AUTHORSHIP UNCERTAIN.
There are three prominent persons named James, in the New Testament. It is quite generally agreed that James, called by Paul “the Lord’s brother” was the writer of the epistle. # Gal 1:19
TO WHOM ADDRESSED. Apparently to the Jewish converts who lived outside the Holy Land; possibly also to the devout Jews of the dispersion # Jas 1:1
MAIN THEME, Practical Religion, manifesting itself in good works, contrasted with mere Profession of Faith.
KEY TEXTS
# Jas 1:27 2:26
IMAGINARY DOCTRINAL CONFLICT BETWEEN PAUL AND JAMES.
Some have seen a conflict of doctrine between the teachings of this epistle and that of Romans. This is purely imaginary. Paul, harassed by Judaistic teachers in the churches, naturally laid great stress upon JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH apart from trust in ceremonial observances. Nevertheless, when writing to Titus, he made the IMPORTANCE OF GOOD WORKS the main subject of his epistle, thus showing his perfect harmony with the teachings of James. It is evident that the latter, when he seems to depreciate faith, is referring to mere intellectual assent to truth, and not to “saving faith” spoken of by Paul.
SYNOPSIS. This epistle does not easily lend itself to analysis, but most of the material may be arranged under two headings, True and False Religion.
PART I. The Marks of True Religion.
Ch. 1.
(1) Joy and patience in the midst of trials # Jas 1:2-4
(2) Unwavering faith and singleness of mind # Jas 1:5-8
(3) Acceptance of the providential allotments of life # Jas 1:9-11
(4) The endurance of temptation # Jas 1:12
(5) The recognition of the sources of temptation and the results of yielding thereto # Jas 1:13-15
(6) The recognition of the divine source of all blessings # Jas 1:16-18
(7) Spiritual hearing, deliberation in speech, and patience under provocation # Jas 1:19,20
(8) Forsaking all evil, and the meek reception of saving truth # Jas 1:21
(9) Searching after the truth and practising it # Jas 1:25
(10) Practical philanthropy and purity # Jas 1:27
Ch. 2.
(11) Good works
(a) As a demonstration of faith # Jas 1:18
(b) Cooperating with, and perfecting faith # Jas 1:21-25
Ch. 3.
(12) Heavenly wisdom # Jas 2:17,18
PART II. The marks of False Profession.
Ch 1.
(1) Careless and forgetful hearing of The Word # Jas 1:22-24
(2) The semblance of religion, accompanied by the unbridled tongue # Jas 1:26
Ch. 2.
(3) Respect of persons; honouring the rich and despising the poor # Jas 2:1-9
(4) Partial obedience to the law # Jas 2:10-12
(5) Unmercifulness # Jas 2:13
(6) Mere profession of faith unaccompanied by acts of mercy and help # Jas 2:14-16
(7) Inactive faith # Jas 2:17,18
(8) Intellectual assent to truth, without change of character # Jas 2:19,20
Ch. 3.
(9) The unbridled tongue, destructive in its influence # Jas 3:1-8
(10) Blessings and cursings proceeding from the same mouth # Jas 3:9-12
(11) Envy, strife and satanic wisdom # Jas 3:14-16
Ch. 4.
(12) Unrest and unholy passions # Jas 4:1,2
(13) Unanswered prayer and worldliness # Jas 4:3,4
(14) Pride, stubbornest, impurity, double-mindedness, and impenitence # Jas 4:5-9
(15) Evil speaking and uncharitable judgments # Jas 4:11,12
(16) Presumption in arranging future business enterprises # Jas 4:13-16
(17) Neglect of known duty # Jas 4:17
PART III. Warnings, Exhortations, and Instructions.
Ch. 5.
(1) Warnings to the rich.
(a) Concerning future misery # Jas 5:1,2
(b) Respecting hoarded wealth, and withholding the wages of the poor # Jas 5:3,4
(c) Concerning pleasure seeking and persecution of the righteous # Jas 5:5,6
(2) Exhortations in view of the coming of the Lord.
(a) To be patient and steadfast, refraining from murmuring against one another
# Jas 5:7-10
(b) To follow the example of the prophets and Job, in patient endurance # Jas 5:10,11
(c) To refrain entirely from oaths # Jas 5:12
(3) Instructions respecting prayer, confession of faults, and soul-winning.
(a) Prayer in time of trouble and for the sick # Jas 5:13-15
(b) The confession of faults and intercessory prayer # Jas 5:16
(c) Effectual prayer illustrated by Elijah # Jas 5:16-18
(d) The duty of soul-winning # Jas 5:19,20