Category: James

James 1:9 – Humble Exaltation

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Will

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,

Truth to Learn

Being poor and unimportant is humbling. As a Christian, you have been elevated to the position of a child of God. God’s children are neither unimportant or poor.

Behind the Words

The word translated “humble” is the word tapeinos which means “not rising far off the ground” and metaphorically means one who is “depressed, humbled, or lowly.” In this verse it is expressed as “the brother, the lowly one.” This word order emphasizes the fact that he is a brother, not of physical relation but of spiritual relation as a child of God, and only secondarily that he is lowly.

“Glory” is translated from kauchaomai which can mean “to boast” or “to glory,” either in a good sense or a bad sense. In this verse it is used in a good sense. Once again, we see James using the imperative mood of the verb indicating a command of encouragement, therefore, the translation “glory” is most appropriate.

The word translated “exaltation” is hupsos which is from the root huper or hyper meaning “over or above.” It refers to a position of elevation or dignity, so it could be translated as being “elevated” or “lifted up.”

Meaning Explained

This verse seems to introduce a new topic for James, and yet it should be tied in to the previous section, particularly with:

My brothers, consider it all joy when you fall into various trials, (James 1:2)

Although there is some disagreement as to what James meant by “lowly,” it seems most natural that he is making a reference to a Christian brother who does not have riches or who has a lowly station in life. This is based primarily on the fact that in the next verse James speaks to the one who has much of the world’s goods, that is, a rich person. The thesis of this entire section of James’ letter is that we should find delight in trials and among the most difficult trials are being in poverty and/or lacking health.

Being poor can be humbling and at times it can even be humiliating. James commands those of us who are in a humble station in life to glory in it. His reason for glorying is that the lowly person is actually elevated, or lifted up, by God when he becomes a Christian. In Christ we are all on the same level and God receives the glory.

If you read the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) you will see that while on this earth the rich man had all this world had to offer, while Lazarus had nothing, not even health. After death, because of his faith, Lazarus was elevated to an exalted position by the side of Abraham, while the rich man, due to his lack of faith, was reduced to the torment of hell fire.

Application

If you are lacking in the things that this world has to offer, then you know how humbling it can be. Instead of complaining about it, however, you should give God the glory for raising you up in Christ Jesus and making you His child.

One day when this life is over, you will assuredly give glory to God for His having made you His child! Why not do it now!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:8 – Single Focus

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Will

he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Truth to Learn

We must not get distracted from focusing on God and on Him alone.

Behind the Words

“Double-minded” is translated from dipsuchos which is a compound word made up of dis meaning “twice” and a form of psuche which means “soul” or “mind.” This is a term that was used among the Jews to express the man who attempted to worship God and yet retained the love of self and things. One of their teachers, Rabbi Tanchum, said:

Behold, the Scripture exhorts the Israelites, and tells them when they pray that they should not have two hearts, one for the holy blessed God, and one for something else.

The word translated “unstable” is from the Greek akatastatos which is a double compound word made up of a, meaning “not,” kata, meaning “down,” and a form of histēmi, meaning “to stand, set, or settle.” Hence, this word means “one who is not settled down” or “one who is not stable.”

Meaning Explained

James was just talking about the type of person who prays with a doubting faith. He is now making the point that this kind of person is not just inconsistent in faith regarding his prayers, he is inconsistent in everything he does.

In the gospel account of Jesus’ life and ministry, He was once challenged by one of the Pharisees, a teacher of the law, who asked,

Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? (Matthew 22:36)

The next verse says,

Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)

Jesus’ teaching was that the most important thing a person can do is to love God with all his heart, soul, and mind. If we are able to do that, then we can’t also be double minded. If our love of self or things of the world take on equal or greater importance than our love for God, then we are double minded. These things have become idols to us and we must turn away from them. As Christians we cannot allow our focus to be distracted. We must always walk facing Him. We must turn over all of our thoughts and desires to Him. Only then will we be stable and have the peace that passes all understanding, a peace that the world doesn’t know.

