Book of James - 1 - Introduction

Interesting things about the Book of James

The author

There are a few James, but most believe it was the brother of Jesus. If this is true, this is a great apologetic argument to prove the resurrection. 

Style

James is often called the Proverbs of the New Testament. It is a letter, but writing as wisdom literature through proverbs.

Date

It is the earliest book of the NT. This is interesting to think about, for how different book relate to one another.
Jesus’ oral tradition was probably circulating, and he would have been aware of it.
Paul was already teaching, even if this was before any of the letters we have of him.

Address

James is writing pretty early on, it can be assumed that his audience was mostly Jewish, Jewish Christians.
The phrase “twelve tribes in the dispersion”, James is writing to the church that has been spread out.
James assumes his audience would have been familiar with the OT and Hebrew.

• 1 :1 Greeting – “to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” 
• Natural references to the OT 
• 1:25 “perfect law that gives freedom” 
• 2:8 Royal Law 
• 2:8-13 many citations of OT 
• 2:2 “synagogue” use for meeting place 
• 5:4 “Lord of Hosts” Hebrew transliterated. 

Some takeaways from these introductory items:

1. In light of the proverbial style, we should not try to create an outline that is too tight. 
2. Moo, uses Wisdom literature that would have been well known outside of the Bible to interpret some of James. I think this is valid. 
3. We can challenge people apologetically in light of the fact the James was convinced his own brother was the Son of God!