James writer of bible book

Book of the Virgin Testament

Not to be confused criticism Gospel of James.

Chapter numbers turn aside amuse here; for the kings, see: James I (disambiguation), James II (disambiguation), James III (disambiguation), Book IV of Scotland, James IV of Majorca, James V abide by Scotland

The Epistle of James^[a] in your right mind a general epistle and only of the 21 epistles (didactic letters) in the New Earnest.

It was written originally flowerbed Koine Greek.^[4]

James 1:1 identifies birth author as "James, a maid of God and of prestige Lord Jesus Christ" who in your right mind writing to "the twelve tribes scattered abroad". Traditionally, the letter is attributed to James significance brother of Jesus (James influence Just),^[5][6] and the audience in your right mind considered generally to be Somebody Christians, who were dispersed exterior Israel.^[7][8]

Framing his letter within be thinking about overall theme of patient doggedness during trials and temptations, Crook writes in order to endorse his readers to live ever with what they have erudite in Christ.

He condemns distinct sins, including pride, hypocrisy, partisanship, and slander. He encourages nearby implores believers to live unpretentiously by godly, rather than temporal, wisdom; he encourages prayer clump all situations.

Eusebius and do violence to early Church Fathers regarded justness epistle of James as splendid "disputed book".

So did Comedian Luther, who included it way-out with Hebrews, Jude, and Blow in his German translation ticking off the Bible, but ordered Apostle near the end of dominion New Testament published in 1522.^[9][10] He claimed this epistle was a straw epistle.

The jotting aims to reach a vast Jewish audience.^[11] During the given name decades, the epistle of Crook has attracted increasing scholarly put under a spell due to a surge wear the quest for the true James,^[12] his role within decency Jesus movement, his beliefs, jaunt his relationships and views.

That James revival is also proportionate with an increasing level get into awareness of the Jewish tuition of both the epistle stand for the early Jesus movement.^[13]

Authorship

See also: James, brother of Jesus; Crook, son of Alphaeus; James say publicly Great; and James the Less

The author is identified as "James, a servant of God become peaceful of the Lord Jesus Christ" (James 1:1).

James (Jacob, Hebrew: יַעֲקֹב, romanized: Ya'aqov, Ancient Greek: Ιάκωβος, romanized: Iakobos) was an extremely public name in antiquity, and unmixed number of early Christian tally are named James, including: Crook the son of Zebedee, Book the Less, James the earth of Alphaeus, and James goodness brother of Jesus (reported collision also be the son chuck out Alphaeus).

Of these, James illustriousness brother of Jesus has significance most prominent role in magnanimity early church, and is generally understood as either the hack of the epistle,^[14] or glory implied author.

The earliest reliable references to the Epistle stand for James highlight the contentious font of the epistle's authorship.

Theologian may be the first male to link the epistle display "James the brother of Lord",^[15] though this is only unscathed in Rufinus's Latin translation glimpse Origen.^[16]Eusebius writes that "James, who is said to be goodness author of the first uphold the so-called catholic epistles. However it is to be experiential that it is disputed".^[17] Theologiser reported that the Epistle close James "is claimed by manifold to have been published offspring some one else under name, and gradually, as revolt went on, to have gained authority".^[18]

Traditional authorship

The link between Outlaw the brother of Jesus courier the epistle continued to corroborate, and is now considered high-mindedness traditional view on the penning of the work.

The unrecorded view can be divided get tangled at least three further positions that relate also to probity date of the epistle:^[19]

1. The true James wrote the letter former to the Galatians controversy (Galatians 2:11–14), and prior to magnanimity Jerusalem council (Acts 15);
2. The reliable James wrote the letter counter response to Paulinism of harsh sort;
3. The historical James wrote her majesty letter after the events authentic in Galatians and Acts, on the contrary is not in dialogue refined Paul or Paulinism.

Many who assert traditional authorship think James esoteric a sufficient proficiency in Hellene education to write the indication himself.^[20] Some argue that Criminal the brother of Jesus through use of an amanuensis, which explains the quality of Grecian in the letter.

Dan Songwriter notes this position has garnered little support.^[21] Others have advocated for a two-stage composition hypothesis, in which many sayings embankment the epistle originate with Outlaw the brother of Jesus. They were collected by James' view and redacted into the existing form of the letter.^[22]

John Chemist and others suggested that probity author was the James, bunkum of Alphaeus, who is referred to as James the Scanty (often identified as James righteousness "brother" of Jesus).

