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The Epistle of James is usually missed, but it surely was written by one of the vital folks within the New Testament. This is the story …
The identify James
James is a quite common Christian identify for boys within the English-speaking world and one of the well-liked names within the UK, Australia and the US. The identify comes into English from outdated French through the Latin kind ‘Iacomus’. Forms of the identify fluctuate in several languages. In French it’s Jacques, in German Jakob, in Welsh and Spanish it’s Iago, and in Irish it turns into Seamus.
Kings of Scotland
The identify James has been utilized in England for the reason that thirteenth century, although it grew to become extra frequent in Scotland. Scotland had many kings known as James beginning with James I in 1394, via to James VI of Scotland in 1566. It was James VI who grew to become James I of England in 1603, and the primary king to rule each the Kingdoms of England and Scotland.
King James Bible
It was King James VI and I who commissioned the Bible printed in 1611, and identified in Britain because the Authorised Version (AV). He didn’t translate it himself, and actually it was not likely a translation, however a revision of the Bishop’s Bible, however it’s generally known as the King James Version (KJV) or the King James Bible (KJB).
Jacob or James?
In Greek the identify Ἰάκωβος (Iakobos) is the type of the Hebrew identify Jacob. In English, Jacob and James are successfully two types of the identical identify. Some Christians declare that ‘Jacob’ was changed by the identify ‘James’ within the Authorised Version of the Bible to please the King. However it is a fable, as a result of the spelling ‘Iames’ is utilized in Tyndale’s New Testament from 1526, and earlier than that by Wycliffe. It was then spelt ‘Iames’ as an alternative of ‘James’, as a result of it was earlier than the letter J got here into frequent use.
The grandson of King James VI was often called James VII in Scotland and James II in England. He was deposed in 1688, and his followers, and the followers of his descendants are often called the Jacobites, as a result of the Latin type of James was Jacobus.
The two males known as James
In the New Testament we discover some names borne by many individuals similar to Joseph, Mary, and James. To distinguish the 2 males known as James who’re each within the New Testament, the apostle James, son of Zebedee has been historically known as James the Great, and James, brother of Jesus, has been historically known as James the Just. Actually neither is basically known as James in any respect. It is the enduring custom in English Bibles, even in fashionable translations, to make use of the normal types of names, and in Hebrew they’re each the identical identify which within the Old Testament is rendered Jacob.
James the Just
James the Just, is historically believed to be the creator of the Book of James. James was a son of Mary and Joseph, and thus a half-brother to Jesus. When Jesus’s blood-brothers are talked about in Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3, it’s the identify of James which at all times seems first, earlier than Joseph (Joses), Judas and Simon, which suggests he was most likely the eldest.
In the 4 Gospel accounts, James is just talked about a few instances. He initially doesn’t appear to have been a believer (John 7:2-5). However, James grew to become one of many earliest witnesses of his brother’s resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7).
James within the Early Church
James then stays in Jerusalem, and joins a bunch who meet within the higher room (Acts 1:14). James was resident in Jerusalem when the newly transformed Saul (later extra generally identified by his Roman identify of Paul) got here to fulfill with him and Peter (Galatians 1:19). When Peter escapes from jail, it’s to James that he stories concerning the escape (Acts 12:17). When the Council of Jerusalem meets it appears to be chaired by James (Acts 15:13-19). His need was peace inside the numerous Church. He was no legalist and emphasised grace over legislation, and gracious take care of Gentile believers. St Paul mentions assembly James in Galatians 1:18-2:10, and calls him a ‘pillar’ of the Church (Galatians 2:9), together with Peter and John.
Martyrdom
It is believed that James was martyred, though there isn’t a biblical file of his demise. However the demise of James was recorded by the Jewish historian Josephus in his “Antiquities of the Jews”. Josephus calls James ‘the brother of Jesus, who was known as Christ’ and information that he was stoned on the order of Ananus ben Ananus, the High Priest. This occasion is often dated to 62 AD, which additionally helps us date his letter.
The Epistle of James
James is often recognised because the creator of the Epistle of James. Assuming he was killed in AD 62, the letter was most likely written someplace between AD 50 and his AD 60. James identifies himself by identify, and easily describes himself as ‘a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ’ (James 1:1). James appears to have been humble, and by no means used his place as Jesus’ brother as a foundation for authority. His letter is a really sensible right down to earth implementation of religion.
Martin Luther famously known as the letter an ‘epistle of straw’ as a result of he alleged it had ‘nothing of the character of the Gospel about it’. However James was no theologian like Paul. He was the chief of the Church involved about behaviour and ethics. It was James who reduce via the legalism and controversies to see the guts of Jesus, and wrote, ‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is that this: to take care of orphans and widows of their misery and to maintain oneself from being polluted by the world’ (James 1:27 NIV).
Jesus by no means left something written down, however if you happen to knew that the eldest of his brothers who grew up with him had written a letter, would you not need to learn it?
