LESSON 1:

Let's study the Book of James!

It is unique in many ways. Five chapters, each with many nuggets of truth. All designed to help us grow in the Lord.

But who is this James, the man whom the Spirit of God inspired to write the Epistle? Let's let him answer. "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting." James 1:1

His Name in Greek equals the Hebrew "Jacob." Obviously patterned after the son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel. He calls himself a lowly "servant" of God. "Doulos" means a "bond slave," one "tied" to the wishes of another!

Still, there are several men named "James" in the New Testament. Specifically, who is this one? Based both on Scripture itself and reliable bits of Church history too, he is James who was born to Mary and Joseph, years after the Virgin Birth had occurred of course. Mark 6:3 helps us here, asking about Jesus. "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?" Bible proof that Jesus has half-brothers and half-sisters, sharing the same Mother but not the same Father! Jesus' Father was God, not any human!

James at some point got "saved," and became a follower of Jesus, his own relative! "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting." He here, if nowhere else, confesses Jesus as his Lord!

And James is writing to whom? To the Jews, the "twelve tribes" of Israel, who have been involved in the "diaspora," a Greek word meaning "scattered, dispersed." Not living in Israel!

The last word in today's verse is "greeting." And "chairo" means "be glad, rejoice, God speed."

Now we're ready to at least survey the Book! It's hard to analyze though, difficult to outline. It seems that James is so excited, so filled with material to share with God's people ... he just "explodes" with wisdom! First one topic then another!

We will try, Lord willing, to keep up with him!

                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 2:

The New Testament Book of James is a composite of godly Wisdom. Here on our Website there's a Study of how the Epistle just might have patterned itself after the Old Testament Book of Leviticus! An interesting thought, "James and Leviticus," simply "click" that link on the Site Map.

But other Bible Texts might have impacted this little five-chapter Jewel as well. If indeed this James is the Son of Mary and Joseph, a half-brother to Jesus, we know the kind of home in which he was reared, a godly one.

I think his Mother loved Scripture! Her "Poem of Praise" known at the Magnificat abounds with quotations and allusions, with solid Old Testament Truth! In fact that's one of my points today. The Book of James has numerous similarities to that Luke 1:46-55 Paragraph, Mary's words of thanksgiving and worship shortly spoken after she learned of the soon coming Virgin Birth! Yes, his Mom greatly influenced James' life!

Secondly, Jesus' Ministry, especially His preaching, molded and shaped James and his beliefs, undoubtedly! For example, a good portion of James echoes Matthew 5-7, our Lord's great Sermon on the Mount! Then again there are traces of Truth learned from the Olivet Discourse, Jesus' longest Sermon on Bible Prophecy, Matthew 24-25.

Wow!

We are what we have learned!

And James the man, James the Christian, certainly had some great teachers! And his education made him, via the work of God the Holy Spirit, into a great preacher! And not a bad writer either!

I realize that James might not have been saved until after our Lord's Resurrection. But still, all that Scripture had been instilled in him for years. And it's yet true, what Solomon wrote long ago: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

What we put into our minds and hearts ... is exactly what comes out our mouths! Well, Jesus said that too, didn't He? In Matthew 15:18, "Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart." King James Version

How this series of thoughts today ought to encourage us in pouring the Word of God into our little ones, children and grandchildren and others!

            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 3:

We're studying the little Epistle of James. And, as with any Bible Book, one of the first duties is to determine the "type" of writing we're going to encounter. What is James, its five chapters?

One teacher I studied categorized it as "diatribe." One meaning of this word is this: "a bitter and abusive piece of speech or writing." And James certainly does have sections that might qualify! Talking to professing Christians, James says: "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:1, pretty strong language!

Here's a similar word, with a parallel meaning, also taken from a Scriptural source. "Jeremiad," which is defined as "a cautionary, angry expression of doom." A verbal attack! It's true, Jeremiah the Prophet did say some powerfully strong things too, rebuking sin in his day.

But let me interrupt our flow of thought here. Both James and Jeremiah contain so much more than those clear words of rebuke and reproof! Both Preachers loved their people. Both wanted to bring Glory to God, via the application of Scripture to the lives of their hearers.

In fact, the last paragraph in the Epistle of James is one of outreach. Trying to help others who have fallen back into sin. Loving folks, in other words. "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him. Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." James 5:19-20

Back to our initial question today, "What type literature is James?" It's an epistle, a letter! Written under the inspiration of God, through his man, to a large group of Jewish Believers who needed encouragement and support as they tried to live for God!

It's not diatribe!

It's not a jeremiad!

It is the Word of God, just as important as the other sixty-five Books of the Bible! James, worthy of our study! James, "profitable" to all who learn and apply its truths!

James, let's learn more tomorrow, the Lord willing.

