Week 1 - The Dig Begins

Each Biblical book is written in a specific literary form. The book of James is an epistle, or a letter. Each epistle contains basically the same elements. Knowing this helps us to see the way the book is organized.

Elements of Biblical Epistles

1. name of the writer

2. name of recipients

3. greeting

4. prayer, wish, or thanksgiving

5. body of letter

6. final greetings and farewell

We have to keep in mind that when we are studying an epistle it really is a letter written to a specific group of people. This is why it is important to know who wrote the letter and to whom they were writing. While scripture is God’s living word to all of his people, knowing the original purposes is very helpful in understanding what the letters are really saying. To that end, we now give you “James: The Basics.”

Author

James was written by a guy named James. (surprise, surprise) But just who was this James? He was the brother of Jesus. James lived with Christ during His “Pre-public-ministry” years. There’s definitely some room for sibling rivalry in that relationship – how do you attempt to live up to Jesus? He was a leader in the Jerusalem church. The early church fathers knew James as “old camel knees.” This nickname is an allusion to his great focus on prayer, the ultimate combination of faith and works. Finally, James was executed in 62AD.

Date Written

James was written within about 15 years of the crucifixion. Some sources date the book as early as 42AD, while others believe James was written in the later 40s. Regardless of the specific date, there is consensus that James was written prior to the apostolic council held in Jerusalem in 49AD. The book contains no mention of the council, which would have been important to a leader in the Jerusalem church such as James.

Audience

Jewish Christians were the audience to whom James was writing. These believers had been scattered because of persecution and were most likely part of house churches outside of Palestine. James is writing to encourage these believers to press on in their faith, to live a life transformed by their knowledge of Christ. It appears that conflicts have entered the churches and are leading to some wavering commitment between worldly things and true faith. James writes to combat this conflict.

Literary Features

Because the original audience was Jewish Christians, there is a Jewish style of reasoning evident throughout the book of James. Also, James frequently reflects on the law of Moses, or Torah, throughout his writing.

Though James begins in the style of an epistle, the remainder of the book takes on characteristics of a collection of wisdom sayings. This has caused some commentators to refer to James as “the Proverbs of the New Testament.” The book contains many directives, showing that James is more interested in action than in mere belief. He writes in a way that meant to persuade his readers to actively live in a way worthy of a life-transforming Gospel.

Another really important fact in studying an epistle is beginning by reading the entire letter. Much like finding a place on a globe helps you understand better where it is. Each passage of the letter will make more sense when you know it in the whole of its context. So take a little time to read through the whole letter of James.

Questions:

1. After reading the letter what are your first impressions on themes in James?
2. Why is it significant that Jesus’ brother believed that the Gospel should transform the lives of those who believe?
3. James was known as “old camel knees.” If someone were to give you a nickname based on your spiritual life, what might that name be? What nickname would you desire?