Lookahead: The next (topical series) in this blog will be called, “Fill in the Blank: Worship is ________” Many Psalms will be heavily relied upon in this series and they will be used to build a beautifully ornate framework for the discussion. The prep work for this new series is not complete at this time; so in the intervening weeks, I will be adding healing posts. These represent key takeaways from a Bible Study that I taught in 2019 on the subject of healing–and what each healing that Jesus performed teaches us about Who God is.
In this last post on the Book of James, I wanted to help solve a puzzle. Frequently I noted that James’ topic selection seemed to be somewhat spontaneous, with topics briefly addressed and even repeated later on in the epistle in a recurring theme format. Often I would try to determine how the scriptural passages were grouped together, and which ones would be segues into other passages–or whether the verses were actually bookends for the section. I wondered what motivated James to write his letter this way.
Many of the Bible Hub translations will have section headings that were inserted by editors, in an attempt to bring some structure to a given chapter. So they were my starting point. I found a representative translation that seemed to have some good commonality with others. I entered those topic headings in a spreadsheet and then came up with a list that corresponded to how I broke the verses up in my posts for the “Unpacking James – Tackling the Tough Questions” Bible Study. It turned out that I had introduced several sub-topics within the main topics proposed by editors.
In one post (Unpacking… #33) I believed that I had seen a topic revisited with a different “criticality level.”
“BTW, this is the 3rd time wealthy people are targeted in the Book of James…after (1) don’t be pridefully rich, and (2) the wealthy do not deserve special favoritism in the church. Plus James 5:3,4 which (3) enjoins wealthy people against greed and avarice.”
Did this repetition apply to other passages–and if so, why?
My Hermeneutics Professor recommended doing a similar analysis between James’ topics and the Sermon on the Mount. He definitely hit paydirt with that suggestion. Dozens of Google hits corroborated his theory that James was the biological/half-brother of Jesus. The former had been a reluctant observer along with other possible siblings during Jesus’ earthwalk. But eventually James recognized Who his half-brother was. The premise is that in his epistle, James was endeavoring to be as faithful to Jesus’ teachings as possible:
“We see the similarity with the Sermon on the Mount by comparing James 3:10–12 with Matthew 7:15–20, and James 3:18 with Matthew 5:9. Finally, the section in 4:13–5:12 can be broadly seen as further teaching related to testing as well as wealth.”1
In another excellent analysis by Justin Taylor, he went through the Book of James chronologically and was able to correlate most of the key verses with the Sermon on the Mount.2 However, Jesus’ topics flowed in a completely different sequence, and we don’t see the recurring theme format in the Sermon on the Mount.
In further trying to understand why James wrote his letter this way, I decided to de-couple the epistle from the Biblical format. I found an online translation of the KJV Bible without chapters and verses.3
I subsequently lumped together topical-associated verses…coming up with a bullet that summarized them…and color coded the bullets to see which topics were related.
This exercise may have teased out a concealed pattern in James’ letter. The topics indeed appear to repeat, but James’ tone does not repeat. In his letter, James will start out with a directive or by giving us direction on one topic. He will then change to a new topic and give a directive for that. After a few directives, he will elaborate on a previous topic and explain about the reasons for the direction, the potential—and/or collateral—damage in not following the direction, solutions or ways to avoid the damaging results, etc. Each directive has at least one additional scriptural reference that elaborates upon it. The wealthy and sin topics have two and three resp. The last scriptural passage on healing combines the directive and the elaboration together in one final section. Lastly, the “Sin Directive” occurs at the mid-point. A few passages then elaborate on sinful behavior, ending with a solution that closes out the topic and the letter, i.e., prayer. Herewith are my results:
• Intro
• Joy In Trials/Temptations? – Be patient in persecution. (Temptation Topic #1 – Direction)
• Godly Wisdom v. the other kind – Pray (with focus) for Godly Wisdom. (Wisdom Topic #1 – Direction)
• Find Humility, You Rich Men, In the Knowledge that You Shall Fade Away (Wealthy Topic #1 – Direction)
• Temptation Risks and Benes of Overcoming Temptation
(1) How sin is born and blessings that come from obedience (because God is GOOD). (Temptation Topic #2 – Elaboration on Direction)
(2) Because God is GOOD we should respond in kind (Let our actions be godly in obedient response to His directions; Look into the perfect law of liberty and perform Godly deeds. (Works Topic #1 – Direction)
(3) Elaboration on Direction With Three Examples – one of responding in kind (visiting fatherless and widows), two NOT (failing to bridle the tongue (Toxic Tongue Topic #1 – Direction)…and discriminating against people who aren’t wealthy) (Wealthy Topic #2 – Elaboration on Direction) (Also, Sin Topic #1 – Direction which includes foundational salvation verse…if you sin one time, you are guilty of all)
• We demonstrate our genuine faith (and avoid sin of offense) by focusing (NOT serving multiple masters) on steadfast obedience to God in performing godly acts (Works Topic #2 – Elaboration on Direction).
• Offending with our words is the worst. (Toxic Tongue Topic #2 – Elaboration on Direction, i.e., the tongue is a FIRE)
• The solution to toxic tongue is asking God for wisdom. (Toxic Tongue Topic #3 – Elaboration on Direction; Sin Topic #2 – Elaboration on Direction; Wisdom Topic #2 – Elaboration on Direction, i.e., Godly wisdom elaborated upon/contrasted with ungodly wisdom which results from friendship with the world)
• Humbly submitting to/seeking God (v. the rebellious alternative) is rewarded with His Grace. Evil and judgmental and arrogant/boastful speaking is sin. (Sin Topic #3 – Elaboration on Direction)
• Rich people who misuse their wealth (by abusing others) reap what they sow. (Wealthy Topic #3 – Elaboration on Direction) The solution is to act like and believe that the coming of the LORD is at hand. And don’t bind your best intentions with an oath. (Sin Topic #4 – Elaboration on Direction)
• Prayer Topic #1 (For the Afflicted) Direction. Prayer Topic #2 – Elaboration on Direction (Fervency Required). Prayer Topic #3 (Pray for Salvation) Direction/Elaboration on Direction (Salvation is Foremost!)
Why did James write his letter this way? Just another off-the-wall theory…but if a chronic multi-tasker like myself were to write an epistle to the new church, it’s quite possible that I would do the same thing. 😊 It further occurs to me that one of the reasons that I love the Book of James so much is because I probably sensed on a subliminal level that it was a multi-tasker’s delight (in Project Management terms, parallel v. serial, EVMS v. Agile, etc.). A multitasker will initiate a few or more tasks. Once the figurative balls are being juggled in the air, he will keep returning to/working each task.
Again, this is a just a theory. And it has been my joy to similarly break down each scripture in James over the last two years–using my interpretive approaches, in addition to the many approaches of others–as the LORD answered my prayer that each post would provide a Word in Season for someone. I further pray that this Study of James has created a hunger in others to seek the LORD for themselves and hear from Him directly in His Holy scriptures.
The next (topical series) in this blog will be called, “Fill in the Blank: Worship is ________” Many Psalms will be heavily relied upon in this series and they will be used to build a beautifully ornate framework for the discussion. The prep work for this new series is not complete at this time; so in the intervening weeks, I will be adding healing posts. These represent key takeaways from a Bible Study that I taught in 2019 on the subject of healing–and what each healing that Jesus performed teaches us about Who God is.
++++++++++++
Cross-Denominational Bible Study 