Application

In the middle of life’s challenges it’s easy to become focused on ourselves and our problems. What God wants, however, is for us to focus on Him and His greatness. We can’t focus on God every Sunday morning and focus on ourselves for the rest of the week and expect to see God working in our lives. Our focus must be on Him even when we don’t feel like it.

Where is your focus today? Is it solely and completely on God, or is something else distracting you?

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:7 – Paternal Gifts

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Will

For do not let that man suppose he will receive anything from the Lord;

Truth to Learn

God loves us more than any earthly father and wants to give us good things. Answers to our prayers are gifts from our Heavenly Father but they must be sought with complete faith.

Behind the Words

The word “let” is an often misunderstood word in the Bible. In most of its uses, as in this case, it has nothing to do with permission or allowing something to happen. Instead, it is used in the command form of a verb, in this case the command form of “suppose.”

This word translated “suppose” is oiomai, which means “to suppose, to be of an opinion or to think.” As indicated by the word “let,” James wrote this in the imperative mood indicating that it is a command. Hence, this verse could be expressed this way: “That particular man must not be of the opinion that he shall receive anything from the Lord.”

The expression “that man” is from the Greek ho anthrōpos ekeinos. The words ho anthrōpos mean “the man.” The word ekeinos means “that one.” The particular word order here is what is known as the emphatic use of ekeinos. In other words it means “especially that particular man,” the one who doubts regarding his prayers.

Meaning Explained

James will tell us later in this chapter that:

Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of lights. (James 1:17)

Answered prayer is a gift from God, but one of the keys to answered prayers is faith. In His sermon on the mount, Jesus taught His disciples:

Or what man is there of you, if his son should ask for bread, will give him a stone? And if he should ask for a fish, will he give him a snake? Therefore, if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:9-11)

But James is very clear that if we come to God without faith or with an unsteady faith then we should not expect God to answer, even though He wants to give us good things. The writer of Hebrews put it this way:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for it is necessary that he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Notice here that He rewards those who diligently seek Him, not those who diligently seek an answer. Our focus needs to be on Him and His glory. If we pray selfishly or if we really don’t believe that God will answer our prayer, then He won’t.

Application

Let us go to our Heavenly Father seeking praise for Him and the best for His kingdom, believing that He will reward those who diligently seek him! But let us not waver in our belief that He will answer. After all, He wants to give us the gift of an answered prayer.

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:6 – Doubtless Prayer

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Will

But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea being driven by the wind and tossed.

Truth to Learn

Wisdom is available from God for the asking but in order to receive we must believe God’s promise that He will deliver.

Behind the Words

James exhorts us to “ask in faith.” “Faith” comes from the Greek word pistis, which means “to believe.” To ask in faith means that you ask truly believing that God will answer your prayer.

“Doubting nothing” is from the Greek mēden diakrinō. Mēden literally means “not even one” and diakrinō literally means “to divide between” and figuratively it means “to hesitate,” or “to doubt.” So here James commands us to believe without doubting one single bit.

The word translated “wave” is kludōn which is a derivative of kludzō meaning “to wash against.” It describes the long ridges of water as they are driven by the wind in horizontal lines over the surface of the ocean.

“Tossed” is translated from a form of hripidzō, which means “to fan.” Here it describes the wind driven ocean as it is tossed into pointed waves, the tops of which are fanned into spray.

Meaning Explained

There are several things to consider when we pray. First, will the answered prayer result in praise and glory to God? Secondly, is the prayer request consistent with what God teaches us elsewhere in the Bible? Finally, do I really believe that God will answer? If we pray for selfish reasons, if we ask for something that is clearly contrary to what is taught in the Bible, or if we are not rock solid in our belief that God will hear and answer our petition, then we are undertaking a futile effort.

What James is saying is this: if you lack wisdom, pray to God for it and believe without a doubt in your mind that He will give it. If you waver in your faith and doubt, James says that you are like the wind driven waves of the ocean, rising and falling but producing nothing except spray.

God has just promised us that he will provide wisdom in the midst of the trial and He does not lie. Do you believe what He says? If you do, then you should have great confidence when you ask for wisdom in the midst of trials. Remember that God loves you and wants you to be more Christ like. You can’t get that way without trials, but neither can you get that way without God’s help.

