The Epistle Of James Essay, Research Paper

The Epistle of James

James is the first of a group of letters addressed to Christians in general, instead than to a peculiar church. It is an highly practical missive about the Christian life. The missive was written early, but the exact day of the month is unknown. We know little of how the missive came to be written, or whom it was sent to. We are non even certain who the writer was. Of the assorted personages in the New Testament bearing this name, the James mentioned by Paul in Galatians 2, 9 as one of the pillars of the church in Palestine good meets the demands for the writing of this epistle. Paul designates him, non as one of the Twelve, but as the brother of the Lord. The risen Christ made a important visual aspect to him. James was the decision maker of the Jerusalem community, and for this ground played a prima function in the apostolic Council. He was the advisor of Paul on the latter & # 8217 ; s reaching in Jerusalem after the 3rd missional journey. He is likely to be identified as one of the relations of Jesus who did non believe in him during the ministry. Though non all bookmans are satisfied that James, leader of the Jerusalem community, is the writer, it must be conceded that the epistle is dateable earlier 62 AD, when harmonizing to Josephus, James was executed in Jerusalem. Scholars who do non acknowledge James of Jerusalem as the writer of the epistle select a day of the month for it toward the terminal of the first century.

James 2, verses 14-26 read: & # 8220 ; My brothers, what good is it to profess religion without practising it? Such religion has no power to salvage one, has it? If a brother or sister has nil to have on and no nutrient for the twenty-four hours, and you say to them & # 8216 ; Good-bye and good fortune! Keep warm and good fed, & # 8217 ; but do non run into their bodily demands, what good is that? So it is with the religion that does nil in pattern. It is exhaustively lifeless. & # 8221 ; The poetries talk about religion and actions. Faith that stops at words is non faith at all. In fact we can state whether person & # 8217 ; s religion is existent by how they behave. Faith is proved, and develops as we act on it. One illustration of existent religion is the narrative of Rahab. Joshua sent out two undercover agents to Jericho. When the two reached Jericho they went into the house of a prostitute named Rahab, where they lodged. The male monarch of Jericho received a study that some Hebrewss had come at that place that dark to descry out the land

. The male monarch sent Rahab this order “Put out the visitants who have entered your house, for they have come to descry out the full land.” Rahab had already taken the two work forces and conceal them. She replied to the male monarch, “True the work forces you speak of came to me, but I did non cognize where they came from. At dark, when it was clip for the gate to be shut, they left, and I do non cognize where they went. You will hold to prosecute them instantly to catch them.” The King’s work forces rode off to seek to happen the undercover agents. Rahab told the undercover agents to travel up into the hill state and conceal at that place for three yearss, until the king’s work forces return ; so you may continue on your manner.

Rahab is a really good illustration of non merely talking the religion but besides demoing it. She did non hold to conceal the undercover agents. If the male monarch had found them, herself and her household would hold been killed. Rahab risked her life for her belief. God accepted Rahab non because she said she believed him, but because she proved it by what she did. How many people do you cognize would make this today?

Another illustration of outstanding religion in God is Abraham. Abraham had so much religion in God that he was willing to give his ain boy Isaac. When God called to Abraham and told him to offer his boy Isaac as a holocaust, Abraham did non even believe twice about it. The following forenoon Abraham took Isaac to the topographic point God had indicated. Abraham built an communion table at that place and arranged the wood on it. He so put Isaac upon the wood. When Abraham was about to butcher his boy the Lord & # 8217 ; s courier called to Abraham stating, & # 8220 ; Do non put your manus on the male child, I know how devoted you are to God since you did non keep back from me your ain beloved son. & # 8221 ; This incident shows utmost devotedness. Particularly since Sarah, Abraham & # 8217 ; s married woman could non bear kids for the bulk of her life. Abraham was 100 old ages old when Isaac was born. After waiting all this clip for a boy, Abraham still did non inquiry when God asked him to give his boy.

If redemption is God & # 8217 ; s free gift, what does it count how we live? In James & # 8217 ; head there is no inquiry & # 8211 ; it matters a great trade. Genuine religion in Christ ever spills over into the remainder of life. It affects our basic attitude to ourselves, to other people, and to life in general. There should be no disagreement between belief and action. James reminds us of the demand for truly Christian criterions and values in every country of life.