Book Overview - James

by Frederick Brotherton Meyer

OUTLINE OF THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

The Measure of a Christian

Salutation, James 1:1

1. Tested Character, James 1:2-18

2. Hearing and Doing, James 1:19-27

3. The Hypocrisy of Class Distinctions, James 2:1-13

4. The Evidence of True Faith, James 2:14-26

5. The Unruly Tongue, James 3:1-18

6. The Grace of Humility, James 4:1-17

7. The Curse of Ill-Gotten Wealth, James 5:1-6

8. The Need of Patience and Prayer, James 5:7-20

INTRODUCTION

The author of this Epistle was probably the Lord’s brother, mentioned with Joses, Simon and Judah, and often in the Acts of the Apostles. See Mark 6:3; Acts 12:17; Acts 15:13; Acts 21:18. He was bishop, or president, of the church at Jerusalem, and this letter was probably written from that city. The emphasis laid on the nearness of our Lord’s advent points to a date near a.d. 70. The Epistle may have been written in Hebrew, and was addressed to the Hebrew section of the Church. It lays great emphasis on the sublime ideal of character which Christianity had raised, and to maintain which demanded the constant diligence of all professing Christians.

{e-Sword Note: The following material was presented at the end of James in the printed edition}

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

Outline

(a) What is the theme of the Epistle?

(b) How is it developed?

Introduction

(c) What information does the New Testament afford with regard to the author of this Epistle?

(d) When was the Epistle written?

(e) To whom was it addressed?

James 1-5

Each question applies to the paragraph of corresponding number in the Comments.

1. How may our need of wisdom be supplied?

2. What is the source of temptation?

3. How does pure religion find expression?