James Bible Study

Dear Friends, we have finished our journey through the book of James with God's love as the central CONTEXT in and behind what He inspired James to write. You can review the entire bible study by following the links at the end of each post. I would also like to invite you to join the James Page; I am planning on continuing our in depth study of James on the Discussion Board. Before we begin, I think we should consider a little of what we can find out about James, to help us understand the person God used to bring us this message. You will not understand the true mysteries in these writings unless you KNOW the TRUE SOURCE - JESUS CHRIST... however, "In Christ", it will be further helpful to know a little about James.

I personally find James a little sharp around the edges. What I mean is that... James' style "stings" a little more than the other NT writers... which is no wonder we find his work "kind-of... corralled" by the more even tempered writings of Timothy, Paul, Peter, and John. It's the same loving Word of God speaking through James, but as in every writer used by Jesus to bring us His Word, you can't help but pick up a bit of the character of James. So let's look at who James was and try to see who this is that comes through God's Word. God uses people like you, me, and James because we are each and every one - unique and part of His amazing plan.

Now we know early, in the days of the Church, about 44 C.E., King Herod Agrippa killed the first apostle James, the son of Zebedee and one of the original 12 (see Acts 12:1–2 ). However, Luke refers in verse 17 of the same chapter, that Peter sent news of his release from prison to someone named James. Though as many as seven different people by the same name have been identified in the New Testament, it is James the brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19) who is the most likely in this case. We also know Jesus’ brothers were present with the apostles in Jerusalem as the Church began after Jesus’ departure (Acts 1:14). This same James appears later in Acts as the leader of the church at Jerusalem, so it’s most likely that he is the author of our study now.

As a leader in Jerusalem, James spoke with authority to end an internal Church controversy over the circumcision of gentile believers (Acts 15:13–19; see also 21:18). And according to the first-century Jewish historian Josephus, the Jewish religious hierarchy put James to death by stoning “the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ” (Antiquities of the Jews 20.200). This would have been around 62 C.E.

Mark and Matthew indicate that he was one of several children born to Mary and Joseph after Jesus’ birth. Mark records an incident in Jesus’ ministry where his fellow townsmen decided Him as merely a local: “‘Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him” (Mark 6:3; see also Matthew 13:55–56 ).

There was a time when James and the rest of the family were opposed to Jesus’ ministry and teaching. At one point, they actually thought Him mad (Mark 3:21). John tells us that “not even his brothers believed in him” (John 7:5). By the opening of the book of Acts, however, James had become one of the disciples. But even though he was Jesus’ brother, he did not take up the vacancy caused by Judas’s death, because the remaining 11 were to choose as a witness to Jesus’ resurrection “one of the men who had accompanied [them] during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among [them]” (Acts 1:21). James soon became the leader of the Jerusalem church, as demonstrated by the fact that Paul met with him and the apostle Peter.

But James brings to us, not his brothers word... but his and now Our Father's Holy Word. James' teachings were directed to Jewish Christians scattered among all the nations (James 1:1). Martin Luther, who detested this letter and called it “the epistle of straw,” failed to recognize that James’ teaching on works complemented—not contradicted—Paul’s teaching on faith. While Paul's teachings concentrate on our justification with God, James’ teachings concentrate on the works that exemplify that justification. James was writing to Jews to encourage them to continue growing in this new Christian faith. James teaches that the Lord's WORK will naturally flow from those who are filled with the Spirit. We can read James and ask ourselves whether we really have a saving faith if the fruits of the Spirit cannot be seen, just like Paul describes in Galatians 5:22-23. Reading through James can take us all the way back to our original commitment that we made with God. For some, it may be the Word that Christ will use to save us, once and forever!

James, challenges us as Christian... and puts to rest the idea that one can become a Christian and yet continue living in sin, exhibiting no fruit of righteousness. He declares, that "faith alone" is something shared by the demons who “believe and tremble” (James 2:19). Yet such a “faith” cannot save because it is not verified by the works that will always accompany a true saving faith (Ephesians 2:10). Good works are not the cause of salvation, but they are the result of it.

I am truly thankful that I may be allowed to go through this book together with you as I pray and meditate on God's Word and share what is laid on my heart. What a blessing and honor.

Let's pick up with James verse 1:1 next time.

I love you.

For the rest of the study follow the links to the next verse beginning with 1:1. Clicking on James will bring you back here.

For a specific Chapter follow the links below:
James 1 2 3 4 5