James Lesson 1: The Epistle of James—Introduction

Scripture: James 1:1 Stan’s Outline Download Lesson Outline Introduction The writer James 1:1 Five New Testament men named James (Jacob) James, the son of Zebedee (Matt. 10:2; Acts 1:13; 12:2) James, the son of Alphaeus (Matt. 10:3; Acts 1:13) James, the younger (the little, mikros); Mark 15:40 James, the father of Judas (not Iscariot) Luke 6:16; Acts 1 James, the brother of the Lord (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3; Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; 1 Cor. 15:7; Gal. 1:19; 2:9, 12). Most scholars agree this James is also the brother of Jude, another brother of the Lord Jesus (Jude 1). Three of these are considered too unknown to be the author of the book of James. This leaves two choices—James, the son of Zebedee, and James, the brother of the Lord. The first James was put to death by Herod Agrippa I in 44 AD (Acts 12:2). Most agree James, the brother of Jesus, wrote this epistle. He was the leader of the church at Jerusalem. Similarities between the words of James in Acts 15 and the epistle—“greeting” (Acts 15:23; James 1:1); (Nowhere else in the New Testament); “visit” (Acts 15:14; James 1:27); “listen” (Acts 15:13; James 2:5); and being called by God’s name (Acts 15:17; James 2:7). His Conversion The purpose of the epistle Two themes in the book The date Exposition Response to testings and temptations (James 1:1-18) Testings (James 1:1-11) The purposes of testing (James 1:1-4) The salutation (James 1:1) Conclusion and application