Application

How does your prayer life feel? Like the waves of the sea, rising and falling then rising again only to be blown off as ocean spray? Is that how your entire Christian life feels? If so, perhaps you could learn a lesson from the father whose son was demon possessed (see Mark 9:17-27). When he asked our Lord for help, Jesus said,

If you are able to believe, all things are possible to him that believes. (Mark 9:23)

Here’s how the child’s father responded,

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:23)

The father of the child knew that Jesus could do it, but he also knew how weak his own faith was, so he humbly pleaded for help.

Lord, we believe; help us with our unbelief!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:5 – Wisdom Given

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Will

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who is giving liberally to all and not reproaching, and it will be given to him.

Truth to Learn

We all lack wisdom when we are in trials, yet all we need to do is ask God for it and He will give us all the wisdom we need.

Behind the Words

Paul starts this verse with, “If any of you lacks wisdom.“ In the Greek of the New Testament there are three types of conditional clauses. They are all translated with “if.” The first class condition is most easily explained as “If, and it is assumed to be true.” The second class conditional clause is, “If, and it is assumed not to be true.” The third class condition is the real unassuming conditional. In this verse we have the first class conditional clause (it is assumed to be so).

The phrase, “let him ask” is from the Greek word aiteō, which does, in fact, mean “to ask,” but this Greek word is in the present tense, active voice, and imperative mood. As we learned in the previous verse, the imperative mood means that this is a command. The present tense, active voice in Greek implies present continuous action, so James is commanding us to be continually asking for wisdom. This Greek word, however, means more than “to ask a question.” It means “to request” or even “to beg.” It is the word used of someone asking a favor from someone who is his or her superior, like a common beggar asking for food or money.

The Greek word translated “liberally” is haplōs, which can mean “liberally,” or it can mean “simply.” Not only does God give us enough of the wisdom we need for a situation, but he is straight forward in his gift (so that even some of us hard headed dummies can get it).

Oneididzō is the Greek word translated “reproaching.” It is from the word oneidos, which means “to taunt, disgrace, chide, reproach or use abusive words.”

Meaning Explained

Notice the play on words between the previous verse and this one? God wants to make us completely finished (not lacking anything). But if we lack wisdom (and the assumption is that we do lack wisdom) then we must continually be asking God for it and our God who simply gives – will give it to us. Note that the verse does not say that it might be given, but that “it will be given.” This is, as they say, a promise that you can take to the bank. If you find yourself in a difficult situation, not knowing what to do, humbly ask God for wisdom and He will give it.

God allows trials in our lives in order to build patient endurance in us, and as we develop patience, we become more completely like Christ. But which one of us doesn’t sometimes lack wisdom in matters pertaining to trials and patience? And yet, all we need do is ask for it. At the same time, however, we might want to ask for courage to carry out what we know to be the right thing to do based on the wisdom we receive! We often know what the proper response to a situation is, but it is not always easy to do, is it?

Application

Are you currently going through a difficult time in your Christian walk? Do you feel like God has left you walking all alone? Well, my friend, you are not alone, because of what God has promised us in Hebrews 13:5.

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with things that you have. For He Himself has said, "No way will I leave you, no way will I forsake you."

Get on your knees right now and thank Him for your trial and ask Him for wisdom on how to take the next step. He will answer you and He will provide!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:4 – Completely Whole

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Will

But let patience have its completing work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Truth to Learn

God is constantly working on us to make us into a complete image of His Son. Don’t fight it, let it happen. Just remember, it’s not always easy or comfortable.

Behind the Words

“Let … have” is translated from the word echō, which means “to have something” or “to hold on to something.” This particular word is expressed in the Greek imperative mood. That means it is a command, not a suggestion.

The word translated “completing” is teleios, which means “to be brought to its end” or “to be completed.” This is the same root word as the one used by Jesus at the end of His time on the cross when He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

The word “complete” is translated from the Greek holoklēros, which is a compound word made up of holos meaning “all” or “the whole” and klēros meaning “a part or a share.” Hence, this word means “having all the parts together as a whole” or “to be complete with all its parts”

“Lacking” is translated from a form of leipō meaning “to be deficient in, or lacking something.”

