James and Jude Jewish Letters

Which James? son of Zebedee, brother of John James the Less/alphaeus brother of the Lord Origen Mark 6:3 1 Cor 15:7 Acts 1:15 Acts 15:12-21

Background BookAuthorDatePlace Addressee s Genre James 50’s Jerusalem Jewish Christians Proverbs Jude 50’s Asia Minor Jewish Christians Warning Letter

Faith vs. Works James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Ephesians 2:8–9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. This seems very different from what Paul teaches when he talks about grace. What is the role of deeds and how does grace play into this?!

Agreement with Paul James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse, for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.” James 2:26 For just as the body without the Spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Paul talks about rectification; James about salvation The Church needs to hear both messages!

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?” (James 2:14–16 NRSV) How do you respond to the person on the street?

“Above all...” Transition to final part of letter Truly most important Not prohibited in the OT - Ps 110:4; Lev 19:12 Essenes and Rabbis dislike it Jesus - Matthew 5:33–37: “Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.” But I say to you, do not take oaths at all—not by heaven, because it is the throne of God, not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem,because it is the city of the great King. Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one. Importance of simple speech Luke Timothy Johnson James 5:12:Oaths

Opponents in Jude licentiousness 1:4dreaming 1:8defile flesh 1:8reject authority 1:8reject angelic majesties - the law 1:8feast with you without fear 1:12speak arrogantly 1:16for the sake of an advantage 1:16

Sources in Jude Jude 6 - I Enoch 6–12 - angelic fall Jude 9 - Testament of Moses - Moses’ words to Joshua Jude Enoch 1:9- holy ones will execute judgment Jude 18 - The apostles

Interactions with the ungodly? Problem in church: those who turn grace of God into licentiousness v. 4 vs. 4 “long beforehand marked out for this condemnation.” vs. 22–23 mercy on the doubting save others out of fire have mercy with fear - garment polluted