Understanding Major Themes in the Book of James
Delve into the profound messages of the Book of James focusing on topics such as favoritism, righteousness, wealth, and poverty. Discover why the author challenges societal norms and explores the dichotomy between the treatment of the rich and the poor. Gain insights into the implications of God's love for all individuals, regardless of their financial status.
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Deep Dive August 4, 11, 18, 25 & September 1 Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Calm in a time of Crisis, Calm in a time of Crisis, Reason in an Age of Rage Reason in an Age of Rage
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Main Question Throughout: Main Question Throughout: Is the author of James nuts? Is the author of James nuts?
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Chapter 2 Chapter 2 1My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?2For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in,
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Chapter 2 Chapter 2 3and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, Have a seat here, please , while to the one who is poor you say, Stand there , or, Sit at my feet ,4have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Favoritism Favoritism = Judgment = Judgment Major Jamnian theme: Major Jamnian theme: Poverty = righteousness, blessing Poverty = righteousness, blessing Wealth/rich = worldliness, separation from God Wealth/rich = worldliness, separation from God Does God really love the poor more than the rich? Evidence? Does God really love the poor more than the rich? Evidence?
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Chapter 2 Chapter 2 5Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?6But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court?7Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Major Jamnian Context: Major Jamnian Context: Wealthy residents using wealth and power to oppress Wealthy residents using wealth and power to oppress and persecute Christian refugees and immigrants. and persecute Christian refugees and immigrants. Central to Hebrew faith & Judaism is the remembrance Central to Hebrew faith & Judaism is the remembrance that they were a people enslaved in a foreign land. that they were a people enslaved in a foreign land. Welcoming the stranger, the refugee, the immigrant was Welcoming the stranger, the refugee, the immigrant was a basic expectation of God s people. a basic expectation of God s people.
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Major Jamnian Context: Major Jamnian Context: Discuss the implications of the Hebrew Discuss the implications of the Hebrew faith and James teaching about refugees faith and James teaching about refugees and immigrants on what we are seeing in and immigrants on what we are seeing in the country and world today. the country and world today.
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Chapter 2 Chapter 2 8You do well if you really fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 9But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.10For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Major Jamnian theme: Major Jamnian theme: All or nothing All or nothing No partial Christians No partial Christians What challenges does conversion totality What challenges does conversion totality provide to the concept of a developmental provide to the concept of a developmental spirituality? Can this be both/and rather than spirituality? Can this be both/and rather than either/or? either/or?
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Chapter 2 Chapter 2 11For the one who said, You shall not commit adultery , also said, You shall not murder. Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.12So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.13For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Major Jamnian Context: Major Jamnian Context: LAW vs. laws LAW vs. laws Obedience to God is absolute in Hebrew Obedience to God is absolute in Hebrew theology. The laws support THE LAW. We theology. The laws support THE LAW. We will transgress laws while we commit to will transgress laws while we commit to THE LAW. God knows this, thus, mercy. THE LAW. God knows this, thus, mercy.
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Major Jamnian Context: Major Jamnian Context: What changes would occur in our practice What changes would occur in our practice of the Christian faith were we to shift of the Christian faith were we to shift attention from the things we do wrong to attention from the things we do wrong to our disconnection and distance from our disconnection and distance from God s will and intention for creation? God s will and intention for creation?
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Chapter 2 Chapter 2 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you?15If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food,16and one of you says to them, Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill , and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?17So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Major Jamnian theme: Major Jamnian theme: Why Now? Faith without works is dead Faith without works is dead The Apostle Paul teaches justification by faith The Apostle Paul teaches justification by faith alone, and that there is nothing we can do to earn alone, and that there is nothing we can do to earn God s grace and redemption. How do you God s grace and redemption. How do you reconcile this with James faith without works is reconcile this with James faith without works is dead? dead?
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Chapter 2 Chapter 2 18 But someone will say, You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.19You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe and shudder.20Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith without works is barren?
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Who exactly is James speaking to? Who exactly is James speaking to? The Epistle of James is all over the map, jumping The Epistle of James is all over the map, jumping from theme to theme, making broad, general from theme to theme, making broad, general declarative statements alongside individual, specific declarative statements alongside individual, specific instructions. instructions. Who might have been the recipients of this letter? Who might have been the recipients of this letter?
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? X X After 70 C.E., Jewish converts to After 70 C.E., Jewish converts to Christianity had to leave Christianity had to leave Jerusalem and the major parts of Jerusalem and the major parts of Israel/Judea. Israel/Judea. X X Jamnia Jamnia X X Jerusalem Jerusalem X X X X In almost every location a unique In almost every location a unique version of Christianity existed. As version of Christianity existed. As is often the case, rich influential is often the case, rich influential residents controlled poor residents controlled poor powerless immigrants. powerless immigrants. X X X X X X X X X X
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? X X Implicit in James letter are the Implicit in James letter are the following divisions: following divisions: Resident/Immigrant Resident/Immigrant Rich/Poor Rich/Poor Influential/Powerless Influential/Powerless Equivocators/Literalists Equivocators/Literalists False teachers/Innocent students False teachers/Innocent students Unjust judges/wrongly judged Unjust judges/wrongly judged Comfortable/suffering Comfortable/suffering X X Jamnia Jamnia X X Jerusalem Jerusalem X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Chapter 2 Chapter 2 21Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?22You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works.23Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness , and he was called the friend of God.
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Major Jamnian themes: Major Jamnian themes: Justification through works Justification through works Faith is active rather than passive, behavior rather than belief Faith is active rather than passive, behavior rather than belief Paul s definition of justification Paul s definition of justification gift of God, freely given, cannot be earned through works freely given, cannot be earned through works Why Now? gift of God, James definition of justification James definition of justification reward of God, prepared for and available to all, validated prepared for and available to all, validated through works through works reward of God,
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Why Now? Chapter 2 Chapter 2 24You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.25Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road?26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
Why James, Why James, Why Now? Major Jamnian themes: Major Jamnian themes: Evidence Evidence what is the evidence that God is what is the evidence that God is actually the Lord and Master of our lives? actually the Lord and Master of our lives? Why Now? Actions Actions Actions are the outward and visible signs of our Actions are the outward and visible signs of our inward and spiritual states. No works? No true faith. inward and spiritual states. No works? No true faith.
