ShadeTree Community Church

The Nature and Source of Community Wisdom•      The main body of James is introduced by a vision of life amid tribulation and difficulties.•      Central to this vision is the routine experience of “trials of any kind” (1:2).•      These experiences test our faith in God (1:3).•      Joy is still possible when considered against the horizon of the coming age when human existence will be mature and complete (1:4).•      But hardship will often test the maturity of other believers who are unstable in every way (1:8).•      The community of believers enjoy heavenly support through the provision of wisdom.•      God is to be petitioned for the necessary wisdom to pass through the trials and temptations of life (1:5)•      Rather than doubting God’s goodness (1:6-8) or being deceived by believing God is responsible for one’s misfortune (1:16), the community is to petition God who will invariably respond with every perfect gift (1:17).•      The perfect gift is the word of truth (1:18) as the needed wisdom necessary for a complete life.•      By having the proper attitude and asking God for wisdom, we are able to endure the trials of life, which are designed to bring us to maturity.  The Text in Context•      Given that a primary goal is to help the readers to be mature, it is not surprising that James begins by discussing endurance through trials.•      The idea of becoming mature through suffering is a common theme in the New Testament:•      Romans 5:3-4; 8:17-18; •      2 Corinthians 4:7-18•      Philippians 3:7-11•      1 Peter 1:3-9•      James also introduces in this section other themes he will return to:•      True faith (ch. 2)•      Wisdom (ch. 3)•      Poverty and wealth (ch. 5)James 1:2-12•      This section is seen through the lens of five major imperatives (commands)•      Consider it pure joy when you face trials (1:2)•      Let perseverance finish its work (1:4)•      Ask God for wisdom (1:5-6)•      Do not expect to receive if you doubt (1:7)•      Take pride in your high position (1:10)   Consider it pure joy•      The word “consider” has the notion of making a deliberate, conscious, and rational choice (see 2 Cor. 9:5; Phil. 2:6; 3:7-8; Heb. 11:26).•      It is not intuitive that trials should cause joy, so James asks the readers to make a deliberate effort to set aside their natural inclinations of fear, discouragement, and anger and choose to include joy. •      The word for trials can include trials, tribulation, trouble, or temptation. •      Trials and tribulations come from without. •      Trouble and temptations come from within. •      Perspective comes from perceiving the outcome of the trials.•      There is something of inestimable value now•      There are benefits in the future too Let perseverance finish its work•      The word for “mature” can also be translated “without defect.”•      This is not the idea of sinlessness or perfection.•      Many people assume that maturity is having no doubts because of what comes in the next few verses. •      The theme is faith and how it reaches perfection (maturity) through deeds of faith like those of Abraham and Rahab (2:20-25), through the endurance of faith like Job (5:10-11) and through prayer like Elijah (5:17-18).•      In the Greco-Roman world it was something of a commonplace that testing of virtue strengthens character.•      James, however, speaks not of the virtue of an individual but a community’s faith. •      Endurance is not placed solely on an individual but by grace given in the community. Ask God for wisdom•      The word “lacks” picks up the mention of “lacking” in 1:4, and so in this context 1:5 instructs the reader to ask God for wisdom for dealing with the trials of life, something that even the most mature still need. •      What kind of wisdom does James have in mind?•      James is writing to those he calls the diaspora. He uses examples from the Old Testament. •      The first place to look for God’s wisdom is in the stories of people in the Old Testament. •      Many OT characters inquire of God’s guidance:•      Rebekah asking God why her pregnancy is so difficult (Gen. 25:22)•      David wanting to know what caused the famine (2 Samuel 21:1)•      Jeroboam needing wisdom about whether or not his son will live (1 Kings 14:2-3)•      Perhaps James is thinking of his brother in the garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-46).•      Perhaps he is thinking of the healing needed between the Jews and Gentiles in the early church.•      God loves to give wisdom without finding fault  The wisdom of James•      James is describing wisdom as embodied within a community. •      The theme of wisdom emerged from the sages of ancient Israel who sought to educate the public about the rules to follow for a well lived life. •      The Hebrew word for wisdom, hokma, reflects a God given gift to pursue the insight and know how needed to negotiate life in the public square (think of Solomon’s request for wisdom to govern well).•      The prologue of Proverbs (1:2-7) supplies a description of wisdom.•      James picks up on the core themes of wisdom (righteousness, faithfulness, knowledge, and devotion to God).•      If God is trusted as a generous and impartial benefactor (1:5), believers will petition God for the know-how they lack in order to deal with their trials in a wise manner. Do not expect to receive if you doubt •      Is James demanding certainty-seeking faith?•      Is James talking about faith or the request for wisdom?•      Is doubt here being portrayed as the antithesis of believing? •      Must believers be fully persuaded that God will answer every request for wisdom?•      Are believers supposed to squelch all doubt?•      Does this make faith primarily about intellectual assent?•      Is faith primarily about something between the ears?•      If faith is primarily a psychological concept, is faith only as strong as you are certain?•      How certain do you have to be? 100%, 80%, 50%? Twisted Scripture? •      This passage can be used to convince others that the more faith (certainty), the more prosperity.•      Levels of faith determine levels of blessing in this theological construct. •      Is this an accurate portrait of God and the way he arranges the world?•      Is God in heaven holding out an answer to prayer until we have enough certainty?•      If so, are people like dogs that owners demand to “shake” before they get a treat. •      If so, why is psychological certainty such a virtue? Why would God leverage everything?•      Why is the deck stacked against rationale and logic?•      Is this the kind of portrait of the character of God as found in Jesus? Consequences of this interpretation •      It can cause people to have a learning phobia.•      If everything hangs on psychological certainty, you want to avoid everything that could cause doubt.•      Reading and learning from other perspectives than the one you already hold is seen as dangerous.•      This interpretation sets people up for a fall. •      It does not prepare a person for life in the real world. •      The real world has a mix of simplicity, complexity, perplexity, and humility.•      This interpretation causes people to be locked into simplicity.•      Certainty seeking can become idolatrous.•      God no longer becomes the source of life but being right does.•      People will try to protect their idol at all costs. Keep in mind the context •      James is talking about wisdom, not about faith asking for a new house or a Mercedes.•      The word for doubt here is diakrino which can mean to separate, distinguish, or judge. •      You have a duplicity of ideas, and you are wavering. •      In James, there is a concern for where you go to get wisdom. •      He distinguishes in chapter 3, between wisdom that comes from above, that is pure, peace-loving, and considerate and there is a wisdom that is not spiritual that leads to division and destruction.•      James says to go to the source of wisdom that comes from above. Don’t mismatch human and divine wisdom.

