Lecture 2 – The Epistle of James: The Behavior of Belief

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  1. Recognize-

    The author of James has an exceptional grasp of Greek, even to the point of attending to rhetorical ornamentation and devices throughout. It strains credulity to think the son of a Galilean artisan family capable of this level of fluency in a second language.
    Reasons for rejecting traditional view on authorship of James.
  2. Recognize-
    · If the author of James is from Galilee or Judea, it is surely strange that he knows so well, and depends so fully, on the Greek translation of the Jewish Scriptures throughout this letter.
    Reasons for rejecting traditional view on authorship of James.
  3. Recognize -
    James does not reflect the characteristics of texts from a post-apostolic period
    positive observations that favor authorship by James, Jesus’ half brother,
  4. Recognize-

    The author’s simple self-designation and the absence of the kinds of personal “memoirs” that characterize pseudepigraphy in the book of James.
    positive observations that favor authorship by James, Jesus’ half brother,
  5. Recognize -

    The letter’s( James) close connection with the Jesus tradition, especially in a form that cannot simply be identified as literary dependence on one or more of the Gospels
    positive observations that favor authorship by James, Jesus’ half brother,
  6. Analyze the outline headings of James in order to understand the teachings of James (Sect.9 Outline headings II 1and 2, III, IV, and V and Sect.10).
    • Opening Statement 1:2–27
    • 1. Testing, wisdom, wealth 1:2–11
    • a. Testing produces joy 1:2–4
    • b. Wisdom comes through prayer 1:5–8
    • c. Poverty excels wealth 1:9–11
    • 2. Testing, speech, generosity 1:12–27
    • a. Testing produces blessedness 1:12–18
    • b. Pure speech contains no anger 1:19–21
    • c. Obedience requires generosity 1:22–25
    • d. Summary and transition 1:26–27
  7. Analyze the outline headings of James in order to understand the teachings of James
    • The Excellence of Poverty and Generosity 2:1–26
    • 1. No partiality is allowable 2:1–13
    • a. Illustration: judicial assembly 2:1–4
    • b. Rational argument 2:5–7
    • c. Biblical argument 2:8–12
    • d. Call to obedience (transition) 2:13
    • 2. Generosity is necessary 2:14–26
    • a. Illustration: poor Christian 2:14–17
    • b. Rational argument 2:18–20
    • c. Biblical argument (two-part): Abraham; Rahab 2:21–26
  8. Analyze the outline headings of James in order to understand the teachings of James
    IV. The Demand for Pure Speech 3:1–4:12

    • Pure speech has no anger 3:1–12
    • a. Warning against self-exaltation 3:1–2a
    • b. Warning about the power of the tongue 3:2b–5a
    • c. Warning about the doubleness in the tongue 3:5b–1 Pure speech comes from wisdom 3:13–18
    • 3. Pure prayer is without anger/in trust 4:1–10 (12)a. Prayer with anger and desire 4:1–3b. Condemnation of compromise 4:4–6
    • c. Call to repentance 4:7–10
    • 4. Pure speech is uncondemning 4:11–12
  9. Analyze the outline headings of James in order to understand the teachings of James
    • Testing through wealth 4:13–5:6
    • 1. The test of wealth 4:13–17
    • 2. The test by the wealthy 5:1–6
  10. Analyze the outline headings of James in order to understand the teachings of James
    • Justice, Mercy and Faith
    • Messianic Interpretation of the Law and living in the Presence of God
  11. Behavior and Belief (1:22)
    • 1.1.1 On the dangers of the tongue
    • 1.1.2 On the source of temptation
  12. The topic of Wisdom in James
  13. 3. List (in 1 word or phrase each) and describe (in 1-2 sentences each) the five themes in the message of James (Sect. 12).
    1. Temptation

    • The source and nature of “tests” (Jas 1:2-4, 12-15)
    • 1.1.2 Tests and double-mindedness
    • 1.1.3 On Single-mindedness and the Christian life
    • 1.1.4 An assortment of tests in James
    • 1.1.4.1 The test of judging by appearances (Jas 2:1-13)
    • 1.1.4.2 The test of responding to the person in need (Jas 2:14-26)
    • 1.1.4.3 The test of speech (Jas 3:1-12; 4:11-12)
    • 1.1.4.4 The test of community wholeness versus personal gratification (Jas 3:13-4:12)
    • 1.1.4.5 The test of humility before God (Jas 4:13-17)
    • 1.1.4.6 The test of the pursuit of wealth (Jas 5:1-6)

    • 1.2 Consistency of Faith and Action
    • 1.2.1 Faith is real when it is lived out (Jas 1:22-27; 2:12-13; 3:13)
    • 1.2.2 Faith means the doing of the Law (Jas 2:11; 5:4; 2:2-4; 2:8)
    • 1.2.3 Examples of living out the faith 1.2.3.1 Resisting partiality (James 1:9-11; 2:1-11)
    • 1.2.3.2 Love for Neighbor in action (Jas 2:14-26)

    • 1.3 Consistency in Speech (Jas 1:19, 26; 3:1-12; 4:11-12)
    • 1.3.1 The difficulties of keeping the tongue in check
    • 1.3.2 Blessing or cursing, not both
    • 1.3.3 Oaths

    • 1.4 Wholeness in community (Jas 3:13-4:4; 5:13-20)
    • 1.4.1 Self-gratification versus community health
    • 1.4.2 The wisdom from above
    • 1.4.3 Serving the sick and the straying

    • 1.5 The Humble Person and the Rich (Jas 1:9; 4:6-10) 1.5.1 Example of humility: refraining from pronouncing judgment (Jas 4:11-12)
    • 1.5.2 Example of humility: shedding delusions about autonomy (Jas 4:14)
    • 1.5.3 The characterization of the “rich” (Jas 5:1-6)
  14. Understand the seven aspects of Christian formation found in James (Sect. 13).
    • 1.1 A follower of Christ must align his/her action, speech and ambitions with the teachings of Jesus.
    • 1.2 The healthy Christian community understands that in following Christ there are trials and temptations that lead to maturity and strong character.
    • 1.3 Consistency in individual and community life is the foundation for Christian witness.
    • 1.4 The healthy Christian community does not value people according to wealth, appearance, beauty, and other temporary and temporal characteristics.
    • 1.5 A healthy community helps quarreling members evaluate whether God’s purposes or human desires and wishes are being served by their altercation.
    • 1.6 The use of wealth and resources by the church and its individual members will reflect God’s priorities rather than secular financial “wisdom.”
    • 7. The healthy church will attend meaningfully to the restoration not only of the ill, but also the reclamation of the sinner.
  15. Textbook: Analyze (in 2 paragraphs) James’ statement, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if people claim to have faith but have no deeds? Can such faith save them?” James 2:14 in order to compare it with the Focus 22: Faith and Works box
    (Ch. 22, Encountering the New Testament, p.357).

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Author:
 crunchybunnies27
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 158049
Filename:
 Lecture 2 – The Epistle of James: The Behavior of Belief
Updated:
2012-06-14 03:52:16
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VLI General lit theology
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Lecture 2 – The Epistle of James: The Behavior of Belief
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