![]() ![]() In addition, there are close parallels between the Savior’s Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 5–7 and the words of James. The text of the letter consists of short explanations of principles for Christian living. The General Epistle of James has sometimes been classified as wisdom literature similar to the Old Testament book of Proverbs. What are some distinctive features of this book? James instructed Church members to live their lives as expressions of their faith in Jesus Christ. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. James addressed his letter “to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” ( James 1:1), meaning all the house of Israel he was inviting them to “receive the gospel … come into the fold of Christ” (Bruce R. If this letter was indeed written before the Jerusalem conference, it is one of the first epistles in the New Testament to have been written. The fact that James did not mention the Jerusalem conference of about A.D. 50 (see Acts 15) could indicate that this letter was written before it took place. Since James lived in Jerusalem and watched over the affairs of the Church there, he likely wrote his epistle from that area. It is unknown when James wrote this letter. ![]() His influence in the Church was no doubt strengthened by his kinship to Jesus, yet James showed humility in introducing himself not as the brother of Jesus but as a servant of the Lord (see James 1:1). As a leader in the Church, he played a prominent role in the council held in Jerusalem ( Acts 15:13). Later James became an Apostle and, according to early Christian writers, the first bishop of the Church in Jerusalem (see Acts 12:17 21:18 Galatians 1:18–19 2:9). However, after Jesus was resurrected, James was one of the individuals to whom Christ appeared as a resurrected being (see 1 Corinthians 15:7). Like the Lord’s other half brothers, James did not initially become a disciple of Jesus (see John 7:3–5). The fact that James is mentioned first in the list of Jesus’s brothers in Matthew 13:55 may indicate that he was the oldest of the half brothers. The epistle states that it was authored by “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” ( James 1:1).Ĭhristian tradition has held that this James, like Jude, is one of the sons of Joseph and Mary and hence a half brother of Jesus Christ (see Matthew 13:55 Mark 6:3 Galatians 1:19). Studying this book can help students understand the importance of manifesting their faith through their “works,” or actions (see James 2:14–26), and inspire them to seek a “crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” ( James 1:12). Throughout his epistle, James emphasized that we are to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only” ( James 1:22). The General Epistle of James is well known among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the significant passage in James 1:5 that led young Joseph Smith to seek for truth from God.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |