Introduction to James
The Bible, the Word of God is the way.
These Scriptures, testify of Jesus Christ and this is how we know Jesus.
Every word is inspired by God
This one Book is composed of 66 individual books from Genesis to Revelation.
Every book, every word is inspired by God.
We believe the Word of God, the Bible.
John 3:16 –
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Job 3:16 –
“Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child,
as infants who never see the light?”
Both testify of Jesus.
James 3:16 –
“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”
Even though the passages are different, they are inspired and descriptive.
The Books of the Bible are different; all 66 comprise one book, the Bible. Each is unique.
The testimony of James to Jesus is rather unique.
So who was James?
He is writing explicitly to the Jews, the 12 tribes scattered across the region.
He was almost certainly Jesus’ brother – the traditional understanding of the church. Research supports that James is the Lord’s brother.
So Jesus had a brother? Yes he did.
In fact more precisely James is Jesus’ half brother as Joseph was not Jesus’ father but James’ father. Jesus was virgin born.
Mark 6:3 validates that they are brothers even though they did not believe in him.
“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.”
John 7:2-5 :-
“Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him.”
Mark 3:31 :-
“And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him.”
Acts 1:14 :-
“All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”
1 Cor 15:5-7
“and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.”
– Paul details the resurrection of Jesus and the reference to James, his brother.
Galatians 1:19 :-
“But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.”
Acts 15 James becomes the leader of the church in Jerusalem.
The Jewish leaders wanted to kill Paul however couldn’t as he was in custody of the Romans. So they turned there wrath on James and martyred him on the precipice of the temple.
Proverbs – things we can figure out by observation. Things we should have seen coming. They are kinda obvious these proverbs. So why did God take up space in his book, the Bible, with such obvious observations? Interesting… Homey words of truth.
The book of James is a collection of homey words of truth delivered with prophetic punch.
James is very old school, much like Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Old Testament characters. So who let James into the New Testament? John the Baptist spoke like this and so did Jesus, cousins…and James his brother? A family trait?
He paints simple truth with a simple image to make his points – James 1:6 Again in James 1:11-12. Again James 1:22-25. Again James 3:9-12 – simple truths driven home by the authority of a prophet.
God can only life us up because we have humbled ourselves before him!
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