Wednesday, February 20, 2013

James Study - Session 1

(To view the opening video, click the play icon - or arrow at the bottom left)


This is the first in a series of studies on the Epistle of James.  The first question to ask about James is this....







Is James in the Canon?
This is a question that has often been asked in history.  Is James in the Canon?
To answer that, you have to know what we are talking about when we say the word “Canon.”  It is not the type of camera I have, nor is it a military weapon.    It is more related to a tape measure than it is to those other things.
SLIDE 3

The word “canon” comes from the Greek noun KANON meaning reed or cane.  But it was also a word that referred to a rule, like a tape measure.  The NT Greek word is, in fact, from the OT Hebrew word Kanah, which is often a word referring to a standard of measurement.
 


Why am I talking Greek?  And Hebrew and about tape measures?  Because the word Canon today refers to the Table of Contents of a specific book – the Bible.

The Bible is not really a book, but a collection of books – and letters and songs and poetry.  What is included in the Bible and what is not included – that is important because everything that is in the Bible is what we consider to be ‘the word of God.’ And as such, it is Scripture.  Scripture is, as the Bible says about itself, is profitable for “teaching, rebuking, correcting”  (II Timothy 3:16)

How did this official Table of Contents of the Bible, or the Canon, come about?

It was a process.  To over simplify things, the process took place between 400 BC and AD 200  starting first with the Torah, then the Prophets, and eventually the rest of the OT.  



Though the Early Church people accepted and used the OT, but the Apostles did not leave a defined set of NT Scriptures, because these books and letters were still developing.  By the end of the 1st Century AD, the Pauline epistles were being copied and circulated.  In the early 2nd Century the Gospels were being circulated.  They were considered to have equal authority with the OT.


The “Muratorian Canon” is the oldest list of New Testament Scripture, originating around AD 170.  James and Hebrews are missing from this list.

 


Origen (185-254), was one of the earliest Christian theologians.  He was the first to make an intentional effort to formulate the New Testament Canon.  His canon is very different from what was eventually accepted.  He omitted James.
 


 
Eusebius (263-339) also compiled a canon for the New Testament, again James was omitted.

 
The African Synod of Hippo, in 393, approved the New Testament, as it stands today.  That decision was repeated by the Councils of Carthage in 397 and 419. James makes the cut!

 
 

Now what was the problem with James – why did some early church fathers feel this was not Scripture?
First, there is the issue of how are we justified or saved?  By works or be grace.  If you have read James you will pick up on the fact that James is heavy on the importance of works.

A second reason why James gives some people trouble is that there is no passion, as in the death of Christ.  No resurrection.  Christ is only mentioned twice. 

A third problem comes long after the canon was set.  The leader of the reformation, Martin Luther rejected it outright.  He called it an “epistle of straw.”

So why study James?

It is Scripture.  Like it or not.

And it does have value in that it gives an important balance to the theology of salvation and justification, as we will see.



So let’s take a look at James.

Read… James 1:1

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Greetings.

First thing we learn about James is that it was written by James, but…
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James who?









James is a common name today.  It was a common name back in the days of the New Testament Church.

Here are just a few possibilities:

1. James the Son of Zebedee, brother of John. Early Disciples of Jesus (But he was martyred in AD 44 – too early to have written the Epistle)
2. James Son of Mary at the tomb.
3. James Son of Alphaeus, A Tax Collector? This is not a very prominent figure in the early church, and we don’t know much about him.
4. James Son or Brother of Judas/Jude: A connection to Jude?
5. James, the brother of Jesus: Leader of the church in Jerusalem
6. Someone else writing as James





Most scholars believe that the author was James the brother of Jesus.

There are some interesting passages about James in Scripture, but not many, and he is not always called by name, as in the case of the Gospel…

John 7:3-5
Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.


There is another passage from Scripture…
Acts 1:9-14
After Jesus said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.   They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."  Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.


James was just there sometimes, and not even being named.  However, James quickly becomes the first leader of the post-Resurrection Church.  

