Ministry of the Word
  > James .. Fr Errol fernandes
 

 

 JAMES
Fr Errol Fernandes.
16/3/2008
 
INTRODUCTION:
The main points in the letter is an address to a church in which there is discrimination (rich & the poor) this leads to economic (true religion) persecution.
There are 2 areas that are dealt with under 3 main themes.
i) Testing
ii) Wisdom.
iii)wealth.                                                                        How to pray   Mk 11:23-25
                                                                                                                                                    
AUTHORSHIP:
James in Greek= Iakohas / Iakoh.
Some times translated as----------Jacob / James.
There are 4 people called James in the NT.
1. James the son of Zebede, killed by Herod Agrippa 2 Acts 12:2 date 44 CE.
2. James son of Alphaeus, mentioned in the list of 12, he is to important person, to use only the simple designation as used in the letter, expected to be known as ‘servant of God of JC’.
3. James the father of the apostle Judas (not Iscariot) mentioned only once Lk6:16.
4. James the brother of the Lord Mt 13:55, Mk 6:3, most are of the opinion that his conversion took place after the resurrection. He is the one who gives a speech Acts 15:13 The most likely author
.                                                                          Testing of Faith 2-4
                                                                         Prayer 5-6.
STRUCTURE:                                                  Doubt 7-8
I  1:1-2 Greeting                                            Wealth & Faith 9-11
II    3-27 Opening Statement.                        Beatitudes 12
        3-18 a) Testing / Wisdom / Wealth -à Temptation 13-18                
                                                                                               Quick to hear 22-25
      19-27 b) Doer of the word----------à---Slow to speak 26-à-Religion True 1 : 27
                                                                                                Slow to anger 20-21     
III 2:1-26    Wealth & Faith
        1-13. a) Wealth & Prejudice *    There are 3 sections that are
                                                            claimed as treaties * -à2: 1-13
                                                                                            -à    14-26
                                                                                            -à 3: 1-12    
        14-26 b) Faith & Work * ------ -Smaller self contained units-à 3   :13-17                                               
                                                                                           ---à4   : 1-6
                                                                              ---------------à      :13-16
IV 3:1-4,12    Wisdom & Faith                                                   
         1-12  a)  Danger of Sinful Speech *              
         13-18 b)  Gods Gift of Wisdom
     4:1-10   c) Repentance from sinful speech                                           
        11-12  d) Examples of sinful speech                                                         
V     13-5,6      Testing & Wealth
VI 5,7-20        Closing Patience & Prayer.
                                   3:18
Individual sayings <
                                   4:17
Serves as sayings   1:1-27;    5:7-20
 
I>1:1-2 Greetings 12 tribes- Xtian community, spread out Diaspora, not addressed to a special community & so along with 1&2 Peter & Jude ( some even count 1, 2, 3. John) regarded as catholic epistle (=universal)
IIa >1:2-4 Joys in trial, testing leads to endurance, & this leads to maturity
                                                 not=acceptance
                                      = steadfastness ---Tekios = perfection = undivided love Mt5:48
1:5-6 Aptos = freely or generously without measure
l:7-8 Doult = Dupsikos = double minded; asking without confidence, such asking will not receive.
1:9-11. Wealth & Faith
                   lowly rich   I   Rich
                         Boast  I Boast
                         Truly   I   Ironical
                                        Destruction is described & the fall will be sudden
                               It will be while  the person is in the midst of pursuit.  Lk Rich fool
1:12 Beatitudes- Endurance in temptation gains the crown of righteousness
1:13-18. Temptation was not from God but from ones desires. Accept responsibility.
                                           Desireà Sinà Death à
                                 Epithumiaà HamarthaàThanatosà
Father of light (Heavenly Bodies)=Godà there is no change in him in regards to his children
                                                       Creation of Humans
Of his own he brought us forth<
                                                       Creation of Xtian community.
IIb>1:19-27. Doers of the words.
1:22-25. Quick to speak
1:26 Slow to speak
1:20-21 Slow to Anger
What follows is an Explanation / Explication
Anger not= Righteousness
Meekness not= Gullibility = Openness to Gods Revelation
                  Not= docile
Doers not merely hearers – faith in action.
Only hearers = look intently & forget
Doers = Glance & remember
Speaking à Bridling the tongue is necessary
1:27 True religion = Care & Concern to the marginalized & bring unsustained (moral virtue)
 
IIIa. 2:1-13.Wealth prejudice, faith in JC
Rich          à     Poor       à Protasis
à                                                                                      Apodosis
Then distinction = Judge. Ex. If the rich man becomes poor you make Judgment
Gods choice of the poor à Rejection of this choice
à                                                                                      Oppressed lack of concern
à                                                                                      Blaspheme (Xtians means followers of Xt)
Lev 19:18 Royal Law
                  But no partiality.
The mercy of a person will ensure that he or she is not judged.
 
IIIb. 2:14-26. Faith without work.
Examples of faith without works = words which are empty
Works can show faith, but faith alone not shown in action, cannot be proved        Abraham- believer
To believe God is one, it is correct, it is what is faith without works is barren<
Faith without work is barren                                                                                    Rahab – unbeliever.
 
IVa. 3:1-12. Danger of sinful speech -- Teachers.
                  à Bib in the mouth of the horse.
Tongue à   Rudder for Ships
                  à small fire --great blaze
Tongue-- Blessing / curse
Spring –fresh—Brackish                      Fig                                   grapes
Tree---------------------------à<                               vine <
                                                       Olives                               figs
 
Tongue should be controlled, rudder for ships, a small part is responsible for destruction,
Tongue       Blessing        Curse
                     Fresh         Brackish
 
IVb. 3:13-18. Gods gifts of Wisdom.
Wisdom shown by good life = Practical wisdom
Envy     not=      wise    =      earthly    =      unspiritual    =     devilish
                                           Base crude
True wisdom is peaceable / equitable / gentle
Full of mercy & good fruit
Jealousy & ambition are divisive
Wisdom makes peace = unites
 
IVc. 4:1-10 Repentance for sinful speech Desire -- Craving -- Murder -- Disputes / Conflict.
4:3 Reason for answered prayers
Mk 14:32-42 Gethsemane
Not asking leads to not receiving.
Asking for one passion à not receiving.
Prodigal Father Lk 15:11-32.
 
IVd. 4: 11-12. Examples of sinful speech.
Avoid speaking against one another.
Gossip divides / destroys.
Back biting.
 
V. 4:13-17. Arrogance.
The future is unknown
How ever we know who holds the future
Planning is good, but obsession with the future is uncalled for
 
‘TODAY IS THE TOMORROW YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT YESTERDAY’
CANT CHANGE THE PAST BUT YOU WILL RUIN TOMORROW BY WORRING ABOUT TODAY
 
V. 5:1-6. The coming of the end
Rich = pass away
Gold silver = Temporary (Mt 6:24-33   Mt 3:34 )
 
 
VI. 5:7-20. Closing
Coming for a parousia.
Farmer not= anxious patient
Prophets are examples of endurance
Response----------------------------------Oaths: Lev 19:12; Mt 5:34-37.
Suffering-------Prayer
Cheerful----Sing
Sickness--- Anointing
Elijah ex. Of persistence & prayer.
1 King 17:17-25.
Community Responsibility.
 
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