James Lesson 1 (Text: Chapter 1)
Introduction to James
It is important to study God’s Word, the Bible. It is important to memorize verses and to think upon His Word. The Word of God never changes, even though we live in a world of constant change. Our friends and families change. Circumstances change. Our thoughts and attitudes change. And all around us we experience change every day. But the Word of God remains the same, and is sure and steadfast. We can always depend upon His Word. Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” Psalm 119:89 says, “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven,” and in I Peter 1:23, we read that the Word of God lives and abides forever. In uncertain and changing times, we can always depend upon His Holy Word to give us comfort, strength, grace and power for each moment of our lives, regardless of our situations or our circumstances. The Word of God also helps newborn babies in Christ to grow spiritually. In I Peter 2:2 we read, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” We, as believers in Christ, are commanded in God’s Word to grow spiritually. II Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” The Word of God has always existed and will always exist. In John 1:1-2 we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” Read the following verses from the Bible: Psalm 119: 2, 9, 11, 28, 50, 67, 71, 74, 92, 114, 130, 147, 148, 162 and 165. As you begin these study courses of God’s Word, please begin them with this thought and prayer found in Psalm 119:18, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” And in Psalm 119:105 we read: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” This tells us how to stand with God and how to go with God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” II Timothy 3:16-17
JAMES KEY VERSE: James 1:5 – “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
KEY WORDS: Faith, found 16 times. Works, found 15 times.
THEME: Maturity through persecution from without, through problems from within.
DATE: 45-50 A.D. (Before the Fall of Jerusalem)
WRITER: James (The half-brother of Jesus) 1) Servant of God. 2) Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. 3) Son of Mary and Joseph. 4) Pillar in the Church at Jerusalem. 5) Pastor of the Church at Jerusalem. 6) Called “Old Camel Knees”. 7) Thrown to death by Annias from balcony and stoned. 8) Saved after The Resurrection (I Cor. 15:7).
WRITTEN: To: Twelve tribes scattered in dispersion (1:1-2). From: Jerusalem.
THE BOOK: Number in Bible – 59th Book of Bible. Number of Chapters – 5. Number of Verses – 108. Number in Order of Writing: 20th in New Testament.
PURPOSE: To show the conflict between inner and outer man. Perfection – Inner Problems + Outer Persecution. Excellence – Inner Experience + Outer Exposure. Maturity – Inner Misery + Outer Misunderstanding. Character – Inner Conflict + Outer Conviction. Stability – Inner Sorrow + Outer Suffering.
DIVISIONS: The Perfect Man: 1) Patient in Testing (Ch. 1). 2) Practices the Truth (Ch. 2). 3) Power Over the Tongue (Ch. 3). 4) Peacemaker: Not Troublemaker (Ch. 4). 5) Prays In Trouble (Ch. 5).
OUTLINE:
Introduction: Christ and His Brother (1:1) I. The Christian and His Battles (1:2-16): 1) His Testings (1:2-12). 2) His Temptations (1:13-16). II. The Christian and His Bible (1:17-24): 1) The Gift of the Word (1:17, 18). 2) The Grafting of the Word (1:19-22). 3) The Glass of the Word (1:23, 24). III. The Christian and His Brethren (2:1-13): 1) Partiality: A Sin Against the Lord (2:1-7). 2) Partiality: A Sin Against the Law (2:8-13). IV. The Christian and His Beliefs (2:14-26): 1) Faith versus Works: Emphatically Declare (2:14-17). 2) Faith versus Works: Energetically Debated (2:18-20). 3) Faith versus Works: Examples Delivered (2:21-26). V. The Christian and His Behavior (3:1; 4:12): 1) Sin Must be Revealed (3:1; 4:4). 2) Sin Must be Resisted (4:5, 10). VI. The Christian and His Boasting (4:13; 5:6): 1) Wrong to Boast About Our Plans (4:13, 17). 2) Wrong to Boast About our Prosperity (5-6). VII. The Christian and His Burdens (5:7, 20): 1) Burden of Poverty (5:7). 2) Burden of Proof (5:12). 3) Burden of Prayer (5:13, 18). 4) Burden of People (5:19, 20).
MISCELLANEOUS: Information on the Book of James: 1) General Epistle. 2) Called Proverbs of the New Testament. 3) Probably First Book of New Testament Written. 4) Practical Guide to Christian Life and Conduct. 5) Deals With Ethics and Morals. 6) Filled With Metaphors and Figures.
CONTRAST: The Book of Hebrews: 1) Hebrews is Doctrine. 2) Paul lays the Foundation. 3) Paul talks about Heaven. 4) Paul talks about Beliefs. The Book of James: 1) James is about Deeds. 2) James builds the Buildings. 3) James talks about Works. 4) James talks about Behaviour Simply click the “Take the Quiz” Button to the right. Have your KJV Bible with you, and look up the answers to the questions on the quiz. You can then answer the questions from the Bible, (Open Book Test).