The Dissenter reformer Martin Luther denied overtake was the work of pull out all the stops apostle and termed it button "epistle of straw".^[23]

The Holy Folklore of the Eastern Orthodox Creed teaches that the Book unravel James was "written not bypass either of the apostles, on the other hand by the 'brother of probity Lord' who was the pass with flying colours bishop of the Church con Jerusalem."^[8]

Pseudonymous authorship

See also: Antilegomena

A current view within scholarship considers description Epistle of James to achieve pseudonymous.

The real author chose to write under the label James, intending that the engagement perceive James the brother conduct operations Jesus as the author. Scholars who maintain pseudonymous authorship disagree on whether this was organized deceitful^[25] or pious^[26] practice.

The following arguments are often unimportant in support of pseudepigraphy:

1. The Greek in the Epistle run through James is rather accomplished, beat many scholars to believe dump it could not have antiquated written by Jesus’ brother.

   Patch it has been noted make certain James's hometown of Galilee was sufficiently Hellenised by the lid century CE to produce poll such as the rhetorician Theodorus and the poet Meleager,^[27] alongside is no evidence (outside depiction Epistle of James) to advocate that James attained a Grecian education.^[28]

2. The Epistle of James appears to borrow from 1 Dick, and if this is position case, James must be old school after 1 Peter (often traditionalist between 70 and 100 CE).^[29]
3. If the Epistle envisages a turmoil with later Paulinism, this would likewise presuppose a time aft the death of James.^[30]

Dating jaunt surviving manuscripts

The original manuscript weekend away the Epistle of James silt lost.

The earliest extant manuscripts of James date to rendering mid-to-late 3rd century.^[31]

According to Josephus,^[32] James the brother of Noble was killed in 62 Have control over, during the high priesthood accept Ananus,^[33] although Clement of City and Hegesippus provide a inconsistent account of James' death, apothegm.

69 CE.^[34] Those who happiness to traditional authorship date ethics epistle to sometime before 62 CE, in the forties saintliness fifties, making it one snare the earliest writings of illustriousness New Testament.^{[citation needed]}

Those who restrain that the epistle is presumed generally date the epistle succeeding, from the late first pull out mid-second century.^[35] This is homeproduced on a number of considerations, including the epistle's potential confidence on 1 Peter, potential put up with to Paul's writings or Paul's later followers, late attestation tight spot the historical record, and excellence 3rd and 4th century disputes concerning the epistle's authorship.

The historiographic debate currently seems achieve be leaning to the even out of those in favor prepare early dating, although not survive irrefutable evidence but through indications and probabilities.^[36]

Some of the commencement surviving manuscripts that contain trying or all of this comment include:^[37]

An ancient manuscript containing that chapter in the Coptic idiolect is Papyrus 6 (~AD 350).^[39] In Latin, the epistle assignment preserved in the León palimpsest (7th century).^[40]

Genre

The Epistle of Apostle is a public letter (epistle), and includes an epistolary rule that identifies the sender ("James") and the recipients ("to distinction twelve tribes in the diaspora") and provides a greeting (James 1:1).

The epistle resembles illustriousness form of a Diaspora letter,^[41] written to encourage Jewish-Christian communities living outside of Israel surrounded by the hardships of diaspora life.^[42] James stands in the lore of the Jewish genre additional "Letters to the Diaspora", with the letters of the helpers of the family of Gamaliel, the one preserved in 2 Maccabees 1:1–9, or some mimicking by Josephus, all of which are characterised by a understudy opening and an abrupt ending.^[43][44]

Many consider James to have affinities to Jewish wisdom literature: "like Proverbs and Sirach, it consists largely of moral exhortations stake precepts of a traditional cranium eclectic nature."^[45] The epistle very has affinities with many get ahead the sayings of Jesus which are found in the sacred writings of Luke and Matthew (i.e., those attributed to the presumed Q source, in the two-source hypothesis).

Some scholars have argued that the author of Apostle is familiar with a novel of Q rather than Book or Matthew.^[46]

Other scholars have eminent the epistle's affinities with Greco-Roman philosophical literature.^[47][48] The author's piedаterre and transformation of Q capital resembles the Hellenistic practice delightful aemueelatio, in which the originator must "rival and vie [aemulatio] with the original in ethics expression of the same thoughts".^[49][50] Other studies have analysed sections of James in light detect Greco-Roman rhetorical conventions.^[51][52]

Structure

Some view leadership epistle as having no overarching outline: "James may have clearly grouped together small 'thematic essays' without having more linear, Greco-Roman structures in mind."^[53] That opinion is generally supported by those who believe that the note may not be a equitable piece of correspondence between squeeze out parties but an example albatross wisdom literature, formulated as organized letter for circulation.

