Introduction of the Book of James

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-26-2021

James 1:1

 

Introduction: 

 

1.  The Author of the Book of James.  Though the name James was a popular one in the 1st century, there are only 3 men named James mentioned in the Bible that would need to be considered as the author of the Book of James.

 

a.  James, the son of Zebedee - Matthew 10:2  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

 

1)  James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were called the “sons of thunder.”  Mark 3:17  And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:”

 

2)  James was one of the 12 Apostles and headed up the church at Jerusalem.

 

3)  James was martyred in app. 42 A.D.  Acts 12:1-2  Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.  (2)  And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

 

4)  The Book of James is dated around 60 A.D., thus eliminating this James from being the author of the Book of James.

 

b.  James, the son of Alphaeus - Matthew 10:3  Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

 

1)  James, the son of Alphaeus, was named among the 12 Apostles.  Matthew 10:2-4  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;  (3)  Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;  (4)  Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

 

2)  Though an Apostles, little is known or said about him in the Bible so I would rule him out as the author of the Book of James.

 

c.  James, the Lord’s brother - Mark 6:3  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

 

John 7:5  For neither did his brethren believe in him. (There was a time when Jesus’ half brothers and sisters did not believe that He was the Messiah!  At some time, they too began to believe upon Him.)

 

1)  Also known as James the Less - Mark 15:40  There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

 

2)  This James was the half-brother of our Lord with the same mother but different fathers - Galatians 1:19  But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

 

Matthew 13:55  Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? (James is always listed first and, therefore, probably the eldest of the children of Joseph and Mary.)

 

3)  James was also the full brother of Jude, who wrote the Book of Jude.  Jude 1  Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

 

Matthew 13:55  Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

 

4)  This James, according to tradition, pastored the church at Jerusalem and was also known as “Old Camel Knees,” evidently because of his calloused knees from hours in prayer to God.

 

5)  James was the spokesperson in the First Jerusalem Council.  Acts 15:13  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

 

6)  James saw Jesus in His resurrected body.  1 Corinthians 15:7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

 

7)  Tradition says that he was martyred in 62 A.D.

 

8)  This James, the brother of the Lord, would be my guess as to who authored the Book of James as his brother, Jude, authored the Book of Jude.

 

2.  The Authenticity of the Book of James.

 

a.  The Canon of Scriptures.  The word “Canon” means “rod.”  The “rod” was a stick used by carpenters and builders for precise measurements.  We use devices in our day to give precise measurements and they are still essential in in carpentry and building.

 

b.  The Canon of Scriptures are the “measuring stick” for the books of the Bible that we hold in our hands tonight.  The canonization of Scripture was finished for the New Testament app, 170-200 A.D. 

 

c.  The Old Testament canonization was probably done in two parts, called the Law and the Prophets in the New Testament.  The Law, Torah, refers to the five books of Moses while the Prophets is a general term compassing the other 34 books (historical, poetical, and prophetic).

 

1)  The Torah was possibly canonized around 400 BC.

 

2)  The Prophets were possibly canonized around 200 BC.   

 

d.  The reason for canonization.

 

1)  The Old Testament because of the Apocrypha.  These writings were available for canonization but were rejected.  Though they do have some historical value, they were never valued as inspired scripture.  They were placed between the Old and New Testaments for historical value but were later taken out because of the confusion that they may have caused.

 

2)  The New Testament because of the “letters as from us” mentioned in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2.  2 Thessalonians 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

 

3)  These false letters or manuscripts were causing confusion in the churches. 

 

4)  As late as the 1500’s, Martin Luther rejected the Book of James because, in his thinking because of his Roman Catholic background, thought it contradicted the doctrine of sola fide, or justification by faith alone.

 

e.  “That which is perfect” was the completion of the work of canonization and we now have confidence that the King James Bible is the completed Word of God for the English-speaking people.

 

3. The Addressee of the Book of James.

 

a.  One of the Hebrew Christian Epistles written “to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” – “are scattered abroad,” diaspora – converted Jews that resident in Gentile countries.  The same believers that Peter and Paul were writing to.  To “the strangers scattered:” dispersed, hated Jewish believers in Asia.

 

b.  One of the Hebrew Christian Epistles: the epistles of Hebrews, James, I & II Peter, and Jude.

 

4.  The Aim of the Book of James.  Faith’s Evidence.

 

a.  Chapter one.  Found in how we face our trials.

 

b.  Chapter two.  Found in how we treat people.

 

c.  Chapter three.  Found in how we control our tongue.

 

d.  Chapter four. Found in how we handle sinfulness in our lives.

 

e.  Chapter five.  Found in how we pray.