Faithful to the
End
James Word inDeed
living faith and living community
week 2
James Word inDeed
living faith and living community • Introducing James: Kicking off the GE
• James in Composition: Putting it Together • James in Message: Theology • James in Detail: 2.1-13 • James At Zion
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Introducing James
The Epistles (Letters)
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Introducing James We are here!
The Epistles (Letters) Pauline Epistles
Rom •!1-2Cor • Gal • Eph • Col • Phi •!1-2Thess •!1-2Tim • Tit • Phil • Heb
13 (14?!?) letters written by Paul, the “star” of Acts 12-28
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General Epistles
James • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
7 letters written by
James, Peter, and John, the “stars” of Acts 1-11
Introducing James
The General Epistles General Epistles
James • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
faithful to the end • week 2
Introducing James
The General Epistles General Epistles
James • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
7 letters written by
James, Peter, and John, the “stars” of Acts 1-11
faithful to the end • week 2
Introducing James
The General Epistles General Epistles
James • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
7 letters written by
James, Peter, and John, the “stars” of Acts 1-11 But …what about this Jude guy?
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Introducing James
The General Epistles General Epistles
James • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
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Introducing James
The General Epistles General Epistles
James • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
brother of Jesus
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Introducing James
The General Epistles General Epistles
James • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
brother of Jesus brother of James
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Introducing James
The General Epistles General Epistles
James • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
brother of Jesus brother of James The General Epistles are framed by letters from Jesus’ brothers.
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Introducing James
The General Epistles General Epistles
James • 1-2 Peter • 1-3 John • Jude
brother of Jesus brother of James The General Epistles are framed by letters from Jesus’ brothers. James is the first book in a biblical collection/section.
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What are other “first books” in the Bible?
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What are other “first books” in the Bible? Genesis Joshua [Isaiah] [Hosea] Psalms
Matthew Acts [Romans] [James] Revelation
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Do “first books” serve any special purpose in collections/sections?
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Introducing James As a “first book,” we may expect that some of the themes and theology that James introduces will not be limited to just this letter, but will in fact “set the tone” for the GE.
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James Word inDeed
living faith and living community • Introducing James: Kicking off the GE
• James in Composition: Putting it Together • James in Message: Theology • James in Detail: 2.1-13 • James At Zion
faithful to the end • week 2
James in Composition It seems to be a collection of miscellaneous unconnected sayings
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James in Composition It seems to be a collection of miscellaneous unconnected sayings It seems to have no traditional epistle introduction or conclusion
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James in Composition It seems to be a collection of miscellaneous unconnected sayings It seems to have no traditional epistle introduction or conclusion But “seems” can be deceiving…
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James in Composition Rather than saying that James isn’t structured, we might do better to say that James just isn’t Paul.
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James in Composition Rather than saying that James isn’t structured, we might do better to say that James just isn’t Paul. James’ structure more closely resembles OT Wisdom literature (think Proverbs).
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James in Composition Rather than saying that James isn’t structured, we might do better to say that James just isn’t Paul. James’ structure more closely resembles OT Wisdom literature (think Proverbs). R. Bauckham (James, 66-7): James’ lack of sequential development doesn’t mean he lacks vision. faithful to the end • week 2
James in Composition James has structure insomuch as its parts have been arranged intentionally, in a certain order and a certain way on purpose.
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James in Composition James has structure insomuch as its parts have been arranged intentionally, in a certain order and a certain way on purpose. James seems to be a series of “sayings” hooked together by words, phrases and theology.
faithful to the end • week 2
James in Composition James has structure insomuch as its parts have been arranged intentionally, in a certain order and a certain way on purpose. James seems to be a series of “sayings” hooked together by words, phrases and theology. The “sayings” all relate to and advance the book’s theology. faithful to the end • week 2
James in Composition The discernment of how the parts relate and the intention of this structure is the task of the reader, as it is in other Wisdom literature.
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James in Composition The discernment of how the parts relate and the intention of this structure is the task of the reader, as it is in other Wisdom literature. For a proposal for overall book structure, see the outline in your handout.
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James Word inDeed
living faith and living community • Introducing James: Kicking off the GE
• James in Composition: Putting it Together • James in Message: Theology • James in Detail: 2.1-13 • James At Zion
faithful to the end • week 2
What does the
introduction to James
(chpt.1) tell us the book is about?
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What does the
introduction to James
(chpt.1) tell us the book is about?
perseverance through
trials in faith to salvation faithful to the end • week 2
James in Message Chpt. 1 introduces the idea of living out faith by persevering in trials or‌ that the path of salvation is DOING doctrine
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James in Message Chpt. 1 introduces the idea of living out faith by persevering in trials or‌ that the path of salvation is DOING doctrine The rest of the book seems to provide the trials that must be persevered through, living out faith, unto salvation
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What are the trials that James addresses?
