James is writing to correct this line of thinking. However, as we read the book of James, we get the sense that James' audience had a different struggle.Īs the apostles and other teachers began to spread the word that salvation is by faith alone, not by keeping the law, it seems that some took this phrase out of context: Salvation is by faith alone.ĭoes that mean we don't have to worry about our actions? No. Jewish believers at this time grew up following the law and believing that their obedience meant their salvation. When they became believers in Jesus Christ, some struggled with the idea that salvation was by faith alone and not at all by keeping the Law. This background information comes in handy when James starts to reference things like “the Law”. They were the tribes of the nation Israel that descended from the family of Jacob.įor the purpose of our study of the book of James - or of any epistle - it is of interest to note whether the audience was made up of mostly Jewish or Gentile believers. Genesis 49:1-28 tells you exactly who the 12 tribes are. We want to live the way God wants us to live. Yes, we want to know how God sees the world, but beyond that, we want to then live according to that new knowledge. He calls us to not only learn more about God intellectually but to put that knowledge into practice. The Book of James, in general, challenges us to live out our faith. Not only does this verse give us some basic information about the background of the book of James, but it also presents us with our first opportunity to reflect on our commitment to Jesus. “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.” James 1:1 What do we know about the circumstances in which this book was written?įortunately, the first verse of the Book of James gives us the answer to some of these questions. Who was the original audience? What do we know about the audience? In the chapters that follow, Davids embarks upon a theological reading of each letter informed by its social-rhetorical understanding-what they meant in the context of their original cultural settings-including: a survey of recent scholarship, a discussion of relevant introductory issues, a thematic commentary, a treatment of important theological themes, and a discussion of the place of the letter in the biblical canon and its contribution to New Testament theology.The first step to studying any book of the Bible, especially epistles, is to answer some preliminary questions: Before discussing a theology of each of the four letters, Davids first deals with their common aspects-their shared background in the Greco-Roman world and a similar Christology, view of the source of sin, and eschatology-thus justifying their being treated together. Peter Davids offers a comprehensive study of the General or Catholic Epistles of James, 1–2 Peter, and Jude, which are often insufficiently covered in more general New Testament introductions, theologies, and surveys. Logos Research Subscription for SchoolsĪ Theology Of James, Peter, And Jude: Living In The Light Of The Coming King.
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