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Blogs > Katididaustralia > Katididaustralia


Katididaustralia 66F
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49 posts
12/21/2014 10:13 pm
James

"He has gone out of his mind."
That is what Jesus' relatives thought of Him.
During the time of His earthly ministry, "his brothers were, in fact,not exercising faith in Him," and James, along with Joseph, Simon and Judas was not counted as one of Jesus' early disciples. (Mark 3:21; John 7:5; Matthew 13:55)

On what grounds then, can it be said, that James the half brother of Jesus wrote the Bible book that bears the name James?
The record shows that the resurrected Jesus appeared to James, and this no doubt convinced him beyond question that Jesus was the Messiah. (Corinthians 15:Seven)
Acts 1:12-14 says that even before Pentecost, Mary and the brothers of Jesus were assembling for prayer with the apostles in an upper chamber in Jerusalem.

Did not one of the apostles called James write the letter?
No, for at the outset the writer identifies himself, not as an apostles, but as 'a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ.' Moreover, Jude's introductory words, similar to those of James, mention Jude (or Judas) also as "a slave of Jesus Christ, but a brother of James." (James 1:1, Jude 1) From this we can safely conclude that James and Jude, the fleshly half brothers of Jesus, wrote the Bible books that bear their names.

James was eminently qualified to write a letter of counsel to the Christian congregation. He was greatly respected as an overseer in the Jerusalem congregation. Paul speaks of "James the brother of the Lord" as one of the "pillars" in the congregation along with Cephas and John. (Galatians 1:19; 2:9)

James' prominence is indicated by Peter's sending immediate word to "James and the brothers" after his release from prison and was it not James who acted as spokesman for "the apostles and the older men" when Paul and Barnabas journeyed to Jerusalem to request a decision regarding circumcision? Incidentally, this decision and the letter of James both start with the identical salutation, "Greetings!" - another indication that they had a common writer. (Acts 12:17; 15:3, 22, 23; James 1:1)

The historian Josephus tells us it was High Priest Ananus (Ananias), a Sadducee, who was responsible for the death of James by stoning. This was after the death of the Roman governor Festus, about 62 C.E., and before his successor, Albinus, took office.*

When did James write his letter?
James addressed his letter from Jerusalem to "the twelve tribes that are scattered about." literally, "the (ones) in the dispersion." (James 1:1) It would have required time for Christianity to spread out following the outpouring of Holy Spirit in 33C.E, and it would have required time, also, for the alarming conditions mentioned in the letter to develop. Further, the letter indicates that the Christians were no longer small groups but that they were organized into congregations with mature "older men" who could pray for and support the weak. Additionally, sufficient time had elapsed for a measure of complacency and formalism to creep in. (James 2:1-4; 4:1-3; 5:14; 1:26+27)
It is most probable, therefore, that James wrote his letter at a late date, perhaps shortly before 62C.E., if Josephus' account about the events surrounding the death of Festus and if the sources placing Festus' death in about 62C.E. are correct.

As to the authenticity of James, it is contained in the Vatican No.1209, the Sinaitic and the Alexandrine manuscripts. It is included in at least ten ancient catalogues prior to the Council of Carthage 397C.E. It was widely quoted by early ecclesiastical writers. A deep inner harmony with the rest of the inspired Scriptures is very evident in James' writings.

Why did James write this letter?
A careful consideration of the letter discloses that internal conditions were causing difficulties amoung the brothers. Christian standards were being lowered, yes, even ignored, so that some had become spiritual adulteresses as regards friendship with the world. Eager to invent supposed contradictions, some have claimed that James' letter encouraging faith by works nullifies Paul's writings regarding salvation by faith and not by works. However, the context reveals that James refers to faith supported by works, not just words, whereas Paul clearly means works of the Mosaic Law. Actually, James supplements the arguments of Paul, going one step further by defining how faith is made manifest. James' counsel is most practical in its coverage of the day-to-day problems of the Christian.

Illustrations from everyday life, including animals, boats, farmers and vegetation, give colourful backing to James' arguments on faith, patience and endurance. This copying of Jesus' successful teaching methods makes his counsel extremely forceful. This letter impresses one with James' keen discernment of the motives prompting individuals.

*Jewish Antiquities, XX, 197-200 (ix, 1); Webster's New Biographical Dictionary, 1983, pages 350.

Yours,
Katidid.