January 30, 2013

1. THE EPISTLE OF JAMES
By: John Medina

2. THE EPISTLE OF JAMES
 Is the “How to” book of the Christian
 It is one of the most practical book of the New
Testament
 It offers instruction and exhortation to Christians
who are experiencing problems
 James explains in a few words the
responsibilities of a Christian

3. THE AUTHOR
 Four men named “ James “ are mentioned in
the New Testament.
 First - James, the son of Zebedee and brother
of John ( Matt, 4:21 )
 Second - James, the son of Alphaeus ( Matt,
10:3 ) called the lesser or the younger also an
Apostle
 Third - James, the father of the apostle named
Judas ( Luke 6:16 )
 Fourth - James, the half brother of Jesus, also
called “the just” ( Matt 13:53-55 )
 The evidence is strong that James is one the
oldest books in the new testament.
 Written around A.D. 46

4. THE RECEIPIENTS
 Written to the twelve tribes which are
scattered abroad ( Christian Jews ).
 Most of the recipients seem to have been
poor and suffering from oppression from
fellow Jews.
 Some had been imprisoned and deprived of
their possessions and livelihoods.

5. THEOLOGY
 The Epistle of James is more practical than
doctrinal
 The major theological issue in James is faith
and works ( 2:14-26 )
 For James, works is a natural result of faith
 When a person truly believes in something, he
or she will act on that belief. Your life (action) is
in line with what you believe.

6. OUTLINE
I. Salutation 1:1
II. Prologue 1:2-18
A. Responding to trials 1:2-11
B. Responding to temptations 1:2-18
III. The themes: being swift to hear, slow to speak,
slow to anger 1:19-20
IV. Being swift to hear 1:-21- 2:26
A. Doing good works as a result of hearing the word of
God 1:21-27
B. Excluding partiality 2:1-13
C. Integrating faith and works 2:14-26

7. OUTLINE
V. Being slow to speak 3:1-18
A. Controlling the tongue 3:1-12
B. Acting wisely before speaking 3:13-18
VI. Being slow to anger 4:1-5:12
A. Solving conflict through humility 4:1-10
B. Withholding judgments 4:11-12
C. Curbing arrogance with reliance on God 4:13-
17
D. Being patient when treated unjustly 5:1-12
VII. Epilogue: concluding prayer 5;13-20

8.  James 1: 2-4
Count it all joy my brothers when you meet
trials of various kind.
For you know that the testing of your faith
produces steadfast.
And let steadfast have its full effect that you
may be perfect and complete and lack
nothing.

9. COUNT IT ALL JOY MY BROTHERS WHEN
YOU MEET TRIALS OF VARIOUS KIND.
 Hegeomai - Count, consider (10 X), think (3 X) command (with official
authority) have rule over
 Chara - joy delight (59 X) The word is sometimes used, by metonymy, of
the occasion or cause of joy
 Hotan - when (116 X) whenever (implying hypothesis or less uncertainty)
a matter of time
 Peripipto - to fall into (2 X), to fall around, to fall among or in with
 Poikilos - various , divers (10 X) denotes parti-colored (many colors)
 Peirasmos - trials. testing, temptation (19 X) to proof (by experiment or
experience of good or evil) Peirasmos is used of trials with beneficial
purpose or effect
 “ when there’s trial or problem there is opportunity behind it ”

10. FOR YOU KNOW THAT THE TESTING OF
YOUR FAITH PRODUCES STEADFAST.
 Ginosko - know (196 X) in it’s past tenses it frequently
means to know in the sense of realizing (make real or real
actual) or usually indicating definiteness. Known is of
value or importance to the one who knows (know God
and know Christ)
 Dokimion - testing (2 X) a test or a proof is rendered
(give help or provide a service)
 Pistis - faith (244 X) persuasion, conviction, belief, trust,
reliance pistis is conviction of the truth of anything or
belief respecting man’s relationship with God and Christ.
To God that He exists and creator and ruler of all things.
The provider and bestower of eternal life salvation
through Christ. To Christ with a strong and welcome
conviction belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom
we obtain eternal salvation

11.  Katergazomai - (24 X) produce, accomplish,
finish, This word usually means to work out, to
do that from which something results, to bring
about achieve, effect
 Hupomone - (32 X) patience, endurance,
constancy, steadfast
 Hupomone lit. “an abiding under” hupo - under
and meno - to abide patience that grows only in
trial- Patience molds Christian character

12.  Hebrews- 11: 1 Now
faith is the substance
or assurance of things
hoped for, the
conviction of things
not seen
 Substance or
assurance is
(hypostasis) a setting
under or standing
under - beginning,
foundation, support

14. AND LET STEADFAST HAVE ITS FULL EFFECT THAT YOU
MAY BE PERFECT AND COMPLETE AND LACK NOTHING.
 Echo - have (613 X) The word stress that one has the means to accomplish
a task
 Teleios - full (19 X) complete, growth, of full age. Teleios means brought to
its end, finished; wanting nothing necessary to completeness
 Ergon - effect (39 X) be engaged in or with
 Eimi - be (146 X) am,
 Teleios - perfect (19 X) finished, complete, developed, fully grown
 Teleios means brought to its end or completion or developed
 Holokleros - complete (2 X) in every part , perfectly sound. This word refers
to that which retains all that was initially allotted to it and implies completion
and wholeness in all parts and is used ethically in 1 Th 5:23 indicating that
every grace present in Christ should be manifested in the believer Jas 1:4

15. SUMMARY
 The knowledge that we gain through deep study of the
word of God and Christ is our power and joy when we
face trials or problems. The purpose of going through
trials is to help us grow and develop our character and
behavior. When we experience what we know we begin to
understand or realize (make real ) the value of the word
or instructions of God. Understanding what we know
strengthens our belief (faith), and what we believe will
determine how we behave or act.
 Following the instructions of God is very beneficial to a
believer. Remember, it will not get you to heaven.
Instruction is our guide to relationships, finances,
profession, career, health, and mental development.
When we follow instructions we can experience the power
and appreciate who God really is.

16.  Jews know the value of instructions and all the
benefits and good results of life. Maybe we can
learn from the Jews, because Jesus was a Jew.
So be it.
 Verses to study and LEARN
 Joshua chapter 1:8, 9
 Psalm chapter 1: 1-6
 John chapter 8: 31, 32
 Galatians chapter 3:14