It is to James that Peter sends the news of his escape from prison (Acts 12:17)

James presides over the Council of Jerusalem, which agreed to the entry of Gentiles into the Christian Church (Acts 15)

It is James and Peter whom Paul met when he first went to Jerusalem, and it was with Peter, James and John, the pillars of the Church, that Paul discussed and settled his work (Galatians 1:19, 2:9)

It is to James that Paul comes with his collection from the Gentile Churches on the visit to Jerusalem (Acts 21:18-25)

So we get the impression that James was a non-believer in John’s Gospel – or at least a skeptic, to a church leader in Acts.  What brought about the change?  Early Christian leader, Jerome, quotes the non-canonical Gospel according to the Hebrews thus:

 “'Now the Lord, after he had given his grave clothes to the servant of the priest, appeared to James, for James had sworn that he would not eat bread from that hour in which he had drunk the Lord’s cup until he should see him risen from the dead.' And a little further on the Lord says, ‘bring a table and bread.’ And immediately it is added, 'He took bread and blessed and broke and gave it to James the Just and said to him, "My brother, eat your bread, for the Son of Man is risen from the dead."’”
            
    What else do we know about James?

May have been a high priest among the Jews.


Prayed so diligently that his knees were as worn and rough as “camel’s knees.”

He was executed by the High Priest of the Sanhedrin by stoning (according to Josephus).

Eusebius says he was first thrown from the top of the Temple, and when that didn’t kill him, James began to pray for his enemies, and was then stoned to death.

Now one of the criticisms of the Epistle of James is that there is not enough of Jesus in the book.  Christ is mentioned only twice.  However James reads like a man who knows the Bible like the back of his hand.  He quotes Scripture, without quoting it.

Let me show you what I mean:
 













 So let’s look at James, starting with verse 1 chapter 1.

In James chapter one, we learn how to make our faith grow.  Everyone wants their faith to grow – but the way James suggests, it is not so pleasant.



My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.







James 1:2

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…




This is very much like what Paul taught in Romans:


Romans 5:3-5

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance , character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

What kind of sufferings did Paul go through?
2 Corinthians 11:23-29
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.


James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James gives us some great advice on how to deal with suffering.

                Step one is natural – even if you are not a person of faith, the first response in a time of trial and trouble is to say, “Oh my God….”  Which in some circumstances is taking the Lord’s name in vain, but for those of us in the faith, it is prayer. 

                This is what James says:
 




If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; 7, 8 for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.





                What does James suggest we pray for?  

                Wisdom – not escape from the trial, but wisdom.

                When you are in trouble – doesn’t matter if it is cancer, job loss, financial problem, raising a difficult child – what you need is wisdom.


                One also needs to realize that all of our problems are unique, and God provides you with what you specifically need for the facing of these days:



Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up, 10 and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same way with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.




God gives to each person what he or she needs.  The poor learns self-respect and value.  The rich learns humility and is reminded not to put one’s hope in wealth.

Now, let’s read a little more in James, and YOU tell me, what do you see in these verses in terms of help for those who go through tough times?

 

12 Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 No one, when tempted, should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. 14 But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; 15 then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved.




What do you see here that might help someone who goes through trials?

  1. Promise of a good ending – “he or she will receive the crown of life”
  2. Don’t think it is God who is at fault – don’t blame God. 

The next verse we look at has a clear cut piece of advice for those who are going through difficult times:





19 You must understand this, my beloved let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.




Ephesians 4:26-28
26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

The next verse is also a clear cut bit of advice – 

We are people of faith, and sometimes we leave our faith behind when we enter difficult times – we need to take these lessons learned on Sunday or Wednesday and carry them into Monday and Thursday.


 
 

22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.




One final bit of advice –


26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
 



How many of us in times of trial lose control of what we say?  We become angry and we vent our anger on our family, or friends, or others.




So – how do we handle difficult times?


At the beginning of this study session, we showed a video with a music theme - "Blessed is the name..."  Let's listen to the same song, but see different images - images that resonate with James.
(Click the play icon - or arrow at the bottom left)
















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