Good morning,
The next six weeks we will be studying the Book of James. This week we will look at a summary of the book, author, date, recipients, distinctive characteristics, and outline.
Distinctive Characteristics
Characteristics that make the letter distinctive are: (1) its unmistakably Jewish nature; (2) its emphasis on vital Christianity, characterized by good deeds and a faith that works (genuine faith must and will be accompanied by a consistent lifestyle); (3) its simple organization; (4) its familiarity with Jesus’ teachings preserved in the Sermon on the Mount (compare 2:5 with Matthew 5:3; 3:10-12 with Matthew 7:15-20; 3:18 with Matthew 5:9;5:2-3 with Matthew 6:19-20; 5:12 with Matthew 5:33-37); (5) its similarity to OT wisdom writings such as Proverbs (see essay, p. 970); (6) its excellent Greek.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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