Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians

James - The Pillar of Working Faithful Lesson 1

Introduction to the General Epistle of James (Part 1)

James writes a specific message of Christian accountability, which carries over so completely into this Epistle of James. He talks about the faith of a believer when faced with tribulations, trials and temptations. He speaks of the proper response to the Word of God in faith. He brings faith to a place for all people through impartiality, and encourages the active faith in doing the works of teaching. He encourages the faithful to work against worldliness and natural desires, and warns of their dangers. It seems as if James, the brother of Jesus Christ, wrote this Epistle to prevent the chance of another mistake like Peter’s from stopping the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a nice thought to imagine brother looking after the things of brother, ensuring the sacrifice of his blood for the sins of the world would not be in vain as a result of shaky faith. As you read his words, with this knowledge in your heart, you sense the wise words of James as he encourages a dedicated faith walk that has a deeper and more profound purpose than first meets the eye...as the Word of God speaks deeply the things that are important to our faith and our works, according to His Will.

The General Epistle of James is the “Proverbs” of the New Testament. It is a commentary on the teachings of Jesus Christ, and incorporates many ideas and phrases from the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). The theme of a Christian “working faith” is the focus of James, and it is the focus of this Bible Study.

The author of this epistle is only identified as “James” and there are four men with that name in the New Testament.

“And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,” (Mark 3:18 AV)

“There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;” (Mark 15:40 AV)

1. James, the son of Alphaeus is one of the four candidates that might have written JAMES, however, it is unlikely. He is referred to as the “less", which indicates that another James was known “more” for his stature of dignity. James, the son of Alphaeus, was insignificant in early church history.

“And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.” (Luke 6:16 AV)

2. Another candidate for authorship is James, the brother of Judas who is the apostle that was surnamed Lebbaeus or Thaddaeus and probably wrote the Epistle of Jude. This James is virtually unknown, and also very insignificant in early church history.

“1 ¶ Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)” (Acts 12:1-3 AV)

3. James, the brother of John, was martyred at the very early date of A.D. 44, when King Herod killed him to bring evil to bear on the church established on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Although this James is better known, he did not have prominence in the early church because of his early death, and it is unlikely that he is the author of the book of JAMES.

“18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.” (Galatians 1:18-19 AV)

4. James, the half brother of Christ, is considered by most Christians to be the author of the book of JAMES, because he possesses all of the qualities of the author.

5. He was the one and only James in the New Testament that was referred to by his name alone, and was obviously well known to the scattered believers.

“9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.”

“11 ¶ But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,” (Galatians 2:9-15 AV)

6. James, Cephas (Peter) and John had the stature of a pillars to Paul, and gave the appearance of being able to stand in the presence of any body or any force, and the ability to maintain and sustain the Word and Works of Jesus Christ.

7. This confident authority that James, and the others, displayed was so apparent to Paul and Barnabas, that they were able to recognize each other as fellow brothers and workers in Christ. This knowledge of each others authority and honor were represented and acknowledged in their handshake of right hands.

8. James and the other men of God with Him, had the ability to perceive the grace of the LORD GOD that is given to His people. To be able to perceive, requires that the LORD GOD has first given the Christian the ability to see and understand. To have the knowledge of grace , requires the Christian to know the loving kindness of the LORD GOD and the gift of divine influence to the heart of the faithful believers.

9. Because of their equal authority and knowledge of the things of Jesus Christ, they decided to divide their ministry into two groups... Paul and Barnabas would go among the heathen people and James, Cephas (Peter) and John would go among the people of circumcision to teach of the foundation of Jesus Christ.

10. Thus, Paul and Barnabas focused their ministry on teaching the common Gentiles who did not know the LORD GOD, and practiced the worship of false pagan gods as a matter of tradition and belief.

11. James, Peter and John focused their ministry on teaching the things of Jesus Christ to the Jewish Tribes of Israel, who knew of the LORD GOD, and worshipped Him exclusively.

12. The men not only shared equal authority and knowledge in the things of Jesus Christ, they also had a common desire to focus on the poor people within their designated ministries, to feed them the living Word of Jesus Christ and his salvation.

So...the five men established their ministries in the manner they had divided among themselves. James, Peter and John would go to the Jewish People and bring them the good news that Jesus Christ was the Messiah they had been promised by their LORD GOD through the great Prophets of old. Paul and Barnabas would go to the Gentile people, and teach them the doctrines of repentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment, all based on the Foundation of Jesus Christ.

Each of these powerful men of the LORD GOD committed to each other to confess and proclaim the name of Jesus Christ and spread His message to all who were given the ability to hear in faith. Each man knew each other to be upright, focused, committed, knowledgeable and powerful, and each man trusted that each other would do the Works that the LORD GOD Willed them to do.

Then Peter, the “Rock”, the one who Jesus Christ had earlier established as the foundation for his church...made a very bad mistake. His mistake was so terrible, that the five men’s ministries were placed in jeopardy. It is through this mistake of Peter’s and the five men’s recovery from it, that gives credence to the belief that it was James, the brother of Jesus Christ, who was the author of The Epistle of James, as he places a tremendous spiritual focus on the expectations of the LORD GOD in the working faith of a Christian, and the precautions needed to be taken to go out into the world to accomplish His Works in faith.

Worksheet

Cite Article Source

MLA Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. "Introduction to the General Epistle of James (Part 1)." James - The Pillar of Working Faithful Jan 2006. <http://guidedbiblestudies.com/sermon/james.htm>.

APA Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. (2006, January) "Introduction to the General Epistle of James (Part 1)." James - The Pillar of Working Faithful Retrieved from http://guidedbiblestudies.com/james.htm

Chicago Style Citation:
McFarland, Kathy L. (2006) "Introduction to the General Epistle of James (Part 1)." James - The Pillar of Working Faithful (January), http://guidedbiblestudies.com/james.htm (accessed )

About the Author

Kathy L. McFarland is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and Author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She is Idaho State Coordinator for Huck PAC, Religious Studies student of Liberty University, Hebrew language student attending Israeli taught Ulpan, and a Homeschool parent teaching the things of God. She is also well-known as a child advocate of innocent children tortured and suffering from the abuse of sexual perversion, out-of-control violence, and pathetic neglect by a carnal world gone mad.

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