Jeremy Phillips Arizona State University English Summer Semester 2015

Why Choose the Book of James?  It is beautifully written and contains wise lessons.  According to the USCCB the book of James, “is written in an excellent Greek style, which ranks among the best in the New Testament and appears to be the work of a trained Hellenistic writer”  Examples: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Sources for Interpretation  United States Council of Catholic Bishops From the “General Mission Goals” of the USCCB – “The Gospel of Christ and the teachings of his Church guide the work of the USCCB.” As a tool for guidance the USCCB offers interpretation on each book of the Bible that is consistent with the official teachings of the Catholic Church.

Sources for Interpretation  Crossway Not for profit ministry founded in Publisher for the ESV “English Standard Version” Bible that aims to “seek to help people understand the massive implications of the gospel and the truth of God’s Word, for all of life, for all eternity, and for the glory of God.”

Themes in James  Very “Hebrew” text similar to the wisdom books  Call to Action / Renewal of Covenant with God  Repeated mention of the tongue

What makes James a Very “Hebrew” Text?  From BCE there were many significant Jewish diaspora. This coincides with the origin of the book of James and lends support for the address to the “12 tribes.”  Throughout this book there is very minimal reference to Jesus. Jesus is mentioned but this could have easily been an after thought.

What makes James a Very “Hebrew” Text?  The USCCB goes on further to state “The letter is so markedly Jewish in character that some scholars have regarded it as a Jewish document subsequently “baptized” by a few Christian insertions, but such an origin is scarcely tenable in view of the numerous contacts discernible between the Letter of James and other New Testament literature.”  As we know many stories in the bible were borrowed from earlier cultures. This might be an example of Christianity rebranding some Jewish wisdom. This is not definitive but certainly could be the case.

Themes in James  Very “Hebrew” text similar to the wisdom books  Call to Action / Renewal of Covenant with God  Repeated mention of the tongue

Call to Action / Renewal of Covenant with God  James’ work is a call to action. He uses examples to cite the difference between knowing and doing. His underlying statement is that faith alone is meaningless without action. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” “ But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” What James is saying here is that it is not enough to know the path. One must also walk the path. Crossway states the key meaning paraphrased as, “As he says in James 1:22, believers in Jesus should not just hear the word and believe it, but they should also do what it says!”

Themes in James  Very “Hebrew” text similar to the wisdom books  Call to Action / Renewal of Covenant with God  Repeated mention of the power of the tongue

Repeated mention of the Power of theTongue  James’ spends a good deal of time explaining that keeping humble and holy in one’s speech is vital to keeping the covenant with God. “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.” “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” “ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”

Repeated mention of the Power of theTongue  Small influence over big Bridle to Horse Helm to Ship Tongue to Body  Unable to be tamed Man can tame all types of beasts on land and sea but the tongue is poisonous and unable to be tamed. James is stating here that by habit man is inclined to speak ill of others and that the only way to abolish this is to speak humbly and infrequently.

Themes in James  Very “Hebrew” text similar to the wisdom books  Call to Action / Renewal of Covenant with God  Repeated mention of the power of the tongue