Meaning Explained

Allow me to paraphrase this command that James gives to all of us:

But let your ability to persevere perform its finishing work so that you may be completely finished (Christ-like), not lacking in any detail.

As we saw in the previous verse, God is not punishing us when difficulties arise in our lives. He is refining our faith to make it pure and strong. So, when these situations arise in your life, don’t complain about them, learn to endure them resting in the everlasting arms of God. Know that God is using these trials to complete His work in you so that you will not lack anything in your Christian life.

Paul gave us some further insight regarding our response to these difficult situations, instructing us what to do in the midst of these trying times:

Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (Philippians 4:6)

So, when you undergo trying situations in your walk with God, don’t get uptight. God knows that it is uncomfortable for you, but He also knows what is best for you. Get on your knees and talk to God about it.

Application

Don’t complain or worry when you find yourself mired in one of the difficulties of life. Instead, hang in there and thank God for it, knowing that He is using it to make you complete! As you talk to God about it He will show you what you are to learn from the situation and He will make you more like His Son. He is able!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:3 – Refined Perseverance

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Will

knowing that the proving of your faith brings about patience.

Truth to Learn

The Christian pathway is not an easy one; in fact, it is downright difficult, filled with potholes and uphill battles. But, instead of seeing these as indications of God’s displeasure, we should take delight in them.

Behind the Words

The word translated “proving” is derived from the Greek word dokimion which means “a criterion or test by which something is proved or tried.” It is used of the process whereby metals, like gold, are proved, or refined, in a fiery furnace. There is a subtle difference between this word and the word peirosmos that was used in the previous verse. Peirosmos refers to a test with an unknown outcome and no particular expectation, whereas dokimion is a test with the specific purpose of finding something good. Hence, James is saying, in effect, that we are being approved as acceptable men and women in the furnace of adversity.

“Brings about” is translated from a form of the word katergodzomai which means “to completely bring about or accomplish” or “to carry out a task until it is completed.” God is not through with you yet; He wants to build a strong faith in you and He won’t stop until He’s done.

The word translated “patience” is the noun hupomonē, which is a compound word made up of hupo or hypo meaning “under” or “beneath” and a form of menō, which means “to remain” or “to stay put.” The picture is of a beast of burden that chooses to remain under a heavy load and under control, instead of thrusting it off and gaining relief. It conveys more the idea of continuing on with perseverance than sitting back and waiting for something to happen.

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse James told us that we should consider it delightful when we are surrounded by all kinds of difficult situations. He now tells us why these times should be delightful instead of dreadful. These trials which are surrounding us are there to purify our faith, with the intent of fully developing perseverance in us.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you have become a member of His family, even an heir, according to the third chapter of Galatians. And, as his child, it is your responsibility to represent Him to those around you. What better way to demonstrate our trust in the fact that God loves us than to remain under the burden, to stay in control, to persevere when difficult situations arise. And, if we remain under the load, He will fully accomplish in us a faith that is pure and strong.

We can’t avoid the times in our lives when our faith is being tested. When these times do come, however, we have a choice of either rebelling against the situation and blaming God for our difficulties, or remaining consistent in our faith and giving God thanks. As we learn to remain under the load and seek God’s guidance, we will find that our difficult times seem less difficult and more joyous.

Application

Are you going through a difficult time right now? Are you wondering why a loving God would allow such a thing to happen to one of His children? He is not bringing these difficult situations into your life to punish you. He wants to refine your faith, to purify it, so that you will be stronger and a better representative of His family likeness. Therefore, let us have calm delight in these current trials knowing that they are purifying us and building perseverance within us.

Our trials indicate that God is working on us! They indicate that He loves us and wants us to grow stronger and become a better ambassador for Christ!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:2 – Joyful in Trials

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Will

My brothers, consider it all joy when you fall into various trials,

Truth to Learn

Trials come to make us stronger Christians. They are not to be feared and avoided. They are to be embraced and endured.

Behind the Words

“Count” is translated from a form of the Greek word hēgeomai, which literally means “to go forth” or “to lead the way.” Metaphorically, however, it means “to lead out before the mind.” In other words, it can be translated as “to view, regard, esteem, count, consider, or reckon.” The interesting thing about this verb is that it is not written in the imperative mood. In other words, it is not a command, but an instruction (a lesson to be learned).

The word translated “joy” could also be translated as “calm delight,” “gladness,” or “happiness.” It is translated from charan, which is the noun form of the same word with which James ended the previous verse.

The expression “fall into” is from the Greek word peripiptō, which is a compound word made up of peri meaning “around” or “about” and piptō meaning “to fall.” Hence, this word means “to fall into the midst of something so as to be totally surrounded by it.”

The word translated “trials” is from the Greek, peirosmos which refers to “a trial, temptation, or a putting to proof by means of experimentation.”

Meaning Explained

Once again, James shows his humility by referring to his readers as “brothers.” Notice that there is no pretense with James about being a bishop writing to ordinary Christians. That’s because in Christ there is no distinction between priests and lay believers as some churches teach today. We are all equal in the body of Christ.

In the previous verse James gave his greeting with an expression of joy and delight. That’s precisely what he wants for us, and that’s how he wants us to respond to the everyday trials that come into our lives.

The main point of James’ message to his brothers (and sisters) in Christ is that we should not complain about the fact that we are being bombarded by all sorts of situations that try our patience and our faith, even though we repeatedly stumble. Rather, he says, we should consider it delightful because of what it will produce in us. Just as a jeweler has to strike and abrade a precious stone to bring out the best in it, so each of us needs difficulties and trials to help us grow into the type of servant of God who is more Christ-like.

And, just as a plant grown indoors away from any wind cannot survive outside because it has no strength, so we need challenging and toughening to make us stronger servants of the Lord. That way we can stand strong for Him in the life He has given us. Without continual trials and testing we, too, become weak and unable to stand in the midst of a sinful world.

Application

Don’t complain when things seem difficult spiritually, physically, or emotionally. Instead, count it as a joyful thing, and thank God for the opportunity to be made more like His Son!

The next time you feel like saying “Why, God! Why are You letting this happen to me?” try saying, “Thank you, God, for helping me to become more like Jesus Christ” and ask “What do you want me to learn from this, Lord?”

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:1 – A Slave’s Greeting

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Will

James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion: Greetings.

Truth to Learn

With salvation comes humility, not pride.

Behind the Words

The word translated “slave” is doulos, meaning “one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another.” This word is often translated as “bondservant.” There are other words in the Greek language for a servant: oiketēs, meaning “a household servant” and misthōtos, meaning “a hired servant.” A doulos, having no legal rights, was of the lowest order in society during the first century.

“Lord” is translated from the Greek word kurios, which means “one who is supreme in authority.” And the word “Christ” is translated from christos, meaning “anointed one.” This is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word translated Messiah. James is making a very clear statement as to who Jesus is; He is the Supreme One (God) and He is the anointed one of God, a statement of both His deity and His humanity.

The word “dispersion” is translated from the Greek word diaspora, which means “a scattering or dispersion.” This is most likely a reference to the dispersion of the Jewish Christians following the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts chapter 7).

The word “greetings” is from the Greek word chairein which means “to rejoice” or “to be full of cheer.” In the first century this was a common greeting among friends.

Meaning Explained

This is the beginning of an exciting journey with James, one of Jesus’ half-brothers, or perhaps his cousin (see the introductory notes). Notice, however, that he doesn’t claim to be Jesus’ near relation or even one of Jesus’ apostles, rather a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, that’s humility! He actually had quite a bit to boast about if he had wanted to. In Galatians 2:9, James, Peter, and John, were referred to as the “pillars” of the church. He was called “James the Just” because of his devotion to righteousness, and he was the elder, or bishop, or pastor of the original church in Jerusalem. He had plenty to boast about. Instead, in the opening of his epistle (letter), he introduces himself as simply an indentured slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now we have to ask ourselves, was this letter written to Jews or to Christians? As you will discover from reading the book of Acts, most early converts to Christianity were Jews who had been brought up to obey what we today refer to as the Old Testament. Because of this, many considered Christianity as simply a sect of Judaism. James 2:1 makes it clear, however, that he is writing specifically to Christians (those who hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ) and not to all Jews:

My brothers, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. (James 2:1)

Application

Do you have much to boast about by way of who you are or what you have accomplished? As sinners saved by God’s grace, we should all recognize that we are nothing more than God’s humble slaves. He owns us. He is our Master!

