HGST General Epistles James 1 The Testing Tradition 11/1/2019 HGST General Epistles James 1

HGST General Epistles James 1 1. The testing tradition 1.1. The nature of testing A test is when what one suffers due to one’s commitment to God could weaken that commitment 1.2. The virtue of patient endurance This is the virtue that enables one to endure 11/1/2019 HGST General Epistles James 1

1.3. Suffering in the New Testament 1.3.1. Introduction 1.3.2. The Vocabulary of Suffering 1.3.3. The Old Testament 1.3.4. The New Testament 1.3.5. Church History 1.3.6. Conclusion 11/1/2019 HGST General Epistles James 1

James and the Testing Tradition 2. Introduction (1:1) Implied author and addressees James, the brother of Jesus Leader of the Jerusalem community Writing to scattered believers Thus a diaspora letter 11/1/2019 HGST General Epistles James 1

HGST General Epistles James 1 3. Joy in Testing (1:2-4) 3.1. Introduction 3.2. The meaning of anticipated joy 3.2.1. First impressions 3.2.2. The meaning of peirasmo/j 3.2.2.1. The testing tradition 3.2.2.1.1. Abraham 3.2.2.1.2. Israel in the Wilderness 3.2.2.1.3. Jesus 3.2.2.2. Testing in James 11/1/2019 HGST General Epistles James 1

3.2.3. The consequences of anticipated joy 3.2.3.1. Patient endurance (hypomonē) 3.2.3.1.1. The background of endurance 3.2.3.1.2. Endurance in the New Testament 3.2.3.1.3. The meaning of endurance 3.2.3.2. Maturity/Perfection (teleios) 3.2.3.2.1. The background of teleios 3.2.3.2.2. The meaning of endurance in James 3.3. Conclusions Conclusions: Be empathic with the pain, for the perspective only comes after the pain. We neither deny the pain, nor do we forget that God will eventually produce his good result. 11/1/2019 HGST General Epistles James 1

HGST General Epistles James 1 Failure in the test Accusing God God is apeirastos (Jas 1:14) Desire leads us astray Yēṣer Rom 7 Chain: Desire Sin Death 11/1/2019 HGST General Epistles James 1

HGST General Epistles James 1 God produces life God Gives ungrudgingly Give good Unchanging Therefore cannot give a test God birth us “Male” principle is “word of truth” Result is life (opposite of death) 11/1/2019 HGST General Epistles James 1