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4:

The Book of James is not an exposition! He does not teach verse-by-verse through any portion of the Old Testament, not systematically. Of course, few portions of the New Testament do. Rather, James seems to address, topic by topic, the various problems he feels his audience is facing.

James is a type literature often called "paraenesis," a Greek word meaning "advice, exhortation, encouragement." The Epistle of James, filled as it is with the Wisdom of God, "tells the story" of Christianity, especially regarding "how to live" in various life situations. Most of which James' congregation is facing at that time. In fact many Believers yet today face these same issues, hence the great practicality of the Book of James!

Here are a few of James' "topics!"

Chapter 1, "How to handle adversity when it comes into your life!"

Chapter 2, "How our faith in Jesus functions, especially in regard to the 'good works' that always follow it!"

Chapter 3, "How to control the tongue, proper speech for the Christian!"

Chapter 4, "How to handle disagreement between folks, all of whom profess to know the Lord!"

Chapter 5, "How to have a healthy prayer life!"

And honestly, I have only named a few of the themes James discusses. The point today is simple, our Lesson for this Tuesday. James writes his little Book, inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, as a PASTOR sharing with his PEOPLE Biblical Truth, in order to help them grow in the Lord! To be victorious over every problem of life! To better know how to live for Jesus! And after all, that's real Wisdom anyway!

Thank God today for every Pastor you know who seeks to "feed" his congregation the Word of God. Crafting it to practically and powerfully help them glorify our Lord day by day.

           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 5:

The New Testament Epistle that most fully describes the spiritual concept of "wisdom" is James. For that reason it has at times been nick-named "The Proverbs of the New Testament."

But in the Bible wisdom is not merely a function of the intellect, the mind. A man's or woman's level of education does not necessarily indicate his or her ability to think wisely.

The noun James uses for "wisdom" is "sophia." It is related to the Greek word "saphes," meaning "clear," rather than soiled, occluded, dirty. Wisdom here hints at a godly life, one dedicated to purity! Now that's it, from the Lord's perspective anyway.

Then of course there's wisdom as defined by the world. As opposed to wisdom as defined by the Lord, by the Holy Spirit. James speaks here in detail. "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." Now don't "skip" this Scripture, James 3:13-17. Please read it again.

Earthly wisdom! "If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."

Compared to the Wisdom of God! "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."

What kind of wisdom do you have? Do I have?

And, if we're deficient in this critical area, where do we get it, this wonderful wisdom? James knows that too! "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." James 1:5

Ask the Lord!

More of our praying should be for wisdom, in all likelihood. Apparently wisdom that controls every area of life.

Folks, let's ask Him!

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 6:

Probably the New Testament's longest paragraph about our "words," the use of the human "tongue" in speech, is found in the little Epistle of James. It's in chapter three of that great little corpus: "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be." James 3:2-10

James, in  characteristic style, is quite blunt! He believes that if a Christian has come to the place of Christian growth where he can control his tongue, not "offending" in words, that person has reached true spiritual maturity! "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." The Greek verb "offend" used here simply means "to stumble" and fall.

Wow!

But then, with even more realism, James tells us how important the tongue really is. Like the relatively small "rudder" on a large ship, or the little "bit" in a grown horses' mouth ... the tongue can "guide the direction" in which a life is traveling!

If used wrongly, it can set ablaze many a reputation! It can defile the whole person, the one misusing it I think!

And the tongue can be so inconsistent! Praising God one minute and criticizing some Believer the next!

Straight to the point, the tongue is full of poison, when untamed by the holy Spirit of God!

What a sermon!

Then, how do we keep our words under control?

James has here repeatedly said that man cannot "tame" his own tongue. Presumably, one must allow the Lord to do such a thing. By prayer and practice and constant vigilance!

Here's one verse that might help. It's a direct prayer to our God, too. "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14

That folks, is a good first step to controlling our tongues!

Indeed!

          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7:

All my life I've heard people say this, "The Lord willing." From my youth onward folks have prefaced statements of their future plans with those words. I suspect thousands of times a day, "the Lord willing."

Where did we get such an idea? It it even Scriptural? Can it become "vain repetition?"

James again, both the man and the Book he wrote, comes to our aid. He shares: "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." James chapter 4, verses 13-15.

Plans for the future, when ignoring God's guidance and help and protection, are apparently an insult to the Almighty!

None of us knows the future!

And while certainly we must plan for eventualities, the New Testament is here teaching us to put the Lord "foremost" in those plans!

This is simply acknowledging Him to be the Master of our lives. The Controller of our plans. The Protector of our aspirations. The Reason for our existence!

The words are not to become trite, empty, meaningless expressions of man-made piety, either. I suspect every time we use them, a quick prayer or a thought of praise or a glimmer of thanks should shoot heavenward!

Yes, "the Lord willing," when said with real meaning, can become a lovely act of worship!

