NT Survey INT Survey I

Overview of the Epistles and Overview of the Epistles and the Epistle of Jamesthe Epistle of James

Overview of the EpistlesOverview of the Epistles

Purpose of the Epistles: to provide Purpose of the Epistles: to provide instruction for Christ’s church as it was instruction for Christ’s church as it was spread across the Roman empire.spread across the Roman empire.

They were occasional in nature, that is, They were occasional in nature, that is, prompted by a particular historical prompted by a particular historical situation and need.situation and need.

They were written with authority and They were written with authority and established the “presence” of the writer established the “presence” of the writer with his readers.with his readers.

Grouping of the Epistles:Grouping of the Epistles: Pauline (13); will look at these in the spring.Pauline (13); will look at these in the spring. Non-Pauline (8); also known as General EpistlesNon-Pauline (8); also known as General Epistles RevelationRevelation

Introductory Matters for Introductory Matters for JamesJames

Author:Author: Not the Apostle James, but James the Not the Apostle James, but James the brother of our Lord. James was a devout Jew who brother of our Lord. James was a devout Jew who was thoroughly steeped in the OT. He was a key was thoroughly steeped in the OT. He was a key participant in the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), participant in the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), became a pillar in the church in Jerusalem (Gal became a pillar in the church in Jerusalem (Gal 2:9), and was known as “camel knees” for his 2:9), and was known as “camel knees” for his devotion to prayer.devotion to prayer.

Date:Date: The content of the letter argues for an early The content of the letter argues for an early date, some time between 45 and 48 AD, making date, some time between 45 and 48 AD, making it the earliest of the NT books.it the earliest of the NT books.

Audience and Occasion:Audience and Occasion: “the twelve tribes “the twelve tribes dispersed abroad,” i.e. Jewish Christians outside dispersed abroad,” i.e. Jewish Christians outside of the land of Israel who evidently were struggling of the land of Israel who evidently were struggling with such issues as impatience, materialism, with such issues as impatience, materialism, disunity, and spiritual apathy.disunity, and spiritual apathy.

Character of the book:Character of the book: Deals with very practical Deals with very practical issues of the Christian faith, being a doer of the issues of the Christian faith, being a doer of the Word and not just a hearer.Word and not just a hearer.

Major Themes in JamesMajor Themes in James

Trials/Temptation/SinTrials/Temptation/Sin EnduranceEndurance Faith and its Relationship to WorksFaith and its Relationship to Works The TongueThe Tongue Worldliness/Worldly Wisdom vs. Worldliness/Worldly Wisdom vs.

Heavenly WisdomHeavenly Wisdom RichesRiches PrayerPrayer

Purpose Statement for Purpose Statement for JamesJames

James writes to address apparent James writes to address apparent contradictions between his Jewish contradictions between his Jewish readers’ confessions and their lives, readers’ confessions and their lives, urging them to be doers of the Word urging them to be doers of the Word and not merely hearers; true faith and not merely hearers; true faith works!works! Faith + works = salvationFaith + works = salvation Faith = salvation + worksFaith = salvation + works

Survey of JamesSurvey of James Trials and Temptations (1:1-17)Trials and Temptations (1:1-17)

James discusses the beneficial nature of trials. James discusses the beneficial nature of trials. He makes clear that God tempts no man, but He makes clear that God tempts no man, but each man is tempted when he is carried away each man is tempted when he is carried away by his own lust. God is the giver of every good by his own lust. God is the giver of every good and perfect gift.and perfect gift.

The Reception of the Word (1:19-27)The Reception of the Word (1:19-27) Believers are to humbly receive the implanted Believers are to humbly receive the implanted

Word, which is able to save their souls. They Word, which is able to save their souls. They are to be doers of the Word, the theme of this are to be doers of the Word, the theme of this letter.letter.

The Respect of Persons (2:1-13)The Respect of Persons (2:1-13) James confronts those who show partiality to James confronts those who show partiality to

the rich over the poor, and encourages his the rich over the poor, and encourages his readers to fulfill the royal law of love, readers to fulfill the royal law of love, regardless of the social status of the recipient.regardless of the social status of the recipient.

Survey of JamesSurvey of James The Relation Between Faith and Works (2:14-27)The Relation Between Faith and Works (2:14-27)

Faith without works is dead. This does not contradict Paul’s Faith without works is dead. This does not contradict Paul’s teaching on justification by faith alone, but complements it teaching on justification by faith alone, but complements it by showing that true faith produces works.by showing that true faith produces works.

The Teacher, the Tongue, and Two Kinds of Wisdom The Teacher, the Tongue, and Two Kinds of Wisdom (3:1-18)(3:1-18) Teachers incur stricter judgment. The tongue, though small, Teachers incur stricter judgment. The tongue, though small,

can lead to big trouble; it must be controlled. The source of can lead to big trouble; it must be controlled. The source of wisdom is demonstrated by its attitudes and deeds.wisdom is demonstrated by its attitudes and deeds.

The Warning Against Worldliness (4:1-17)The Warning Against Worldliness (4:1-17) Friendship with the world is hostility towards God. God gives Friendship with the world is hostility towards God. God gives

grace to the humble, but resists the proud. Do not speak grace to the humble, but resists the proud. Do not speak against a brother, and make your plans subject to the Lord’s against a brother, and make your plans subject to the Lord’s will.will.

Prospects of the Rich, Patience until the Lord’s Prospects of the Rich, Patience until the Lord’s Coming, and Prayer (5:1-20)Coming, and Prayer (5:1-20) Warning to the rich and exhortation to the afflicted to be Warning to the rich and exhortation to the afflicted to be

patient until the coming of the Lord. Turn to prayer in all patient until the coming of the Lord. Turn to prayer in all circumstances.circumstances.

Next Week: Epistle to the Next Week: Epistle to the HebrewsHebrews