Session 2 Slides

transcript

aithfulto theF

JamesWord inDeed

living faith and living community

week 2

JamesWord inDeed

faithful to the end • week 2

• Introducing James: Kicking off the GE• James in Composition: Putting it Together• James in Message: Theology• James in Detail: 2.1-13• James At Zion

• Introducing James: Kicking off the GE

Introducing James

The Epistles (Letters)

Introducing James

General EpistlesPauline Epistles

We are here!

James • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • JudeRom •!1-2Cor • Gal • Eph • Col • Phi •!1-2Thess •!1-2Tim • Tit • Phil • Heb

The Epistles (Letters)

13 (14?!?) letters written by Paul, the “star” of Acts 12-28

7 letters written by James, Peter, and John, the

“stars” of Acts 1-11

Introducing James

General EpistlesJames • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude

The General Epistles

Introducing James

7 letters written by James, Peter, and John, the “stars” of Acts 1-11

Introducing James

7 letters written by James, Peter, and John, the “stars” of Acts 1-11

But …what about this Jude guy?

Introducing James

brother of Jesus

Introducing James

brother of Jesus brother of James

Introducing James

The General Epistles are framed by letters from Jesus’ brothers.

Introducing James

The General Epistles are framed by letters from Jesus’ brothers.James is the first book in a biblical collection/section.

What are other “first books” in the Bible?

GenesisJoshua[Isaiah][Hosea]Psalms

MatthewActs

[Romans][James]

Revelation

Do “first books” serve any special purpose in collections/sections?

Introducing James

As a “first book,” we may expect that some of the themes and theology that James introduces will not be limited to just this letter, but will in fact “set the tone” for the GE.

JamesWord inDeed

• James in Composition: Putting it Together

James in Composition

It seems to be a collection of miscellaneous unconnected sayings

It seems to have no traditional epistle introduction or conclusion

But “seems” can be deceiving…

Rather than saying that James isn’t structured, we might do better to say that James just isn’t Paul.

James’ structure more closely resembles OT Wisdom literature (think Proverbs).

R. Bauckham (James, 66-7): James’ lack of sequential development doesn’t mean he lacks vision.

James has structure insomuch as its parts have been arranged intentionally, in a certain order and a certain way on purpose.

James seems to be a series of “sayings” hooked together by words, phrases and theology.

The “sayings” all relate to and advance the book’s theology.

The discernment of how the parts relate and the intention of this structure is the task of the reader, as it is in other Wisdom literature.

For a proposal for overall book structure, see the outline in your handout.

JamesWord inDeed

• James in Message: Theology

What does the introduction to James

(chpt.1) tell us the book is about?

perseverance through trials in faith to salvation

What does the introduction to James

(chpt.1) tell us the book is about?

James in Message

Chpt. 1 introduces the idea of living out faith by persevering in trials or…that the path of salvation is DOING doctrine

James in Message

Chpt. 1 introduces the idea of living out faith by persevering in trials or…that the path of salvation is DOING doctrine

The rest of the book seems to provide the trials that must be persevered through, living out faith, unto salvation

What are the trials that James addresses?

James in Message

Chpt.Two: Loving people the world says matter instead of those God chooses, the hopeless and helpless

James in Message

Chpt. Three: Using speech/the tongue as a destructive instrument of Hell instead of for God’s new creation

James in Message

Chpt. Four: Fighting with each other due to love of the world and self

James in Message

Chpt. Four: Fighting with each other due to love of the world and self

Chpt. Four-Five: Pursuing stuff the world says matters instead of God’s kingdom

James in Message

The conclusion (5.9-26) then gives the “how to” of persevering in these trials

James in Message

Long-term patience/endurance

James in Message

Proper use of words

James in Message

Proper use of words

Aid from the elders and community

James in Message

In summary, James appears to orbit around the intersection of three things:

James in Message

In summary, James appears to orbit around the intersection of three things:

FaithLife

Community

James in Message

Faith, Life, and CommunityJames is an epistle about the work of the Word of God, incarnate and written, as expressed by the faith and in the lives of God’s people; in particular, the way God’s people wisely abide within and shape by their own words and deeds the community of faith as an incarnation of the Word, His Body on earth.

James in Message

Kingdom of PriestsJames depends for its theology on the theology of Torah and its focus on God’s missional plan to redeem creation through the establishment of a people and a kingdom on earth through the seed of Abraham, a people whose own missional purpose thereby involves particular kinds of (priestly) activity and set-apart character, a people who are supposed to look like the Law and its Messiah.

James in Message

Pay attention to these two statements.

James in Message

As a “first book,” it’s likely that they contain ideas that will characterize more than just James.

James in Message

Remember from last week, the GE talk about persevering in faith through…

James in Message

Remember from last week, the GE talk about persevering in faith through…

sin, suffering, serpents

What part of the NT does James have the

most affinity with?

The Gospels

What part of the NT does James have the

most affinity with?

What part of Torah does James rely heavily upon?

Leviticus 19

What part of Torah does James rely heavily upon?

James in Message

James’ treatment of faith, life, and community gather these two things together:

James in Message

(1) Jesus’ interpretation of Torah:Love your Neighbor as Yourself

James in Message

(1) Jesus’ interpretation of Torah:Love your Neighbor as Yourself

(2) The heart of priestly conduct:Be Holy as I Am Holy

JamesWord inDeed

• Introducing James: Kicking off the GE• James in Composition: Putting it Together• James in Message: Theology• James in Detail: 2.1-13• James At Zion• James in Detail: 2.1-13

James in Detail: 2.1-13

Chapter two “hooks” into the end of chapter one, esp. vv. 26-27

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:

to visit orphans and widows in their affliction,

and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

Be Holy as I Am Holy

Chapter two is one section in two halves

B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26

B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26 1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13

B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26 1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13 2. Saving Faith, Saving Deeds: " The Law of Love in Practice, 2.14-26

My brothers,show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (ESV)

This section has four parts

1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13 "

1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13 " a. Incompatible Loyalties: " Faith in Christ or Favoring the Rich, 2.1

b. Painting the Picture: Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7

b. Painting the Picture: Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7c. Crisis Point: A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11

b. Painting the Picture: Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7c. Crisis Point: A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11d. Resolution: Align Word and Deed with the Law’s Mercy, 2.12-13

Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13

(Incompatible Loyalties, 2.1)

My brothers,show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

Sections in James tend to have a “head verse” that tells the reader what it will discuss.

2.1 is the “head verse” in that sense for chapter two.

The rest of chapter two will be fleshing out “no partiality and faith.”

(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)

For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

The community has a problem with:

HOW they are choosing

WHAT they are choosing

How is the choice shown?

“You sit here“You stand over there,” or, “Sit down

at my feet,”

How is the choice implemented?

at my feet,”

How is the choice implemented?

at my feet,”

saysay

A community that holds to faith in Christ but practices partiality, choosing their relationships

based on appearance and worldly value instead of divine instruction is not a community that receives

wisdom for perseverance, but one that receives nothing and is unstable in their way.

A community that holds to faith in Christ but practices partiality, choosing their relationships

based on appearance and worldly value instead of divine instruction is not a community that receives

wisdom for perseverance, but one that receives nothing and is unstable in their way.

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

has not God chosen those who are poor

But you have dishonored the poor man.

The reason this community is wandering is that their devotion is divided and they’re choosing the opposite of what God chooses.

But you have dishonored the poor man.

The community is not aligning itselfwith the hopeless and the helpless;

it is aligning itself with the very systemand people that want to destroy it.

The community is not aligning itselfwith the hopeless and the helpless;

it is aligning itself with the very systemand people that want to destroy it.

Live Torahlike the Messiah

(A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11)

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

The community is at a crisis point; it can go one of two ways.

(1) Fulfilling the Law of Love (and thereby all the Law)

“You shall loveyour neighbor as yourself,”

(1) Fulfilling the Law of Love (and thereby all the Law)

(2) Befriending the World (and thereby breaking all the Law)

But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

A community that is quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to become angry about Scripture is one

that aligns itself with the interests, needs, and very lives of those that God and His Messiah specially

choose to care for.

(Align Word and Deed with the Law’s Mercy, 2.12-13)

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

So speak so act

The judgment in view here appears to relate directly whether the community’s actions match its profession.

So speak so act

The judgment in view here appears to relate directly whether the community’s actions match its profession.

This is the antidote against this temptation:Speech and Deed must align with the Law.

So speak so act

Let’s Review

JamesWord inDeed

• Introducing James: Kicking off the GE• James in Composition: Putting it Together• James in Message: Theology• James in Detail: 2.1-13• James At Zion• James At Zion

What so special about the hopeless and helpless

that God and His people care for them?

James At Zion

You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among

you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the

land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 19.34

James At Zion

We are the hopeless and helpless,the people of whom God takes special care.

We are the community whose job is incarnating the Word on earth.

We are supposed to be about looking like the Law

and its Messiah.

aithfulto theF

1 & 2 PeterLiving Stones

being the people of God in the world

week 3

Session 2 Slides

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