Introduction to James (1:1)•      The Letter of James presents a multifaceted picture of the way wisdom walks.•      Those who follow the path of wisdom is one who demonstrates their faith through actions. •      James is widely prized because its teachings is so practical. •      James has some affinities to the Wisdom literature in the Old Testament, like Proverbs. •      Despite the emphasis on practical matters (or maybe because of it), James makes significant theological contributions that sometimes puts him in contrast to the writings of Paul. •      This contrast is so sharp that Martin Luther wanted the letter banned from the NT.•      Most readers though reached a position that Paul and James complement each other.Author (1:1)•      The author identifies himself as James.•      Four men in the New Testament have this name.•      The author of this letter could not have been the apostle James (see Matt. 4:21), who died too early (AD 44) to have written it.•      The other two men named James had neither the stature not the influence of this writer. •      Most probably is James the brother of Jesus.•      Here are a few reasons:•              James was one of the select individuals who saw the resurrect Christ (1 Cor. 15:7)•              Paul called him a “pillar” of the church (Gal. 2:9)•              Paul, on his first post conversion visit to Jerusalem, saw James (Gal. 1:19)•              Paul did the same on his last visit (Acts 21:18)•              When Peter was released from prison, he told his friends to tell James (Acts 12:17)•              James was a leader in the Jerusalem council (Acts 15:13)•              Jude could identify himself simply as the brother of James (Jude 1:1), so well-known was James.•              James was martyred in AD 62, an event recorded by the Jewish historian Josephus (Antiquities 20.9.1)Date•      It seems as if it is written before 50 AD•      Its distinctively Jewish nature suggests that it was composed when the church was still predominantly Jewish.•      It reflects a simple church order – officers of the church were called elders (5:14) and teachers (3:1).•      No reference is made to the controversy over Gentile circumcision.•      The Greek term synagoge (“synagogue” or “meeting”) is used to designate the meeting or meeting place of the church (2:2)James as Wisdom Writing•      James is a form of moral exhortation.•      James seeks to persuade the readers to live up to the profession they have made in Jesus Christ. •      As a moral exhortation (there are 59 imperatives in its 108 verses), James can be compared to other ancient writers whose concern is the practical wisdom of right behavior. •      As a kind of wisdom literature, James naturally bears a certain resemblance to the wide range of wisdom writings that were produced in the Ancient Near East.•      James most resembles certain Jewish writings that shared its commitment to the world of Torah.•      The structure of James’s moral discourse is difficult to determine with precision (like Proverbs).Where did James get his wisdom?•      James and Jude grew up with Jesus (Matt. 13:54-57; Mark 6:2-3).•      The Jewishness of these brothers suggest they learned and upheld the teaching of their Jewish heritage.•      Jesus was a part of a sizable family (four brothers and two sisters).•      The boys were given names rooted in the Jewish tradition (James is a form of Jacob).•      In the ministry of Jesus, the brothers learn that kinship is defined in terms of a shared commitment to the rule of God *Mark 3:31-35; Matt. 12:46-50; Luke 8:19-21).•      The ethical undertone of the letter resonates with Jesus’ teaching especially in the Sermon on the Mount. •      Genuine faith demonstrates itself in good deeds. James in the Emerging Movement•      Following the death and resurrection of Jesus, James, Mary, and others are found in the company of the eleven disciples (Acts 1:14).•      Within a short span, James emerges as the leader of the Jerusalem Church (Acts 1:14).•      This is not based on biological kinship but seeing the risen Lord (1 Cor. 15:7).•      The resurrection changed everything. Jesus appeared to James before he ascended, and James received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost along with the others. •      Now he saw Jesus in a new light. Not just the elder brother but the one sent by God.•      The leadership position James held in the Jerusalem Church could account for his authoritative manner in writing and demands upon Gentile converts (Acts 15:13-17).   Circumstances of Composition•      The circumstances of the letter are difficult to determine. •      James is writing to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations (1:1).•      Though many see this as a literal reference to Jewish Christians, it may refer to Jewish and Gentle Christians following the emerging movement throughout the Roman Empire. •      It would be unlikely that James would dingle out Jewish believers in light of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).•      This address is symbolic of a religious location in which “twelve tribes” are believers whose spiritual “dispersion” (diaspora) within a hostile world unsettles their faith and tests their allegiance to God.•      James proffers wisdom that will help secure this community’s embattled faith.