Slides: James: Faith in Action

James: Faith in Action
By David Feddes

General epistles

Catholic epistles

• James
• 1, 2 Peter
• 1, 2, 3 John
• Jude

 

Greetings

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

To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Greetings.

 

Which James?

• James the younger, son of Alpheus, one of Twelve apostles
• James, son of Zebedee, brother of John, first of Twelve to be martyred
• James the Just, Joseph and Mary’s son, Jesus’ half-brother

 

James the Just

• Unbeliever, then saw risen Jesus
• Leader in Jerusalem church
• Presided at first great Council
• Called “the Just,” had “camel knees”
• Thrown from pinnacle of temple, clubbed, and stoned to death

 

Who is Jesus?

Messiah, God, Lord of glory

• God and Lord Jesus Christ (1:1)
  Θεοῦ καὶ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοῦλος

• Our Lord of glory Jesus Christ (2:1)
  τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τῆς δόξης

 

Written to whom?

To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations (1:1)

• Twelve tribes: can mean Jews or all of God’s people
• Diaspora: living as exiles and foreigners in unfriendly nations