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James in Message Chpt.Two: Loving people the world says matter instead of those God chooses, the hopeless and helpless
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James in Message Chpt.Two: Loving people the world says matter instead of those God chooses, the hopeless and helpless Chpt. Three: Using speech/the tongue as a destructive instrument of Hell instead of for God’s new creation
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James in Message Chpt.Two: Loving people the world says matter instead of those God chooses, the hopeless and helpless Chpt. Three: Using speech/the tongue as a destructive instrument of Hell instead of for God’s new creation Chpt. Four: Fighting with each other due to love of the world and self
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James in Message Chpt.Two: Loving people the world says matter instead of those God chooses, the hopeless and helpless Chpt. Three: Using speech/the tongue as a destructive instrument of Hell instead of for God’s new creation Chpt. Four: Fighting with each other due to love of the world and self Chpt. Four-Five: Pursuing stuff the world says matters instead of God’s kingdom faithful to the end • week 2
James in Message The conclusion (5.9-26) then gives the “how to” of persevering in these trials
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James in Message The conclusion (5.9-26) then gives the “how to” of persevering in these trials Long-term patience/endurance
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James in Message The conclusion (5.9-26) then gives the “how to” of persevering in these trials Long-term patience/endurance Proper use of words
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James in Message The conclusion (5.9-26) then gives the “how to� of persevering in these trials Long-term patience/endurance Proper use of words Aid from the elders and community
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James in Message In summary, James appears to orbit around the intersection of three things:
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James in Message In summary, James appears to orbit around the intersection of three things:
Faith Life Community faithful to the end • week 2
James in Message Faith, Life, and Community James is an epistle about the work of the Word of God, incarnate and written, as expressed by the faith and in the lives of God’s people; in particular, the way God’s people wisely abide within and shape by their own words and deeds the community of faith as an incarnation of the Word, His Body on earth. faithful to the end • week 2
James in Message Kingdom of Priests James depends for its theology on the theology of Torah and its focus on God’s missional plan to redeem creation through the establishment of a people and a kingdom on earth through the seed of Abraham, a people whose own missional purpose thereby involves particular kinds of (priestly) activity and set-apart character, a people who are supposed to look like the Law and its Messiah. faithful to the end • week 2
James in Message Pay attention to these two statements.
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James in Message Pay attention to these two statements. As a “first book,” it’s likely that they contain ideas that will characterize more than just James.
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James in Message Pay attention to these two statements. As a “first book,” it’s likely that they contain ideas that will characterize more than just James. Remember from last week, the GE talk about persevering in faith through…
faithful to the end • week 2
James in Message Pay attention to these two statements. As a “first book,” it’s likely that they contain ideas that will characterize more than just James. Remember from last week, the GE talk about persevering in faith through… sin, suffering, serpents
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What part of the NT
does James have the most affinity with?
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What part of the NT
does James have the most affinity with? The Gospels faithful to the end • week 2
What part of Torah does
James rely heavily upon?
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What part of Torah does
James rely heavily upon? Leviticus 19
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James in Message James’ treatment of faith, life, and community gather these two things together:
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James in Message James’ treatment of faith, life, and community gather these two things together: (1) Jesus’ interpretation of Torah: Love your Neighbor as Yourself
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James in Message James’ treatment of faith, life, and community gather these two things together: (1) Jesus’ interpretation of Torah: Love your Neighbor as Yourself (2) The heart of priestly conduct: Be Holy as I Am Holy
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James Word inDeed
living faith and living community • Introducing James: Kicking off the GE
• James in Composition: Putting it Together • James in Message: Theology • James in Detail: 2.1-13 • James At Zion
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James in Detail: 2.1-13 Chapter two “hooks” into the end of chapter one, esp. vv. 26-27
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James in Detail: 2.1-13 Chapter two “hooks” into the end of chapter one, esp. vv. 26-27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:
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James in Detail: 2.1-13 Chapter two “hooks” into the end of chapter one, esp. vv. 26-27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction,
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James in Detail: 2.1-13 Chapter two “hooks” into the end of chapter one, esp. vv. 26-27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. faithful to the end • week 2
James in Detail: 2.1-13 Chapter two “hooks” into the end of chapter one, esp. vv. 26-27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in as theirYourself affliction, Love Your Neighbor and to keep oneself unstained from the world. faithful to the end • week 2
James in Detail: 2.1-13 Chapter two “hooks” into the end of chapter one, esp. vv. 26-27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in as theirYourself affliction, Love Your Neighbor
Be Holy as I Am Holy
and to keep oneself unstained from the world. faithful to the end • week 2
James in Detail: 2.1-13
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James in Detail: 2.1-13 Chapter two is one section in two halves B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26
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James in Detail: 2.1-13 Chapter two is one section in two halves B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26 1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13
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James in Detail: 2.1-13 Chapter two is one section in two halves B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26 1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13 2. Saving Faith, Saving Deeds: " The Law of Love in Practice, 2.14-26
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James in Detail: 2.1-13 My brothers,show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who
wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves
and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in
faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich
the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?
Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
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James in Detail: 2.1-13 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as
transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point
has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery
but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak
and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (ESV)
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James in Detail: 2.1-13 This section has four parts B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26
1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13 "
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James in Detail: 2.1-13 This section has four parts B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26
1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13 "
"
a. Incompatible Loyalties: Faith in Christ or Favoring the Rich, 2.1
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James in Detail: 2.1-13 This section has four parts B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26
1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13 "
"
a. Incompatible Loyalties: Faith in Christ or Favoring the Rich, 2.1 b. Painting the Picture: Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7
faithful to the end • week 2
James in Detail: 2.1-13 This section has four parts B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26
1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13 "
"
a. Incompatible Loyalties: Faith in Christ or Favoring the Rich, 2.1 b. Painting the Picture: Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7 c. Crisis Point: A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11
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James in Detail: 2.1-13 This section has four parts B.The Deeds of Living Faith: Keeping the Law of Love, 2.1-26
1. Partiality in Community and " the Law of Love, 2.1-13 "
"
a. Incompatible Loyalties: Faith in Christ or Favoring the Rich, 2.1 b. Painting the Picture: Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7 c. Crisis Point: A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11 d. Resolution: Align Word and Deed with the Law’s Mercy, 2.12-13 faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Incompatible Loyalties, 2.1)
My brothers,show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Sections in James tend to have a “head verse” that tells the reader what it will discuss.
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Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Incompatible Loyalties, 2.1)
My brothers,show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Sections in James tend to have a “head verse” that tells the reader what it will discuss. 2.1 is the “head verse” in that sense for chapter two.
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Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Incompatible Loyalties, 2.1)
My brothers,show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Sections in James tend to have a “head verse” that tells the reader what it will discuss. 2.1 is the “head verse” in that sense for chapter two. The rest of chapter two will be fleshing out “no partiality and faith.” faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good
place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
The community has a problem with:
faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good
place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
The community has a problem with: HOW they are choosing
faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good
place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
The community has a problem with: HOW they are choosing WHAT they are choosing
faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good
place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
How is the choice shown?
faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good
place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
How is the choice shown?
faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good
place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
How is the choice shown? How is the choice implemented?
faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say say, “You sit here in a good
place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
How is the choice shown? How is the choice implemented?
faithful to the end • week 2
A community that holds to faith in Christ but practices partiality, choosing their relationships based on appearance and worldly value instead of divine instruction is not a community that receives wisdom for perseverance, but one that receives nothing and is unstable in their way.
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A community that holds to faith in Christ but
Love Your Neighbor practices partiality, choosing their relationships
based on appearance and worldly value instead of
as Yourself
divine instruction is not a community that receives wisdom for perseverance, but one that receives nothing and is unstable in their way.
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Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to
those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to
those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Divided Community Devotion, 2.2-7)
Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to
those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
The reason this community is wandering is that their devotion is divided and they’re choosing the opposite of what God chooses.
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The community is not aligning itself with the hopeless and the helpless; it is aligning itself with the very system and people that want to destroy it.
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Live Torah
The community is not aligning itself with the hopeless and the helpless; it is aligning itself with the very system
like the Messiah and people that want to destroy it.
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Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11)
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love
your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For
whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not
murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
The community is at a crisis point; it can go one of two ways.
faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11)
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love
your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For
whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not
murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
The community is at a crisis point; it can go one of two ways. (1) Fulfilling the Law of Love (and thereby all the Law) faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11)
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love
your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For
whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not
murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
The community is at a crisis point; it can go one of two ways. (1) Fulfilling the Law of Love (and thereby all the Law) faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11)
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love
your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For
whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not
murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
The community is at a crisis point; it can go one of two ways.
faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(A Faithful Community Completes the Law, 2.8-11)
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love
your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For
whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not
murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
The community is at a crisis point; it can go one of two ways. (2) Befriending the World (and thereby breaking all the Law) faithful to the end • week 2
A community that is quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to become angry about Scripture is one that aligns itself with the interests, needs, and very lives of those that God and His Messiah specially choose to care for.
faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Align Word and Deed with the Law’s Mercy, 2.12-13)
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Align Word and Deed with the Law’s Mercy, 2.12-13)
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
The judgment in view here appears to relate directly whether the community’s actions match its profession.
faithful to the end • week 2
Partiality in Community and the Law of Love, 2.1-13
(Align Word and Deed with the Law’s Mercy, 2.12-13)
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
The judgment in view here appears to relate directly whether the community’s actions match its profession. This is the antidote against this temptation: Speech and Deed must align with the Law.
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Let’s Review
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James Word inDeed
living faith and living community • Introducing James: Kicking off the GE
• James in Composition: Putting it Together • James in Message: Theology • James in Detail: 2.1-13 • James At Zion
faithful to the end • week 2
What so special about the hopeless and helpless
that God and His people care for them? faithful to the end • week 2
James At Zion You shall treat the stranger who
sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as
yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 19.34
faithful to the end • week 2
James At Zion We are the hopeless and helpless, the people of whom God takes special care. We are the community whose job is incarnating the Word on earth. We are supposed to be about looking like the Law and its Messiah.
faithful to the end • week 2
Faithful to the
End
1 & 2 Peter Living Stones
being the people of God in the world
week 3