1. HGST General Epistles James 1
The Testing Tradition
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HGST General Epistles James 1

2. 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
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HGST General Epistles James 1

3. 1.3. Suffering in the New Testament
Introduction
The Vocabulary of Suffering
The Old Testament
The New Testament
Church History
Conclusion
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HGST General Epistles James 1

4. 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
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HGST General Epistles James 1

5. HGST General Epistles James 1
3. Joy in Testing (1:2-4)
3.1. Introduction
3.2. The meaning of anticipated joy
First impressions
The meaning of peirasmo/j
The testing tradition
Abraham
Israel in the Wilderness
Jesus
Testing in James
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HGST General Epistles James 1

6. 3.2.3. The consequences of anticipated joy
Patient endurance (hypomonē)
The background of endurance
Endurance in the New Testament
The meaning of endurance
Maturity/Perfection (teleios)
The background of teleios
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.
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HGST General Epistles James 1

7. 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
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HGST General Epistles James 1

8. 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