Adult Bible Study GuideOct • Nov • Dec 2014Adult Bible Study Guide

Oct • Nov • Dec 2014

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The Book of JamesAn “Epistle of Straw”?

The epistle of James has been one of the most misunderstood books

of the Bible. Luther denied the epistle’s inspired authorship, mainly on the mistaken claim that it taught

justification by works.He called it “really an epistle of

straw” because “it had nothing of the nature of the gospel about it.”

The Book of JamesAn “Epistle of Straw”?

Melanchthon, Luther’s closest associate, believed that the writings

of Paul and James were not in conflict.James had a first hand knowledge of

Jesus. His epistle may very well be the earliest Christian writing in existence and, of all the epistles, reflects most

closely the teachings of Jesus that we find in the Gospels.

The Book of JamesAn “Epistle of Straw”?

James is unique in other ways, too, thereby opening a window for us into some of the struggles that the earliest

Christian congregations faced.With envy, jealousy, and worldliness

creeping into the fold, there seems to have been societal and cultural pressures that pitted wealthier

Christians against the poor ones.

The Book of JamesAn “Epistle of Straw”?

We also see the great controversy being played out as James attacks

counterfeit wisdom and faith.The epistle of James exudes

confidence in the return of Jesus;it also provides crucial perspectives on the law, the judgment, and the

Second Coming.

The Book of JamesOur Goal

Our journey this quarter spans the entire Christian era, as it includes some of the earliest preaching, as well as special insights for these

last days.Let us not miss these insights.

The Book of JamesContents

1 James, the Lord’s Brother 2 The Perfection of Our Faith 3 Enduring Temptation 4 Being and Doing 5 Love and the Law 6 Faith That Works 7 Taming the Tongue 8 The Humanity of Heavenly Wisdom 9 One Lawgiver and Judge10 Weep and Howl!11 Getting Ready for the Harvest12 Prayer, Healing and Restoration 13 The Everlasting Gospel

The Book of JamesLesson 1, Oct 4The Book of JamesLesson 1, Oct 4

James, the Lord’s Brother

James, the Lord’s BrotherKey Text

John 15:14 NKJV

“ ‘You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.’ ”

James, the Lord’s BrotherInitial Words

The letter of James gives us one of the earliest glimpses of Jewish

Christianity before it disappeared in the fog of Jewish-Christian

controversies and before the marginalization of the Jews by the predominantly Gentile churches of the second and third century and

beyond.

James, the Lord’s BrotherQuick Look

1. James, the Brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3)2. James, the Believer (Acts 15:13, 17)3. James and His Belief (James 5:15)

James, the Lord’s Brother1. James, the Brother of Jesus

Mark 6:3 NKJV“ ‘Is this not the carpenter, the Son of

Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?

And are they not His sisters here with us?’ So they were offended at Him.”

1. James the Brother of Jesus An Older Brother

Four people in the New Testament are named James.

Of these four, only the brother of Jesus lived long enough and was

prominent enough in the church to have penned such a letter. Thus, we

believe that it was James, the brother of Jesus, who authored this

New Testament book.

His letter is among the best examples of literary Greek in the

New Testament.Its rich vocabulary, rhetorical flair,

and command of the Old Testament are surpassed only by Hebrews.

1. James the Brother of Jesus An Older Brother

Because his name appears first in the list of Jesus’ brothers, James was

probably the oldest son.However, the fact that Jesus entrusted

the care of His mother to John, the beloved disciple (John 19:26, 27),

suggests that His brothers were not Mary’s own children but the sons of

Joseph by a previous marriage.

1. James the Brother of Jesus An Older Brother

James, the Lord’s Brother2. James, the Believer

Acts 15:13, 17 NKJV“James answered saying,...‘Simon

has declared how God at first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a

people for His name. ... “So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,even all the Gentiles who are called

by My name, says the Lord who does all these things.” ’ ”

2. James, the BelieverAn Influential Leader

James quickly became a leading figure in the Jerusalem church.

After his rescue from prison by the angel (a.d. 44), Peter wanted James to know what had happened to him

(Acts 12:17).Five years later, James presided at, and announced the decision of, the

Jerusalem Council.

2. James, the BelieverAn Influencial Leader

Paul mentions him first, before Peter and John, in his listing of the “pillars”

in Jerusalem (Gal. 2:9).Several years after this event (a.d. 58), when Paul brought the collection for

the poor in Jerusalem from the various churches, the delegates from each

church in turn laid the offerings at the feet of James (see Sketches From the Life of Paul, pp. 208, 209).

2. James, the BelieverJames and Jesus

James had the opportunity to observe Jesus when He was a child,

a youth, and an adult. Then, at some point, James believed in Jesus as

the Messiah.And yet, James calls himself not a

brother but a “bondservant” (James 1:1, NKJV) of Jesus.

2. James, the BelieverJames and Jesus

From a close comparison of James with the Gospels, it appears that

this letter is not dependent on any of them. Rather, James writes from

an intimate and personal acquaintance with the teachings of

Jesus, who always inspired His listeners to faith and challenged

them to exercise it.

James, the Lord’s Brother3. James and His Belief

James 5:15 NKJV“And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.

And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”

3. James and His BeliefBelieving and Faith

James refers to believing and faith 19 times in this short letter, more than his

references to works and justification combined! James was not only writing to believers but that he expects them

to have a certain quality of faith.The act of believing, in itself, is of little avail; true faith will be revealed in the

life and character of the believer.

3. James and His Belief“The Twelve Tribes”

At first, the gospel work was focused in Jerusalem (Luke 24:47); but, as a

result of persecution, these believers were scattered, the gospel was planted throughout the cities and surrounding

regions of the Roman Empire.The gospel spread to the Gentiles quite early, so, “the twelve tribes” probably

refers to Christians as a whole.

James, the Lord’s BrotherFinal Words

The letter of James is essentially a handbook on practical Christian

living.That is, besides it being a book on

theology, it also tells us how to live out the Christian life.