Video Introduction

Summary

This chapter offers a brief overview of the contents of James, followed by discussion of historical background and major themes.

In terms of historical background, the book has traditionally been regarded as a letter from James the brother of Jesus to Jewish Christians who live outside of Palestine. Some scholars think the letter is actually pseudepigraphical, but in any case, it does reflect a Jewish Christian perspective influenced by Israelite wisdom tradition, Greco-Roman diatribe, and the teachings of Jesus.

The letter of James encourages its readers to develop a positive outlook on trials and temptations, including temptations to sin, which, when resisted, strengthen their faith. The letter also contrasts “wisdom from above” with worldly wisdom and urges its readers not to be double-minded in trying to hold to both. Most notably, James addresses the issue of “faith and works” and appears to contradict what Paul says about people being made righteous by faith alone. Most scholars, however, assume that James means something different by “faith” (and possibly by “works”) than Paul did, such that the apparent disagreement is largely one of semantics. Finally, the letter of James exhibits pronounced concern for the poor and an attendant hostility toward the rich.

Study Questions

1. Summarize what is known about James, the brother of Jesus. How is he presented in the New Testament, and what do we know of him from other sources?

2. Give two ways in which James exhibits common features of Wisdom literature, providing an example of each.

3. What is the “wisdom from above” about which James speaks, and how does one acquire it? Give half a dozen illustrations of what would characterize people who possess such wisdom.

4. Compare and contrast what the letter of James says about “faith and works” with what is said about “faith and works” in Paul’s letters. How might the two perspectives be reconciled?

5. What marks a person as “poor” according to the letter of James, and what marks a person as “rich”? What advice does James give the church concerning the poor? What does James suggest rich people ought to do?

Explore Readings

These readings provide a chance for you to explore the New Testament in more depth. The boxes from the text are included here, as well as bibliographies and outlines for the books of the New Testament.

All the Explore readings can also be downloaded as PDFs here.

• 25.0. James: Outline of Contents

• 25.1. James in the Revised Common Lectionary

• 25.2. Bibliography: James

• 25.3. Parallels between James and the Sermon on the Mount

• 25.4. Parallels between James and Proverbs

• 25.5. Propositions about God in the Letter of James (Box 25.5)

• 25.6. Rich and Poor in James (Box 25.7)

• 25.7. James and the Other Brothers of Jesus (Box 25.1)

• 25.8. James and the Wisdom Tradition (Box 25.3)

• 25.9. James in the Christian Canon

• 25.10. Jerome on the Authorship of James (Box 25.5)

• 25.11. An “Epistle of Straw”: What Martin Luther Said about James

• 25.12. Authorship of James

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Video: The Poor in James

Interactive: Parallels between James and Proverbs

Click to see parallels between James and Proverbs.