This is the home for the book of James. James is a real treasure that demonstrate balance between grace and works.
James referenced in the New Testament…
Which James is the author of this book?
- Jesus finds four fishers of men in four fishermen
| Mat 4:18-22 | Mar 1:16-20 | Luk 5:1-11 |
| 21 Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. | 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him. | 8 But when Simon Peter sawthat, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” |
The Apostle James is martyred by Herod Agrippa I (before Herod\’s death in 44 a.d.)
Act 12:1-2 NASB Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. (2) And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.
James the son of Alphaeus:
Mar 3:14-19 NASB And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He couldsend them out to preach, (15) and to have authority to cast out the demons. (16) And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), (17) and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”); (18) and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot; (19) and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.
If the author was James – of Jesus family, then when did he believe?
Joh 7:1-5 NASB After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. (2) Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. (3) Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. (4) “For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” (5) For not even His brothers were believing in Him.
James as counterpoint to Paul?
If so – Flavius Josephus states that James, Jesus of family, was martyred in a.d. 62. With this as the context, this is probably one of the earliest writings of the New Testament and is likely not a counterpoint to later writings which some suggest.
Bible Knowledge Commentary summarizes the writings of James: “Together Paul and James give the full dimension of faith. Paul wrote about inner saving faith from God’s perspective. James wrote about outward serving faith from man’s perspective. The true seed of saving faith is verified by the tangible fruit of serving faith. James’ point is that biblical faith works.”
Let’s look at the character of James:
Act 15:1-20 NASB Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved\” (2) And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. (3) Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. (4) When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. (5) But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.” (6) The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. (7) After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. (8) “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; (9) and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. (10) “Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? (11) “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.” (12) All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. (13) After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me. (14) “Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. (15) “With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, (16) ‘AFTER THESE THINGS I will return, AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT, (17) SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,’ (18) SAYS THE LORD, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO. (19) “Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, (20) but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.
Act 15:22-31 NASB Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas–Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, (23) and they sent this letter by them, “The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings. (24) “Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, (25) it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, (26) men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (27) “Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. (28) “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: (29) that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.” (30) So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. (31) When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.
Questions:
- At one point, even James didn’t believe Jesus – what do you see in his character?
- In Acts, what is revealed about James to you?
- What does this reveal about God to you?