11/6/2022 0 Comments Who wrote book of james![]() ![]() There are close parallels between the Savior’s Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 5–7 and the words of James. However, careful readers can recognize that James illustrated the need to live gospel principles in order to express one’s faith in Jesus Christ. Because many of these explanations emphasize the role of righteous deeds in the justification of the believer, some people, like Martin Luther, believed that this letter contains little about the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. ![]() The text of the letter consists of short explanations of principles for Christian living. The variety of topics mentioned may be evidence that portions of several sermons were combined to create this epistle. The Epistle of James has sometimes been classified as wisdom literature similar to the Old Testament book of Proverbs. What are some distinctive features of James? But James addressed himself to those of the twelve scattered tribes of Israel who belonged to the Church that is, to a people yet to be gathered, yet to receive the gospel, yet to come into the fold of Christ and if his words had import to the small cluster of saints of Judah and Benjamin who joined the Church in the meridian of time, so much the better” ( Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said the following about James’s audience: “Paul wrote to the saints of his own day, and if his doctrine and counsel blesses us of later years, so much the better. James addressed his letter “to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” ( James 1:1). They are labeled as general Epistles because their authors intended them for a broader audience than a single congregation or area. James is the first of the seven “general Epistles” included in the New Testament-the others being 1 and 2 Peter 1, 2, and 3 John and Jude. Since James lived in Jerusalem and watched over the affairs of the Church there, he likely wrote his epistle from that area. This would make the Epistle of James one of the earliest documents in the New Testament. Based on that information, scholars believe that James wrote this letter sometime between A.D. 45 and 60. Feldman, Loeb Classical Library 456, 106–9). The Jewish historian Josephus wrote that James the brother of Jesus was killed in A.D. 62 after the Sanhedrin ordered that he be stoned to death (see Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, trans. It is difficult to determine when this epistle was written. For further information on James, see the commentary for Acts 15:13–29. His influence in the Church was no doubt strengthened by his kinship to Jesus, yet he 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 those special 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. Christian tradition has held that this James, like Jude, is one of the sons of Joseph and Mary and hence half-brother of Jesus of Nazareth (see Matthew 13:55 Mark 6:3 Galatians 1:19). The epistle states that it was authored by “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” ( James 1:1). This letter will help readers see how to live in order to receive a “crown of life” ( James 1:12). James taught that true faith is manifest in one’s “works,” or actions (see James 2:14–26). Much of the counsel found in this epistle is like short sermons that emphasize righteous actions above the verbal profession of belief. Rather, this epistle provides teachings of Christian wisdom and examples of how disciples of Jesus Christ should live their lives as expressions of their faith in Jesus Christ-we are to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only” ( James 1:22). Unlike the Apostle Paul, James did not expound much in detail upon doctrines of the gospel. The Epistle of James is well known among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the significant passage that led young Joseph Smith to seek for truth from God (see James 1:5). Introduction to the General Epistle of James Why study James? ![]()
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