James, tell us one more time please. "Ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."

Amen!

            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Let's try to better remember and properly practice this little "holy habit" of the Christian life.

LESSON 8:

In James' last chapter these words are found: "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." Verses 14-15

The verb "is sick" translates a Greek single word that means "is weak, physically ailing." God cares for our bodies as well as our souls!

Here the sick person is instructed to call for the leaders of the church, who will pray for him. This procedure, the faith it entails, can bring healing to the sick person! That is, if it's God's Will for him or her to be "healthy!"

Do notice that here too James adds, "if he have committed sins!" Leaving the possibility that at times, though not always, unconfessed sins can lead to God's chastisement on our lives, including physical maladies!

Now for today's thought, having summarized the passage. "Anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord," This participial phrase further amplifies the procedure being taught.

Why the "oil?"

Probably the foremost reason is that olive oil in those days, still today for that matter, represents the Holy Spirit of God. It's a picture or type or symbol of Him. We are being told that anytime sick bodies get well ... God is involved in the process! He is the Great Physician! He made these human bodies. And He can maintain them!

But there's a possible second reason too, why "oil" is used. During the time James lived, in first century Holy Land experience, in the Greek-Roman world of that era ... "oil" was also a commonly used medicine for many physically related problems.

Oil was rubbed on wounds! Remember the Story Jesus told, the lovely Parable, of the "Good Samaritan?" Oil was clearly used for medicinal purposes there.

What I'm saying is this.

When we are sick, yes ... pray to the Lord!

When we so choose ... ask the elders to pray for us too. Get others involved in helping you ask God for healing.

But this also. When we are sick, seek medical help. And take the medicine they prescribe! It may not be olive oil, but the principle could be the same. Use the available means to bring about the strengthening of your body. It's not a sin to do this.

Wow!

I am not being dogmatic today. I just want to leave open the possibility that God not only can and often does heal directly. But He can also do so through various means, through "olive oil" applications of medicines and drugs that we have learned help strengthen the human body.

First, trust God!

Then, get some prayer help!

Then, take the medicine you're supposed too!

Then, having done all, leave it in God's hands!

"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." James 5:14-15

I am thankful we have a Lord in Heaven who cares for the whole person! He saved my soul! He gave me a born-again spirit! And He also knows all about my body!

What a wonderful God!

                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 9, CONCLUSION:

The Book of James, one of the New Testament's "General Epistles," ends abruptly! Whereas Paul and Peter and Jude and several others conclude their writings with "benedictions," not so with James.

Truth be told, the Book of Acts ends like James too! But is a record of history, that of the early Church. It is not a personal letter, an epistle.

In fact, Jonah and Nahum close their messages without warning as well. But again, they are Books of Prophecy, not Epistles designed to encourage and edify.

Let me show you James' ending. It's great! But it is not traditional, not normal, not for that day and time.

"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him. Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." James 5:19-20

This Preacher, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is completely "absorbed" by his goal, helping God's people cope. But not only cope, to grow in the Grace of God. To not merely "get by," rather "to enjoy" life on earth as a gift of God! To so glorify the Lord in Heaven!

James gets so wrapped up in his task that he apparently feels his "sermon" is finished! With the two verses highlighted above! One last "message" to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, his addressees according to James 1:1.

Then it's over!

No "Grace be with you" line as in Paul!

No "Amen" as in Peter!

No beautiful "Doxology" as in Jude!

Just preaching, preaching, preaching!

One can't help but admire the sheer intensity here!

And the "heart" of James' last paragraph? "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him. Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."

He is clearly encouraging the folks who are saved and have remained faithful to the Lord to be mindful of those in their number who have "erred."

He believes some of the "erring" ones can be "turned," the meaning of the word "converted" here. Not "saved" again! But "brought back" from their mistakes and shortcomings and sins!

By helping bring such "backslidden" brothers and sisters back into fellowship with the Body of Christ ... James says we just might save them from "death!" This is the "sin unto death" First John 5:16 mentions. Erring saints who persist in their wrongdoing and will not repent, usually after an extended period of time, will face God's Hand of chastening! Some in Scripture have died at the Hand of God, in extremely rebellious cases.

What an exhortation to "help" others, particularly those who are born-again. To help them stay faithful.

Such saints, not soul-winners as in the case of reaching the lost, but soul-reclaimers as in helping restore fallen brothers, these mature Christians will thus be "hiding" a multitude of sins! A restored child of God will no longer be bringing reproach on Christ's Name! Sins not yet committed, because the offender was restored, are sins "hidden" for sure!

Wow!

"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him. Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."

No wonder James got so excited he failed to write a closing, personal paragraph! In one way he has closed with words of Grace!

Folks, we serve a merciful, forgiving, reinstating Heavenly Father!

Amen.

               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell