"
Not that a man called James wrote it…but which one?
No less than 3 prominent individuals who bore this name
All rule out James, the brother/John and son/Zebedee who was executed early (Acts 12:2) in the history/church
Little support among the commentators for James, the son/Alphaeus even though he was an Apostle
Most believe it was written by the one who is called (Galatians 1:19)
James the Lord's brother and of whom we must learn a bit more
A/ The name he bore i.e. James
James is the Greek rendering of the OT Jacob
Interesting to think of some of the comparisons/contrasts between these
two prominent Biblical characters who share the same name
Chiefly this (Comparison) Both were men of faith
"Faith" is mentioned 12 times in this epistle - only 1 less than "works"
By contrast: Jacob was once a wily old character and very shrewd
James is very strong/this epistle on high ethical standards in business
Another point/comparison might be their emphasis in prayer:
Jacob wrestled with God in prayer (Genesis 32)
James wrote: 5:16 (Must be stated though: James mentions Job/Elijah but not his namesake)
He did not exploit this link which leads us to 2nd sub point:
B/ The connections he hid
James had a stronger connection than sharing the same name with Jacob
This in itself while suggestive, yet ultimately means nothing
Judas Iscariot carried the same name as the mighty OT Judah
But here is something that is greatly significant (because NT relates it)
James was the blood brother of our Lord Jesus Christ
In Galatians 1:19 he is distinctly called: The Lord's brother
Cannot be spiritualised because it becomes meaningless if applied to all
Fits with Matthew 13:55
Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
Mention/passing: Destroys the nonsense of Mary's perpetual virginity
Point is here: James does not mention it
Why not?
[i] Ultimately because the Spirit/God did not move him to do so
[ii] Humility - He wanted to be judged on what he said, not who he was
[iii] The earthly tie was inferior to the spiritual tie: Matthew 12:46-50
Do not contemptuously dismiss this link but we do not elevate it either
James himself did not and neither do we
[iv] Interesting that Paul does so (Galatians 1:19)
Some foolishly pit Paul and James against each other as if enemies
Not so - Paul acknowledges the link as if to dismiss this error
But Paul had another reason to relate it:
C/ The forgiveness he [James] experienced:
We have some biographical detail of James the Lord's earthly brother
In John 7:5 we read that Christ's brethren did not believe on Him
Even with all their knowledge, they did not receive Him as their Messiah
Words in John 7:4 are full of scepticism and allege pride on Christ's part
James' unbelief brought him into the condemnation of John 3:18/36
But James became a Christian! Got saved! Converted to his elder brother
When? Possibly after the Resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15:7
Again, ultimately the "when" doesn't matter - but the "how"
James himself writes about the new birth experience: 1:18
This whole epistle deals with serious aspects of the Christian life
Something which James had experienced
D/ The Lord he served:
Describes himself not as Paul had described him: Lord's brother
Not as Paul described him elsewhere: Pillar/church (Galatians 2:9)
Waived the supposed privileges which such a thing could bring
Probably could for see the dangers in how such a relationship with Jesus Christ could develop:
Consider Rome's elevation of Mary
Therefore he wanted to be simply known:
Servant (Slave) of God and the Lord Jesus Christ
He says: The humblest title will do me!
If we but see ourselves as the Lord's servants, then we have all the honour we need
He may have humbled himself - but he certainly elevated his older
brother, speaking of him in the same breath as God and calling Him
"Lord"
There was no more doubting/dissenting voice here
2) THE ADDRESSEES OF THE EPISTLE
the twelve tribes scattered abroad
A/ Who they were: Jewish Christians
Reference to the twelve tribes surely must give it a Jewish favour?
Although the tribes/OT made up the OT church, yet this phrase is never used of the church as a body in the NT
Reference made to their synagogue in 2:2 (translated: assembly)
Epistle is heavily weighed towards Christians to have unsaved Jews in mind
For example: It is faith without works in James 2 which James tackles
Not works/no faith - which unsaved Jews were guilty: Romans 10:2-3
Best letters for unsaved Jews: Romans possibly Galatians and Hebrews
B/ Where they lived: Scattered abroad (Diaspora)
After the captivity and subsequent revolutions of Kingdoms:
"Four quarters/world" (Calvin)
Aftershocks of the original scattering was still being felt
What we do affects those who come after us
Here were people who were now Christians, but they were living as a
distinct people with distinct privileges (Knowledge/true God) in the
midst of a dark, heathen, pagan world
Although they were still considered as part/Israel, yet they were divided from other Jews because of Christ
This very thing happened in Israel itself: John 7:43
As it is even now and in every place and always will be
Christ divides! (Matthew 10:35) We part at Jesus Christ
Christians rally round his banner - rest reject Him and so divide
C/ What they did: Sought to live for Christ in the place where they were
We can hardly do more and certainly not less than this
Even although they were cut off from the mainstream - yet they are
deemed worthy of a good solid letter to ensure that they too would be
servants of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
D/ Why they needed a letter like this:
We cannot do what we ought to do for God in our own understanding
We cannot throw away our Bibles and realign ourselves with the world
We will not survive at all if we do that
Contents/this epistle shows that even if we remain faithful and have
the Bible as our guiding star in all things - it will still be tough
Look at the very next verse - immediately after this greeting
TEMPTATIONS!
But God knows about them and in His rich/merciful providence, he took
James and had him pen these words to people who needed them most
Of course they are wider than the original names on the envelope
Our interest is not merely that we too are "abroad" but that we too have a saving faith in Jesus Christ
3) THE AIM OF THE EPISTLE
Why did James take time to write these words?
Let me tell you something more about James
When he was slaving for Jesus Christ, he was very busy in the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15) Plenty of Jews there! (Acts 21:20)
Why take the time to write to those whom probably he would never meet?
A/ To glorify God
This is what every servant/Christ was do: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Already seen how James does not exploit his earthly relationship/Christ
He rightly describes the Lord Jesus as the Lord of glory (2:1)
B/ To teach doctrine
Although James is not usually seen as a doctrinal book, yet you cannot
teach Christian ethics without doctrine - otherwise it is cold morality
Cold morality ultimately fails because sinful man cannot deliver
James includes some pretty fundamental doctrinal gems:
Nature of God: 1:17
Bible: 1:18/1:21/1:25/2:8
New Birth: 1:18
Justification: James 2 etc.,
C/ To direct pilgrims
These scattered tribes were effectively pilgrims: 1 Peter 2:11
This has always been the picture God draws of His people
From earliest days: Hebrews 11:13 and no less us; Hebrews 13:14
Sad reflection on the modern day church that we have prospered materially so well
Not wrong to be rich in this world's goods
austerity has no spiritual value automatically attached to it -
But it is wrong/harmful to get rooted/earth and lose our pilgrim attitude
It is a distinct witness to the unsaved round about us if we can show
them by the way we live that we are not earth rooted but heaven bound
D/ To rebuke sinners
Already mentioned nature/James' tone (Likened to Amos)
The letter is very gritty at times and to the point
Ends very abruptly too cp. Paul's smooth endings
Some hard words which doubtless caused offence (4:4)
Sins among God's people called for some hard measures (4:9) which
hardly endeared him to the Conference organisers - but all needed in
its place
E/ To encourage victims
Many temptations had befallen his readers (v2)
Need of patience (5:10) was not hypothetical/merely anticipated
While he wrote some tough things, yet his letter is full/tenderness also
He has something encouraging to say for all kinds of people
The tempted (1:2/1:12) brother/low degree (1:9) has something practical
to say that will help the fatherless and widows in their affliction
(1:27) He speaks for the poor/the assembly (2:1) - for the oppressed
workers (5:4) If this sounds very Socialistic - I hasten to say it is
not so
Much poverty in the west today is self induced - I speak of real victims
Those whinging liberals ought to think about the commandments/God (2:11) and see how they get on
We'll start the epistle proper next week.
THE END