The New Testament book of James has been a subject of controversy for a very long time. From the first arguments against it being included in the Christian canon as an atypical letter in the first Church, to questions about the authorship and even to the current contentions against it as a works-based treatise, we should pull away from those controversies to try to understand it’s unique place in the New Testament as well as its importance.
To those who question the authorship—some saying that is not legitimate because there is no conclusive proof—we must beg the question about how then the book of Hebrews was included, for that has no conclusive proof of who the author/s were. To those who question whether or not the author was the brother of Jesus who became a significant Church leader—sometimes called James the Just for his Christian nobility and righteousness—we can be certain from the clear and profound use of the text from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew that the author was deeply influenced and clearly a disciple of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ . . . which really is more important that if he grew up with Jesus in a Nazareth carpenter’s home. To those who feel that the book of James is unnecessarily focused on works rather than faith, we only need to study closely the passion, born in love of the Savior and his teachings. to see the end to which the author wants to draw these early Christians to. The end is the promise of the second coming and the final judgment when Jesus Christ will deliver them (and us) from the sinful temptations, troubles and persecutions we face.
It is very important that we try to understand the contemporary context of this letter, at least as far as we can in our present day. Many scholars believe that it was one of the earliest writings from the New Testament Church. Because of this we can go to the book of Acts to get a sense of the urgency that this time period held. In Acts 8:1-4 and 11:19-20 we can read about the immediate persecutions and scattering of the disciples because of the controversies that Christianity created. Jesus told them this would happen. In Matthew 5:10-12 we read the words of Jesus: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." We can read further about this in Matthew 10.
But that was not the only issue. As we read in the Gospels and the other letters found in the New Testament, we can see that issues inside the new Church were just as impactful and soul-wrenching as the external pressures. This letter was most likely written to be circulated among the scattered Christian churches in the Mediterranean and Middle East regions. It appears to me that the author was trying to address many issues while thinking of many churches. This kind of a structure does not lend itself to a logical theological treatise, but rather to a string of proverbial statements meant to inspire and exhort people in particular situations to truly Christian living. Many scholars over the years have also identified it as the only wisdom literature in the New Testament. Ryan Hansen wrote: “Biblical Wisdom Literature seeks to understand God and God’s relation to the world from what can be observed in the world: creation, common sense gleaned from everyday social interactions and family life.”[i] So, like Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job in the Old Testament, we must reflect on the small book of James as a collection of wise sayings and guidance rooted deeply in a vital relationship with the Divine and a reflection of the character and love of God. As principled Biblical scholars, we don’t want to try to make James same something is does not say like: “You’d better be good or God won’t love you” or “I must be guilty of all of these things despite being a Christian” or “I must do all of these things to be a real Christian”.
On the contrary, the book of James was cast broadly to a whole variety of Christian churches and steeped in a faith grounded in the love of God and the words of Jesus. In such a way we can understand that who the author was writing to were groups of people already Christians or those who have been taught in the Way and have gone astray. Indeed, this letter includes very harsh words for those who said they were Christians but who did not demonstrate the natural outcomes of humble servants of God! By their fruit they are known! (Matthew 7:15-20) And it includes great words of comfort and encouragement to many who needed to hear that the terrible things they were experiencing were going to be far outweighed by the blessing of receiving the crown of life from our Savior (1:12).
Now that we have some context for the book of James, let me turn our focus to the study of the book. This month’s posting is more of a challenge than a Biblical study. I want to challenge you to read through the book of James with the above perspectives. At each ready, or even at verse or paragraph, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into understanding if that particular issue is something that you need to work on. Then, if you are open to that direction, either work on it with the help of God, or move on to the next matter in the text.
This is what has helped me to study and meditate on the verses in James. I am indebted to a group of wonderful women for such a structure of studying the book of James. We would gather each Wednesday night to learn from God’s Word. One season, after we had studied several other books, they agreed with me to take on the New Testament book of James. I knew that it would be hard because James presses us to live out what we say we believe. But I did not know how much joy we would experience through it as well. Little bit by little bit, we began to enjoy the precious nature of this letter. We began to call them pearls. Nineteen weeks later we had a perfectly stunning strand of pearls. One clasp end was Christian works while the other was faith—all inextricably bound together.
Using the metaphor of a strand of pearls, here are some important things to know about them. It is fairly easy to see how these facts can be applied to being a Christian and living out our faith.
· If a pearl is flawless, it is usually a fake. All natural pearls have flaws.
· On a strand each real pearl will be different in size. They are rarely identical.
· Overtones of green, rose and silver are not present on fake pearls. Fake pearls will have the same overtone if an overtone is present.
· Real pearls are heavier than fakes.
· Fakes could be filled with wax or made from plastic.[ii]
As with fake pearls, a life weighed down by works alone will be weighed down and lacking luster and life.
In our Bible study we began to identify each concept in the book of James with a different word, stringing our pearls as we saw them at that time. We determined that a real strand of Christian pearls will have the following qualities.
· The strand, holding all together, is made of Prayer.
· The clasps are Faith with Works.
· The Pearls
· Joy - James 1:2-5
· Faith - James 1:6-8
· Humility – James 1:9-11
· Promise – James 1:12
· Truth – James 1:13-15
· Gift Giver – James 1:16-18
· Self-Control/Purity – James 1:19-21
· Liberty – James 1:22-25
· Pure Religion – James 1:26-27
· Mercy – James 2:1-13
· Faith-in-Action – James 2:14-26
· Constructive Words – James 3:1-12
· Heavenly Wisdom – James 3:13-18
· Reinforced Humility – James 4:1-12
· God’s Will – James 4:13-17
· Right Financial Values – James 5:1-6
· Patient Endurance – James 5:7-12
· Powerful Prayer – James 5:13-20
So, now the challenge. Prayerfully begin each reading of the book of James and ask yourself if the name of these pearls matches what you have learned (there is not really one correct answer or word) or rename the pearls in the way that you read them in this challenge. Then treasure the real pearls that God has given you through this study of the book of James.
© M.R.Hyde 2023
[i] Illustrated Bible Life, Spring 2023, The Foundry Publishing, Kansas City, MO.
[ii] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSwj1NpVI90 Fleury Sommers