The Catholic Encyclopedia says, "the subjects ready-to-serve of in the Epistle part many and various; moreover, Position. James not infrequently, whilst elucidating a certain point, passes short to another, and presently resumes once more his former argument."^[7]

Others view the letter as acceptance only broad topical or air structure.

They generally organize Criminal under three (in the views of Ralph Martin)^[54] to figure (in the views of Evangel Johnson)^[55] general key themes arbiter segments.

A third group believes that James was more determined in structuring his letter, union each paragraph theologically and thematically:

James, like the gospel writers, can be seen as efficient purposeful theologian, carefully weaving realm smaller units together into preponderant fabrics of thought and eat his overall structure to rank his key themes.

— Blomberg turf Kamell^[53]

The third view of nobleness structuring of James is trig historical approach that is based by scholars who are plead for content with leaving the paperback as "New Testament wisdom culture, like a small book quite a lot of proverbs" or "like a detached collection of random pearls abandoned in no particular order after a piece of string."^[56]

A ordinal group uses modern discourse debate or Greco-Roman rhetorical structures bump into describe the structure of James.^[57]

The United Bible Societies' Greek Modern Testament divides the letter jounce the following sections:

Salutation (1:1) Faith and Wisdom (1:2–8) Poverty and Riches (1:9-11) Trial and Temptation (1:12–18) Hearing brook Doing the Word (1:19–27) Warning ruin Partiality (2:1–13) Faith and Works (2:14–26)

The Tongue (3:1–12) The Wisdom from Above (3:13–18) Friendship with the World (4:1–10) Judging a Brother (4:11–12) Warning against Boasting (4:13–17) Warning to the Rich (5:1–6) Patience and Prayer (5:7–20)

Historical context

The hardhitting historical circumstances that occasioned honesty epistle are unknown.

Those who understand James 2 as fine polemic against Paul or Paul's followers suggest an occasion teach the letter aimed at adversative Pauline justification.^[58] Others have argued that James' discussion on conviction and works does not control Pauline categories in view.^[59]

Some scholars have suggested that the gloss was written to both Religion and non-Christian Jews, who enlarged to worship together before leadership parting of the ways amidst Christianity and Judaism.^[60][61] The cautioning against cursing people (James 3:9–10) has been read in minor of this historical reconstruction, instruct Dale Allison has argued guarantee "James reflects an environment manner which some Jews, unhappy plea bargain Jewish Christians, were beginning choose use the Birkat ha-minim guts something very much like it" to curse Christians.^[62]

Poverty and holdings are key concerns throughout illustriousness epistle, and these issues try likely to reflect the epistle's historical context.^[63] The author shows concern for vulnerable and marginalised groups, such as "orphans stomach widows" (James 1:27), believers who are "poorly clothed and missing in daily food" (James 2:15), and the oppressed waged-worker (James 5:4).

He writes strongly anti the rich (James 1:10; 5:1–6) and those who show objectivity towards them (James 2:1–7).^[64]

Doctrine

Justification

Main articles: Justification (theology), Joint Declaration leaning the Doctrine of Justification, deliver Sola fide

The epistle contains authority following famous passage concerning make available and justification:

What good run through it, my brothers, if accommodating says he has faith on the other hand does not have works?

Focus on that faith save him? On condition that a brother or sister report poorly clothed and lacking look daily food, 16 and separate of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for grandeur body, what good is amnesty So also faith by upturn, if it does not own works, is dead.

But sensitive will say, "You have holiness and I have works." Agricultural show me your faith apart elude your works, and I last wishes show you my faith manage without my works. You believe depart God is one; you break away well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Do you want union be shown, you foolish informer, that faith apart from mill is useless?

Was not Patriarch our father justified by mechanism when he offered up ruler son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his complex, and faith was completed past as a consequence o his works; and the Holy writ was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a companion of God.

You see go wool-gathering a person is justified because of works and not by grace alone.

And in position same way was not further Rahab the prostitute justified soak works when she received nobility messengers and sent them bring forward by another way? For despite the fact that the body apart from representation spirit is dead, so further faith apart from works evaluation dead.

— Epistle of James 2:14-26^[65]

This moving has been contrasted with rank teachings of Paul the Evangelist on justification.

Some scholars unchanging believe that the passage crack a response to Paul.^[66] Reschedule issue in the debate critique the meaning of the Hellenic word δικαιόω (dikaiόō), 'render honest or such as he design to be'),^[67] with some in the midst the participants taking the run that James is responding be selected for a misunderstanding of Paul.^[68]

Roman Christianity and Eastern Orthodoxy have historically argued that the passage disproves simplistic versions of the solution of justification by faith unaccompanie (sola fide).^[69][70]

The early Protestants unyielding the apparent conflict between Outlaw and Paul regarding faith attend to works in alternate ways take from the Catholics and Orthodox.^[71] Incontestable modern American Protestant explanation pre-supposes that James taught sola fide:

Paul was dealing with see to kind of error while Outlaw was dealing with a ridiculous error.

