BIBL 110: New Testament Survey
14 James
James
Authorship
oJames, the half-brother of Jesus
Date
oEarly 50s AD
Location and Recipients
oMost likely written from Jerusalem
o Written to "the 12 tries in the Dispersion", most likely meaning
Jewish Christians
Genre
oA general, pastoral letter articulating advice, in the style of an Old
Testament wisdom book.
Literary Structure
1:1-2:13 – James and the Sermon on the Mount
2:14-25 – Faith and Works
3:1-4:17 – Faithful Speech, Wisdom & Submission
5:1-20 – Poverty and Riches & Perseverance and Prayer
1:1-2:13 – James and the Sermon on the Mount
o1:1-18
Believers facing trials should preserve and grow in maturity,
full of hope based on God's promise to reward.
God, unchanging and pure, does not cause temptation.
o1:19-2:13
True piety is marked by humble and guarded speech
and responsiveness to God's word.
Believers must be driven by godly markings and regard all
people as equals rather than showing favoritism driven by evil
motives.
2:14-25 – Faith and Works
oFaith without work is dead.
oBelief in God is insufficient evidence of being born again.
oFaith expressed in works is saving faith because it is genuine faith.
o"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is
dead," 2:26
3:1-4:17 – Faithful Speech, Wisdom and Submission
o3:1-12
Speech is an indication of whether the heart and life are faithful
to God.
The tongue affects either life or death, and speech will
be judged strictly.
Religious observance that does not tame the tongue is
worthless.
o3:13-18
Wisdom is both the root and fruit of humility.
o4:1-17
Submission to God requires allegiance to him; friendship with
the world reveals broken allegiance to God.
Humbly submit to God, drawing near to him, and find
him drawing near to you.
5:1-20 - Poverty and Riches & Perseverance and Prayer
o5:1-6
The believer will be held _________ for how he/she treats
the _________.
o5:7-12
True faith exhibits patience in suffering and _________
like _________.
o5:13-20
Pray in _________ for one another in the _________.
Pray _________, remembering the example of _________.
Pray for, _________, exhort, and _________ other believers,
with humility, eager that they be saved from _________.
Theological Themes
oFaithful _________
Faithful listeners of God's word live _________
and _________, with _________ abounding as _________ of
genuine faith. They submit to God out of full _________ to
him, forsaking the trappings of _________ pursuits like wealth
and status. Their _________ and _________ reflect God.
2
o_________ and Ethics
Believers should live _________ by embodying godly character
in all matters. A failure to treat others with sincere love reveals
a _________ lack of wisdom.
3