In God's service, for His glory,

James – Introduction

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Will

James – Introduction

There has probably been more discussion regarding the author and date of this letter than any other book of the New Testament. Clearly, neither the author nor the date of writing can be definitively identified. What will be provided here is a presentation of the major discussion points and what seems to be the most reasonable conclusion.

Who Wrote this Letter?

Throughout history there has been debate as to the identity of the man named James who wrote this letter. There is no definitive proof in spite of all the evidence quoted by the multitude of people who have wrestled with this issue. Herein is a summary of the facts and suppositions given in defense of the specific identity of James, the writer of this letter.

There are four men named James mentioned in the New Testament. They are:

1.James the Apostle, son of Zebedee and brother of the Apostle John.

Going forward from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, repairing their nets; and He called them. (Matthew 4:21)

This James was the disciple and apostle who, along with Peter and John, was present at the transfiguration of Christ.

2.James the Apostle, son of Alphaeus, also referred to as James “the less” or “the younger.”

Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus (Thaddaeus); (Matthew 10:3)

There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome, (Mark 15:40)

This James was also a disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ.

3.James the father of Judas the Apostle (not Iscariot).

Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. (Luke 6:16)

Nothing more is specifically known about this James.

4.James the brother of our Lord.

Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? (Matthew 13:55)

But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord's brother. (Galatians 1:19)

We immediately run into a problem with this list as there is much debate as to what is meant by “His brothers” and “the Lord’s brother” as shown above, because it was common practice to refer to near relations as brothers and sisters even though they failed to have a common mother or father (or both). For example, according to the Apostle John in his gospel account, while Jesus was hanging on the cross, his mother Mary and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas were standing near Him.

And standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25)

By looking at the grammatical structure of the original Greek, we see that this verse describes three women, not four. The expression, “Mary the wife of Cleopas” is a parenthetical description of “His mother’s sister” and not a listing of a different person. It is not likely that two daughters of the same parents were both named Mary. And yet, they are referred to as sisters. Also, some contend that Cleopas and Alphaeus are the same person since these two names can be derived from the same Hebrew word. Since James #2 above was the son of Cleopas, making him a near relative (perhaps cousin) to Jesus, he may very well be the one referred to as the Lord’s brother. This is the view held by the Catholic Church, which would harmonize with their belief that Mary was a virgin for her entire life. They even quote Matthew’s gospel where it says,

Then Joseph, having been aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had given birth to her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25)

Yet, this verse does not say that Joseph did not know her ever, only that he did not know her until (the Greek word heōs, meaning “up until the time that”) she bore Jesus. The clear implication is that he did know her after the birth of Jesus.

Another problem with this view is the fact that there is a Greek word that means “near relation.” In the book of Colossians, we have the following:

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), (Colossians 4:10)

Here we see that Mark and Barnabas were said to have been cousins (the Greek word anepsios, meaning “a cousin, a nephew, or a near relation”). However, this word is never used to describe James’ relationship to Jesus. If James and Jesus were cousins or even near relatives, surely this word would have been used to describe their relationship somewhere, but it is not.

Therefore, it is my opinion that James #2 (the Apostle James “the less”) and James #4 (the brother of the Lord) are two different people. This is my opinion based on my study of the issue. Since it cannot be proven conclusively, it must remain as I have stated, my opinion.

So we still have four men by the name of James as potential authors for this book. Since there is no other references to James, the father of Judas the apostle or James “the less”, (other than those quoted here) either in the Bible or by early church historians, it is reasonable to assume that neither of these is the James who wrote this letter. The writer of this letter was apparently well known because he makes no attempt to identify himself in this letter.

