Teaching Notes Book of James (Jacob) Chapters 1 to 3
Hugh Wood, Atlanta, Georgia
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The first Quarantine in the USA since 1918 continues. It is Day 36.
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"The grass withers and the flower [fades], but the word of [the Lord] endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8."
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Book of James. Papyrus 20. Princeton, University
Papyrus
20
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JAMES
Chapter
2:1-13. Respect of Persons
There
must have been a decidedly worldly element in the
Judean
Church, to call forth such words as these. So different
from
the way the Church had started, Acts 2:45; 4:34.
Christ
taught that the Glory of His Church would be in its
Kindness
to the Poor. But very evidently some of the congrega-
tions
were developing into social circles where the Poor were
given
to understand they were not wanted. But God loves the
Poor.
And the Rich ought to love them too.
Chapter
2:14-26. Faith and Works
Paul’s
doctrine of Justification by Faith, and James’ doctrine of
Justification
by Works, are
supplementary, not contradictory.
Neither
was opposing the teaching of the other. They were de-
voted
friends ‚and co-workers. James fully endorsed Paul’s work,
Acts
15:13-29; 21:17-26.
Paul
preached Faith as the basis of justification before God,
but
insisted that it must issue in the right kind of Life. James
was
writing to those who had accepted the doctrine of Justifica-
tion
by Faith but were not Living Right, telling them that such
Faith
was No Faith at all.
Chapter
3:1—12. The Tongue
Sins
of the Tongue: not only Harsh and Angry Words, but
False and
Foolish Doctrines. From the general
tone of this
chapter
we suspect there must have been many presumptuous;
quarrelsome,
worldly-minded men, of uncontrolled temper, put-
ting
themselves forward as leaders and teachers.
Power
of the Tongue. The Tongue is the main expression of
Our
Personality, and usually calls forth an immediate reaction,
of
one kind or another, in others. Mean words have. wrecked
many
a home, divided many a church, and sent unnumbered
millions
to despair and ruin. Yet we know many very Religious
people
who seem never to make even the slightest effort to con-
trol
their Tongue.
Chapter
3:13-18. Wisdom
This
passage seems to be aimed at certain loquacious teachers,
who,
bigoted over some pet doctrine, with little personal affec-
"Lion
for Christ, and ambitious to be considered brilliant in argu-
ment,
were producing only jealousy and faction. James calls such
Wisdom
“devilish", and suggests that the best way to show Real
Wisdom
is by a Good Life.
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Bible Project
Book of James (Jacob)
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James
1 New International Version (NIV)
1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To
the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
Trials
and Temptations
2
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of
many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces
perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and
complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask
God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to
you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who
doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person
should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is
double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9
Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.
10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass
away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers
the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the
rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test,
that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those
who love him.
13
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be
tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when
they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after
desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown,
gives birth to death.
16
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift
is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not
change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of
truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Listening
and Doing
19
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to
listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not
produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral
filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in
you, which can save you.
22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone
who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away
and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into
the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what
they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on
their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion
that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after
orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by
the world.
Footnotes:
James
1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to
believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 16 and
19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19.
James
2 New International Version (NIV)
Favoritism
Forbidden
2 My
brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show
favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and
fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show
special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat
for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my
feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with
evil thoughts?
5
Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in
the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he
promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the
rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you
belong?
8 If
you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as
yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and
are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and
yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who
said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c]
If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a
lawbreaker.
12
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives
freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not
been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Faith
and Deeds
14
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but
has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is
without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace;
keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good
is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action,
is dead.
18
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show
me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You
believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20
You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is
useless[d]? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did
when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his
actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was
credited to him as righteousness,”[e] and he was called God’s friend. 24 You
see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith
alone.
25
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for
what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a
different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith
without deeds is dead.
Footnotes:
James
2:8 Lev. 19:18
James
2:11 Exodus 20:14; Deut. 5:18
James
2:11 Exodus 20:13; Deut. 5:17
James
2:20 Some early manuscripts dead
James
2:23 Gen. 15:6
James
3 New International Version (NIV)
Taming
the Tongue
3
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know
that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways.
Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their
whole body in check.
3
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn
the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and
are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever
the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but
it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small
spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the
body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire,
and is itself set on fire by hell.
7
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and
have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a
restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human
beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come
praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both
fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and
sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a
salt spring produce fresh water.
Two
Kinds of Wisdom
13
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life,
by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor
bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny
the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly,
unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there
you find disorder and every evil practice.
17
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving,
considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
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James the Brother of Jesus. The James Ossuary. Produced to the World. 2002.
Not Guilty of Forgery on the James Ossuary
ARTIFACTS ON TRIAL
Oded Golan is not guilty of forgery. So is the ‘James ossuary’ for
real?