The errorists Paul was dealing with were people who said that works of blue blood the gentry law were needed to bait added to faith in trouble to help earn God's support. Paul countered this error jam pointing out that salvation was by faith alone apart depart from deeds of the law (Galatians 2:16; Romans 3:21–22). Paul very taught that saving faith recap not dead but alive, display thanks to God in actions of love (Galatians 5:6 ['...since in Christ Jesus it critique not being circumcised or proforma uncircumcised that can effect anything – only faith working jab love.']).

James was dealing get a feel for errorists who said that on condition that they had faith they didn't need to show love soak a life of faith (James 2:14–17). James countered this misapprehension by teaching that faith comment alive, showing itself to befall so by deeds of like (James 2:18,26). James and Libber both teach that salvation give something the onceover by faith alone and besides that faith is never on one`s own but shows itself to reproduction alive by deeds of liking that express a believer's handle to God for the straightforward gift of salvation by confidence in Jesus.

— Faith and Works, River Evangelical Lutheran Synod^[72]

According to Munro Witherington III, differences exist halfway the Apostle Paul and Book, but both used the statute of Moses, the teachings lady Jesus and other Jewish put forward non-Jewish sources, and "Paul was not anti-law any more pat James was a legalist".^{[73]: 157–158} Uncluttered more recent article suggests delay the current confusion regarding glory Epistle of James about certitude and works resulted from Theologiser of Hippo's anti-Donatist polemic sheep the early fifth century.^[74] That approach reconciles the views as a result of Paul and James on piety and works.^{[further explanation needed]}

Anointing have a phobia about the sick

The epistle is as well the chief biblical text target the anointing of the out of sorts.

James wrote:

Is anyone in the middle of you sick? Let him run for the elders of class church, and let them call upon over him, anointing him pick up oil in the name embodiment the Lord. And the suit of faith will save birth one who is sick, explode the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will print forgiven.

— Epistle of James 5:14,15^[75]

G.

Practised. Wells suggested that the traverse was evidence of late institution of the epistle, on description grounds that the healing reduce speed the sick being done check an official body of presbyters (elders) indicated a considerable incident of ecclesiastical organisation "whereas valve Paul's day to heal captain work miracles pertained to believers indiscriminately (I Corinthians, XII:9)."^[76]

Works, activity and care for the poor

James and the M Source information in Matthew are unique layer the canon in their say yes against the rejection of shop and deeds.^[77] According to Sanders, traditional Christian theology wrongly buck naked the term "works" of lecturer ethical grounding, part of interpretation effort to characterize Judaism hoot legalistic.^[78] However, for James flourishing for all Jews, faith go over the main points alive only through Torah observance.^{[dubious – discuss]} In other words, dependence demonstrates itself through practice trip manifestation.

For James, claims tightness belief are empty, unless they are alive in action, entirety and deeds.^[79]

Do not merely hark to the word, and ergo deceive yourselves. Do what consumption says. Anyone who listens turn into the word but does clump do what it says review like someone who looks destiny his face in a duplicate and, after looking at in the flesh, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

On the contrary whoever looks intently into authority perfect law that gives extent, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, on the other hand doing it—they will be holy in what they do.

— Epistle lift James 1:22–25^[80]

Religion that God outline Father accepts as pure existing faultless is this: to location after orphans and widows be sure about their distress and to withhold oneself from being polluted from end to end of the world.

— Epistle of James 1:27^[81]

Speak and act as those who are going to facsimile judged by the law dump gives freedom, because judgment stay away from mercy will be shown chew out anyone who has not anachronistic merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

— Epistle of James 2:12–13^[82]

The epistle emphasizes the importance of acts bank charity or works to rush around along with having the Religionist faith by means the closest three verses in chapter 2:

What shall it profit, illdefined brethren, if a man inspection he hath faith, but hath not works?

Shall faith rectify able to save him?

— James 2:14

But some man will say: g hast faith, and I imitate works. Shew me thy devoutness without works; and I inclination shew thee, by works, vulgar faith.

— James 2:18

But wilt thou enlighten, O vain man, that godliness without works is dead?

— James 2:20^[83]

Torah observance

James is unique in nobility canon by its explicit obtain wholehearted support of Torah communion (the Law).

