All About James

James, a bond-servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

to the twelve tribes who are dispersed aboard: Greetings. James 1:1

If you say that you “believe,” why do you act as though you don’t? That seems to be the main issue that prompts James to write this letter. Generally speaking, the book of James is not considered a great doctrinal treatise. For example, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ appears only twice in the entire letter, and once here in verse one. The author never mentions the cross, the resurrection, or the Holy Spirit. It seems that this letter was not written for the purpose of establishing the doctrines of the faith (although, there are great truths taught in it). As Chuck Swindoll has written:

You won’t hear any mysterious, stained-glass theological discussions in the hallowed halls of this inspired letter, only grass-stained advice from someone following Christ in the grass-roots of life!

The intention of James is to drive home the importance of living out the truth in a practical way.

Now there has been much discussion and debate concerning which of the many James in Scripture is the actual author of this letter. The New Testament mentions at least four men named James (a great name I might add!).

• James the son of Zebedee and brother of the Apostle John (Mark 1:19, 3:17; Matthew 10:2)
• James the son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18; Matthew 10:3; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13)
• James the father of Judas (not Iscariot) (Luke 6:16)
• James the half-brother of our Lord Jesus (Galatians 1:19)

We know it can’t be the first James (the son of Zebedee) because Acts 12:2 tells us he was martyred by Herod Agrippa I in AD 44. This letter of James was likely written somewhere between AD 45-49 and is considered to be the first New Testament book written.

Although the second James (the son of Alphaeus) was one of the original 12 Apostles, not much else is known about him.

The third James (the father of Judas), although having the privilege of being mentioned in Scripture, from all other evidence it appears he was simply not an important person in the early church.

When all is said and done, evidence points to James the half-brother of Jesus as the author of the book. According to Galatians 1-2 and Acts 15 and 21, this James became the recognized leader in the Jerusalem Church. Additionally, Church tradition credits this James as the author.

Before we look at this wonderful letter of practical Christian truth I want us to know more about the author. I think that what we learn about him will help us to appreciate this book even more.

I want you to understand four things about James, his conversion, his character, his confession and his concern.

His Conversion

We know very little about the relationship between James and Jesus. John 7:5 tells us that early on, his brothers did not believe in him. In Matthew 13:53-58 we are told that Jesus went into the Synagogue in Nazareth and taught the people and they were amazed by His wisdom and power. They said, “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brethren James, Joseph, Simon and Jude? Aren’t all His sisters with us? Where did this man get all these things?” At one point, his family tried to stop him and said he was “beside himself.”

Certainly Mary and Joseph knew who he was. After all, they had heard the angel predict his miraculous conception and of course they were present at all the wonderful events surrounding His birth. In fact Luke 2:19 says “Mary treasured all these words in her heart.” His family had seen Jesus as a boy grow and mature with profound wisdom beyond years. Surely Mary and Joseph would have explained Jesus’ true identity to the rest of the family. Yet James and the others remained unconvinced.

However, a few years later, we see this same James as the leader in the church at Jerusalem. When controversy over gentile believers threatened to divide the church, Barnabas and Paul met with the elders and Apostles in Jerusalem and submitted to their authority. James was the moderator and spokesman for the final decision made by the elders and Apostles (Acts 15:1-21). Later, just before Paul’s arrest, Paul brought money that he had collected for the poor in the Jerusalem church to James and reported the details of what God had done among the gentiles (Acts 21:19). That this is the same James, as the James mentioned as the Lord’s brother, is confirmed by Paul in Galatians 1:18-19.

“Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him for fifteen days. I saw no other Apostle except for James the Lord’s brother.”

So the question arises then, what changed James from skeptical younger brother to a committed follower of Jesus and outspoken leader in the church? He saw the risen Christ! In 1 Corinthians 15-3-8 Paul gives a list of people who had actually seen Christ after his resurrection, James was one of them. Jesus appeared personally to James!

What more does it take to change a man? When you come into contact with living and resurrected Jesus Christ you must be changed!

His Character

Kent Hughes says that James may have been a late bloomer, but he flowered well! In fact, history tells us he became known as James the Just! Hegesippus a second century historian says he received this nickname for a very good reason. “James would enter the Temple alone and could be found kneeling and praying for the forgiveness of the people….He prayed so much that his knees grew hard like a camels…because of his excessive righteousness, he was called ‘the just’.”

Because of his familial relationship and his spiritual relationship, James knew Christ like few others did! For years he sat at the same table, shared the same meals, shared the same house and played in the same places.

James could have easily started his letter this way: “James the Just, from the sacred womb of Mary, biological sibling of Christ, his brother, confidant of the Messiah!” Instead, he simply says, “James, servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” James the Just was also James the Humble. The word order in the original makes his humility even more explicit, “of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, a servant.” James’ emphasis is not on himself but on his Lord.