The failure of a high-profile prosecution for antiquities fraud
perpetuates the mystery of a find hailed as physical proof that Jesus existed
By MATTI FRIEDMAN
14 March 2012, 6:20 pm
The 'James ossuary,' one of the pieces at the center of Golan's forgery
trial, had been hailed by some scholars as the first physical proof for the
existence of Jesus (photo credit: AP Photo/Biblical Archaeology Review)
The 'James ossuary,' one of the pieces at the center of Golan's forgery
trial, had been hailed by some scholars as the first physical proof for the
existence of Jesus (photo credit: AP Photo/Biblical Archaeology Review)
Oded Golan, the Tel Aviv collector accused of forging biblical
artifacts, was at the center of a seven-year trial that ended in his acquittal
Wednesday. But he was never its star — that role belonged to the artifacts
themselves.
While the significance of the exoneration for Golan himself is obvious,
what it means for the antiquities is less clear.
The most famous of the artifacts is a stone box known as the “James
ossuary,” exhibited at the Royal Ontario Museum a decade ago and touted by some
scholars as the first archaeological evidence for the existence of Jesus. It
bears an Aramaic inscription reading, “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.”
Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top
stories FREE SIGN UP Oded Golan was acquitted Wednesday of forging antiquities,
but the judge did not rule whether the artifacts in question were genuine or
fake (photo credit: AP/Sebastian Scheiner)
Oded Golan was acquitted Wednesday of forging antiquities, but the
judge did not rule whether the artifacts in question were genuine or fake
(photo credit: AP/Sebastian Scheiner)
The prosecution claimed Golan had taken a genuine but common ossuary
inscribed with the words “James, son of Joseph,” and added the words “brother
of Jesus,” turning it into a find of global importance and vast worth. Then,
according to the charge, he manufactured a fake patina — the thin film of grime
that typically accumulates over centuries — and applied it to the new
inscription to make it seem ancient.
He was also accused of manufacturing the ancient Hebrew inscription on
a rectangular piece of stone known as the “Jehoash tablet,” which recounted a
Temple renovation by a king of Jerusalem in the 9th century B.C.E. If genuine,
the tablet is one of the most spectacular items ever to have surfaced in the
world of biblical archaeology.
Golan was also accused of forging a string of other artifacts,
including clay seal imprints, a lamp, and a ceramic decanter. He denied all of
the accusations and was acquitted of all charges of forgery and fraud. The
judge convicted him only of lesser offenses: possessing objects suspected of
being stolen and selling antiquities without a license.
The case offered a glimpse at the murky world of biblical antiquities,
where objects often surface not in excavations but on the black market, their
origins unclear and their authenticity difficult or impossible to confirm.
Golan said he had obtained most of the objects in question, including the
ossuary, from dealers, most of them Palestinian Arabs in the West Bank and east
Jerusalem.
The Jehoash tablet, with an inscription in ancient Hebrew, was one of
the objects at the center of the trial (photo credit: Courtesy the Israel
Antiquities Authority)
The Jehoash tablet, with an inscription in ancient Hebrew, was one of
the objects at the center of the trial (photo credit: Courtesy the Israel
Antiquities Authority)
The thirst for objects that offer a physical link to the world of the
Bible, and the sums involved — the Jehoash tablet was purportedly offered to
the Israel Museum for $4 million, though no sale ever took place — would make
objects of this type well worth a forger’s time.
The Golan case has had the effect of making collectors and experts more
suspicious of forgeries, and museums have reviewed their collections looking
for fakes. Because of the trial, the Israel Antiquities Authority wrote in its
response to the verdict, “there has been an almost complete cessation of the
publication of finds that come from the antiquities market without first
knowing their exact place of discovery, and the trade in written documents and
seals derived from illicit antiquities excavations has been halted almost
entirely.”
In his ruling Wednesday, the judge went out of his way to say that the
fact Golan had been found not guilty did not mean the artifacts were real.
His decision to clear Golan of forging the inscription on the James
ossuary, he wrote, “does not mean that the inscription on the ossuary is
authentic or that it was written 2,000 years ago. This will continue to be
studied by scientists and archaeologists, and time will tell.
“Moreover,” he wrote, “it was not proven in any way that the words ‘the
brother of Jesus’ necessarily refer to the ‘Jesus’ who appears in Christian
writings.”
This applies to all of the artifacts in question, he added several
hundred pages later in the lengthy text of his decision: “All that has been
established is that the tools and the science currently at the disposal of the
experts who testified were not sufficient to prove the alleged forgeries beyond
a reasonable doubt as is required by criminal law.”
In short, the case’s conclusion does not establish whether or not the
James ossuary, the Jehoash tablet, or any of the artifacts in questions are
historic discoveries or slick fakes. The only clear conclusion to be drawn from
the trial, perhaps, is a frustrating one: Where ancient artifacts are
concerned, that distinction is nearly impossible to make.
“The trial was a collision of two worlds — criminal prosecution and scholarly
archaeology,” said journalist Matthew Kalman, the editor of The Jerusalem
Report and the only reporter to cover the entire trial.
“The two simply speak different languages,” he said. “The verdict will
not make a difference to the archaeologists arguing about the whether the
artifacts are authentic.”
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The Untold Story of the Brother of Jesus. James - Jacob of Jerusalem. Died. 62AD.
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New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Some content adapted from Halley, Henry H., Bible Handbook, Grayson Publishing, Minneapolis, MN. © 1927 - 1959, 1964
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Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia
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END