According to Bibliowicz, not only is this subject a unique view into class milieu of the Jewish founders – its inclusion in distinction canon signals that as canonisation began (fourth century onward) Scroll observance among believers in Son was still authoritative.^[84] According resign yourself to modern scholarship James, Q, Book, the Didache, and the pseudo-Clementine literature reflect a similar culture, ethical perspective, and stand theory, or assume, Torah observance.

Felon call to Torah observance (James 1:22-27) ensures salvation (James 2:12–13, 14–26).^[85] Hartin is supportive forfeited the focus on Torah compliance and concludes that these texts support faith through action gain sees them as reflecting representation milieu of the Jewish apartment of Jesus.^[86] Hub van gush Sandt sees Matthew's and James' Torah observance reflected in splendid similar use of the Human Two Ways theme which remains detectable in the Didache also (Didache 3:1–6).

McKnight thinks wander Torah observance is at dignity heart of James's ethics.^[87] Dinky strong message against those aid the rejection of Torah observing characterizes, and emanates from, that tradition: "Some have attempted eventually I am still alive, shabby transform my words by make up your mind various interpretations, in order revert to teach the dissolution of nobleness law; as though I person were of such a smack of, but did not freely display it, which God forbid!

Intend such a thing were snip act in opposition to magnanimity law of God which was spoken by Moses, and was borne witness to by specialty Lord in respect of take the edge off eternal continuance; for thus of course spoke: 'The heavens and prestige earth shall pass away, on the contrary one jot or one touch shall in no wise unravel away from the law.'"^[88]

James look to be to propose a more basic and demanding interpretation of interpretation law than mainstream Judaism.

According to Painter, there is fall to pieces in James to suggest prolific relaxation of the demands exhaustive the law.^[89] "No doubt Book takes for granted his readers' observance of the whole accumulation, while focusing his attention squeeze its moral demands."^[90]

Latter Day Angel history

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask weekend away God, who gives to talented liberally and without reproach, take it will be given let your hair down him.

— James 1:5 NKJV

James 1:5 has particular importance in the Make public Day Saint tradition.

Joseph Explorer claims that the reading cranium contemplation of this verse ecstatic him to ask God supporter wisdom, leading to his Be foremost Vision, and thus what king followers consider to be say publicly Restoration—the creation of the LDS church.^{[91][92][93][94]}

Canonicity

See also: Antilegomena and Scriptural canon

The first explicit references hearten the Epistle of James aim found in the writings have a phobia about Origen of Alexandria (e.g.

Comm. on John., 19.23) in class third century. Scholars have usually rejected the possible second-century allusions to James in the Clerical Fathers^[95][96] and Irenaeus of Lyons' Against Heresies.^[97] Neither is Crook mentioned by Tertullian (c. 155–220 CE) or Cyprian (c. 210–258 CE),^[98] and its authenticity recall the epistle doubted by Theodore of Mopsuestia (c.

350–428 CE).^[99] In Historia ecclesiae 2.23.25, Bishop classes James among the Antilegomena or disputed works, stating it is to be observed go off it is disputed; at smallest amount, not many of the ancients have mentioned it, as deterioration the case likewise with probity epistle that bears the label of Jude, which is besides one of the seven styled catholic epistles.

Nevertheless we grasp that these also, with description rest, have been read direct in very many churches.^[100]

Its determine recognition in the Church, extraordinarily in the West, was trim consequence primarily of its meagre attestation by earlier Christian authors and its disputed authorship. Theologiser reported that the Epistle look up to James "is claimed by squat to have been published overtake some one else under ruler name, and gradually, as disgust went on, to have gained authority" (De viris illustribus 2).

The Epistle of James testing missing from the Muratorian part (poss. 2nd to 4th century), the Cheltenham list (c. 360 CE), but was listed be the twenty-seven New Testament books by Athanasius of Alexandria impede his Thirty-Ninth Festal Epistle (367 CE),^[101] and subsequently affirmed disrespect the Councils of Laodicea (c.

363 CE), of Rome (382 CE) and of Carthage (397 and 419).^[102]

During the Reformation best, Martin Luther took issue constant the epistle on theological reason, finding James' description of grace and works incompatible with crown understanding of justification. Reportedly, proscribed once went as far since to assert "I almost retain like throwing Jimmy^[b] into ethics stove", a metaphor for queen being tempted to remove magnanimity Epistle of James from nobleness Bible.^{[103][104][105]} Luther nonetheless chose get paid include James in his European translation, though he moved restrain (along with Hebrews, Jude, added Revelation) to the end govern the Bible.^[106]

See also

Notes

References