The word “bond-servant” he uses is the Greek word “doulos” which literally means bondslave. It referred to one who was in a permanent relationship of servitude to another. The word emphasizes “the supreme and absolute authority of the master and the entire submission of the slave.”

Three things were expected of a bondslave, complete obedience, utter humility and unshakable loyalty. The early Christians gladly called themselves bondslaves of Jesus Christ. To be a bondlsave of Christ was not to be in a position of degradation, but of honor. There can be no greater tribute to a believer than to be called God’s obedient, humble and loyal servant. Such was James!

If Jesus Christ is our Lord, then our actions are to be obedient, our attitudes must be humble before Him, and our life must be lived in loyalty to Him.

His Confession

There is no definite article in the original Greek so this opening phrase places emphasis on the identity of Jesus, “a servant of God and of Lord Jesus Christ.” “Lord Jesus Christ” or “Jesus Christ is Lord” was one of the earliest Christian confessions. The phrase “Lord Jesus Christ” speaks to the unique character of Jesus. Let’s break that phrase down.

“Jesus” is his human name. It was given to him before his birth and speaks of his saving work in the incarnation…literally it means “salvation.” The name Jesus embodies the entire gospel story concerning this man from Nazareth.

“Christ” is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew word “Messiah”…literally it means “the Anointed One.”  For Jewish readers the placement of the title Christ after Jesus meant that the writer was acknowledging him as the fulfillment of messianic promises in the Old Testament. The name Jesus Christ embodies the faith, that the messianic redemption as promised by God through the prophets had been realized in the incarnate Jesus.

The early Church proclaimed this incarnate and risen savior as its “Lord” (Greek Kurios). As their savior and master he received their full allegiance and whole-hearted service. To Jewish readers (the primary target population of his letter), the title Lord carried with it implications of deity. In the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) the word Kurios was used to translate the Hebrew word “Yahweh.” Yahweh (translated Jehovah in English) is the name for God. Yahweh is the I AM, the sovereign God of the universe!

So to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord is a radical thing. To the Jew it was blasphemous. To the Romans it was treasonous, but to the early Christians it was a sign of giving one’s life to Christ! Many of those early Christians lost their lives because they would not take back that confession.

Sadly today, the phrase “Jesus Christ is Lord” is no more than a bumper sticker or a slogan. The unspoken question of James is “to what degree will you go, to proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord of your life, not only in what you say, but also in what you do?”

His Concern

James addresses his letter to the “twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad.” “Dispersed” is the word “diaspora” it means scattering or dispersion and it pictures that of the scattering of seed. On the day of Pentecost Peter addressed the Jews that were in Jerusalem from many different nations. These Jews then returned to their homelands and became part of the scattered. In Acts 1:8 Jesus had told his followers that they were to spread the faith beyond Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the world.

Because of persecution and other factors, these early Christians were scattered throughout the Roman world. As Christian Jews they often faced a double dose of persecution. As Jews, they were despised and rejected by the gentiles. As Christian Jews they were rejected by their own countrymen. James knew what these young believers would be facing as they attempted to live for Christ, far away from the Apostles and elders in the Jerusalem Church. He knew there would be trials and persecutions. He knew there would be suffering and oppression. He knew there would be temptations and pressures. He knew that it would be easy for them to slip back into old habits or spiritual neutrality. Therefore, he wrote this letter to encourage them to move beyond mere words into action…to live out their faith in a practical and very real way. That is what this book is all about.

As we will see, this book is very practical, but is it very relevant? Can a two-thousand year old letter relate to us today? Can first century instruction relate to a twenty-first century person? I believe it can. Let me ask you a few questions.

• Do you face trials in your life? James writes about it in 1:2-12.
• Do you ever struggle with temptation? James covers this too in 1:13-18.
• Do you wonder of it is possible to live out the truths of Scripture in everyday life? James addresses this in 1:19-27.
• Do you hate the racism and bias we have in this country and our churches today? Do you sometimes fail at treating people fairly? James indicts this kind of behavior in 2:1-13.
• Is your faith a living faith? Does your live show good works as evidence of a real faith? James tells us why this is so important in 2:14-26.
• Do you have a problem with controlling your tongue and speech? James focuses on this issue in 3:1-12.
• Do you struggle with selfishness? James is on the case in 4:1-10.
• Are you always criticizing and judging others. James has a word for us on this subject too in 4:11-12.

James also deals with how to plan your life, how to handle riches, how to pray effectively and what to do when you’re suffering and sick. James IS a relevant book…it is the word of God!

I hope you will join me as we work our way through the great truths of this letter.