That leaves us the two apostles named James – James #1, the brother of the apostle John and James #4, the brother of Jesus. The brother of John was put to death by Herod somewhere between about AD 41 and 44, which is before the writing of this letter:

Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to harm them. And James the brother of John he killed with a sword. (Act 12:1,2)

Therefore, it is my opinion that the writer of this letter is James, the half-brother of Jesus (the same mother, but Jesus was fathered by the Holy Spirit whereas James was fathered by Joseph). In support of this view are the writings of Origen, Eusebius, Cyril of Jerusalem, Athanasius, Augustine, and many other early writers.

It is said of this James that he was a man well known for his integrity of life, which earned him the nickname “James the Just.” He was also known for his strict, holy manner of life, and the historian Hegesippus says that he frequently prostrated himself on his knees in the Temple, calling on God to forgive the sins of his people. In fact, he was known to spend so much time on his knees in prayer for others that he is called “old camel knees” by some because of the calluses built up from such constant prayer.

In the book of Acts, James appears as a prominent and leading man in the church at Jerusalem and is called by early church writers “Bishop of Jerusalem.” During the council that was held in Jerusalem to decide the rules that should be imposed on Gentile converts to Christianity (Acts 15:13-29), after the other apostles had expressed their positions, James expressed his thoughts and his advice was followed. Also, after being released from prison in Acts 12:17, Peter expressed to those around him that they should “go and show these things to James, and to the brethren” indicating James’ prominent position. Finally, when Paul visited Jerusalem after his conversion and again some fourteen years later, James is named among the apostles there and even referred to as one of the “pillars” of the church along with Peter (Cephas) and John.

and knowing the grace given to me, James and Cephas and John, those seeming to be pillars, gave Barnabas and me the right hands of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. (Galatians 2:9)

Thus, James the half-brother of Jesus, “the Just”, the Bishop of Jerusalem, was clearly in a position of prominence within the early church and, as one in such a capacity, is very likely the writer of this letter.

When Was this Letter Written?

James deals with the issue of works as evidence of faith and yet does not mention at all the Jerusalem Council (AD 48 or 49) over which he presided. This council addressed whether or not a Christian was required to uphold the Law of Moses in order to be truly saved. Surely, James would have made mention of the council or its findings if this letter had been written after that time. We must conclude, therefore, that the book was written before that time. A date between AD 45 and 48 is widely accepted, which would make this the first of the New Testament books to have been written.

To Whom Was this Letter Written?

This letter is referred to as a general epistle (letter), because it was not addressed to any particular church, but to Jewish believers who had been dispersed (James 1:1), possibly as a result of Stephen's martyrdom (Acts chapter 7). It is probable that James is addressing chiefly the Eastern Dispersion in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Babylonia as Peter writes to five provinces in the Western Dispersion in Asia Minor. As the leader of the church in Jerusalem and as a devout Jew and half-brother of Jesus, the message of James had a special appeal to these widely scattered Jewish Christians.

Why Was this Letter Written?

The epistle is addressed to Jewish Christians. It is not doctrinal, but full of practical instruction in the duties of life. It was written from a Jewish standpoint, teaching Christianity, not as a new religion, but as an improvement of the Jewish faith. There are frequent references to the law in this Letter. However, James does not teach that his readers are under law either for salvation or as a rule of life. Rather, portions of the law are cited as instruction in righteousness for those who are under grace. As such, James presents the spirit of the law, not the letter of the law. The author refers to his audience as "brethren" fifteen times, which was a common expression among the first-century Jews. Not surprisingly then, the book of James has a strong Jewish flavor and content. For example, the Greek word translated "assembly" (James 2:2) is sunagōgē, the word for synagogue. Further, James contains more than forty allusions to the Old Testament and its teachings.

The content of the letter is largely an outgrowth of the Sermon on the Mount, the language of which it reflects more than any other book of the New Testament. In fact, there is little contained in this letter that cannot be traced back to Jesus’ personal teaching.

In God's service, for His glory,