Foundational essays for students of New Testament epistles This accessible introduction to contemporary scholarship on the Epistle of James begins with chapters that consider possible sources and backgrounds used by the author of James, the genre and literary structure of the book, and its major theological themes. Building on this foundation, subsequent chapters examine James through social-scientific readings, perspectives of Latin American immigrants and the marginalized, and major recent developments in textual criticism. The final chapters in the volume address the relationship between the epistle and the historical James, reception of the epistle in the early church, and major Catholic and Protestant interpretations of the book in the Reformation era. The contributions in this volume distill a range of important issues for readers undertaking a serious study of this letter for the first time. Features An introduction to contemporary scholarship on this important but often-overlooked text Clear explanations of all technical terms and themes In-depth discussions of the importance of Jewish Scripture and interpretative traditions, Greco-Roman philosophy and Jewish wisdom motifs, and biblical perspectives on justice, wealth, and poverty

Through a detailed examination of the historical shaping and final canonical shape of seven oft-neglected New Testament letters, Reading the Epistles of James, Peter, John, and Jude as Scripture introduces readers to the historical, literary, and theological integrity of this indispensable apostolic witness. While most scholars today interpret biblical texts in terms of their individual historical points of composition, David Nienhuis and Robert Wall argue that a theological approach to this part of Scripture is better served by attending to these texts' historical point of canonization -- those key moments in the ancient church's life when apostolic writings were grouped together to maximize the Spirit's communication of the apostolic rule of faith to believers everywhere. Reading the Epistles of James, Peter, John, and Jude as Scripture is the only treatment of the Catholic Epistles that approaches these seven letters as an intentionally designed and theologically coherent canonical collection.

Toward a Postcolonial Reading of the Epistle of James offers an interpretation of Jas 2:1-13 putting the text in the midst of the Roman imperial system of rank. This study shows that the conflict of the text has more to do with differences of rank than poverty and wealth. The main problem is that the Christian assemblies are acting according to Roman cultural etiquette instead of their Jewish-Christian heritage when a Roman equestrian and a beggar visit the assembly. The members of the assemblies are accused of having become too Roman. From a postcolonial perspective, this is a typical case of hybrid identities. Additional key concepts from postcolonialism, such as diaspora, ‘othering’, naming of oppressors, and binarisms such as coloniser/colonised, centre/margin, honour/shame and power/powerless, are highlighted throughout the study.

This study examines how metaphorical concepts hold together the epistle of James and how these concepts communicate meaning and present argument to the reader. The author looks at five strategies involved with the use of metaphors: (1) how the metaphors form the thematic or argumentative core of the text; (2) how they reflect the writer's argument; (3) how they take advantage of the audience's background; (4) how they are created by the use of intentional statements; and finally, (5) how metaphors create unity within various sections and how the pattern of metaphors provides a unity between various sections. A Strategy for a Metaphorical Reading of the Epistle of James provides a new view of the epistle by emphasizing the need to see the 'big picture.' This thorough and thought-provoking analysis is an excellent tool to be used alongside linguistic, historical and exegetical scrutiny of the epistle. It is highly appropriate for classes in biblical criticism or the Epistle of James, as well as classes on metaphoric criticism and textual criticism.

The Epistle of James is a collection of essays that applies to the book of James linguistic methods of analysis that are based on the same theoretical framework, namely Systemic-Functional Linguistics. This volume is unique in that it provides a theoretically consistent and unified approach to a single New Testament book, which makes the whole volume useful for researchers and students of James. Each essay makes its own creative use of this linguistic perspective to engage important critical questions and to pave new ground for Jacobean scholarship based on linguistic analysis. Various topics in this volume include the textual structure and cohesion of the letter, intertextuality, rhetorical strategies, ideological struggle, interpersonal relations, and other topics related to the letter's social context and language use.

From taming your tongue to fighting temptation, discover how to grow in perseverance and spiritual maturity as you go verse by verse through the Book of James. Helpful charts summarize the tough trials believers face, responses that lead to maturity, and spiritual benefits of perseverance. In the clear and easy-to-read style of Rose’s highly-visual resources, Rose Visual Bible Studies are packed with charts, practical applications, full-color visuals, and fascinating facts. Features include: 6-session, flexible Bible study (30-minutes long with extension options)Includes over a dozen pictures, charts, maps, and moreLeader’s guide is included within each study guide, so no extra book purchase is requiredDiscussion questions for each session, lots of space for writing, optional reading planMost Bible studies don’t include visuals. Imagine having one that does! Perfect for small groups, individual use, young adult study, homeschool, church library, to give to a friend, and more! Get an In-Depth Overview on the Book of James How can you grow in spiritual maturity and faith? How do you know if you are truly growing? The book of James answers these very questions! Find out what James says about “living faith” and discover how to practically apply what he says to your life with Rose’s The Book of James 6-Session Visual Bible Study. In this 6-session study, you’ll cover: The Test of TrialsThe Test of FavoritismThe Test of Good WorksThe Test of SpeechThe Test of RelationshipsThe Test of Prayer5 Key Features of the Rose’s Book of James Visual Bible Study:Packed with visuals and graphicsClear and easy to understandPractical life applicationsFlexible and easy-to-use formatAnyone can lead this!

The aim of this book is to challenge the common view that the epistle of James is a late Hellenistic Wisdom document that has little importance for our understanding of earliest Christianity. The author undertakes two main projects: first, an examination of the various assumptions about date, setting and content that have influenced how the letter of James has been interpreted; and second, a re-reading of the letter that seeks to uncover the special character of the epistle by stressing the fusion of its eschatological framework with its ethical instruction. The literary, cultural, and social contextualization of James that emerges sheds new light on this often neglected text and its place in early Christianity.

This is part of a series of modern commentaries based on new English translations made by their respective editors. While adhering strictly to sound scholarship and doctrine, they intend, above all, to bring out the theological and religious message of the New Testament to the contemporary Church.

The letters of James, 1 and 2 Peter, and Jude are among the most neglected letters of the New Testament. Thus, methodological advances in New Testament study tend to arise among the Gospels or Pauline letters. But now these letters are beginning to receive increased attention in the scholarly community. Reading James With New Eyes is the first of four volumes that incorporate new research in this area. The essays collected here examine the impact of recent methodological developments in New Testament studies to the letter of James, including, for example, rhetorical, social-scientific, socio-rhetorical, ideological and hermeneutical methods, as they contribute to understanding James and its social context. Each essay has a similar three-fold structure, making them perfect for use by students: a description of the methodological approach; the application of the methodological approach to James; and a conclusion identifying how the methodological approach contributes to a fresh understanding of the letter.

The unique social, cultural, and political life of the incomparable LeBron James LeBron James is the hero in two very American tales: one, a success story the nation loves; the other, the latest installment in an ongoing chronicle of American antiblackness. He’s the poor boy from a “broken” home who makes good. He’s also the poor Black boy from a “broken” home who makes good, then at the apex of his career finds “n*****” spray-painted across the gate to his home. James has lived in the public eye ever since high school when his extraordinary athletic skills subjected his every action, every statement, every fashion choice to intense public scrutiny that tells us less about James himself and more about a nation still wrestling with many social inequities. He uses his celebrity not to transcend Blackness, but to give it a place of cultural prominence, and the backlash he receives exposes the frictions between Blackness and a country not fully comfortable with its presence. As a result, James’s story is a revelatory narrative of how much Blackness is loved, hated, misunderstood, and just plain cool in an America that has changed and yet not changed at all.