In an effort to become fully absorbed in my study I am interested to know the dates during which James composed his letter included in the bible. What years did he live in and what events surrounded his time?
2007-06-15 12:00:28 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
According to tradition, James was the full brother of Jude (or Judas not Iscariot, as he is called in Scripture), and the half-brother or cousin of Jesus. Some people assume that James was the apostle James Alpheus, the cousin of Jesus (son of Joseph's sister Mariam and Alpheus), and brother of Judas (not Iscariot), Simon (Zealotes), Levi (Matthew), and Joses.
Ancient tradition, however, maintains that James was the half-brother of Jesus, the son of Joseph by a prior marriage, and the brother of Jude (or Judas). He was not an apostle, and did not believe in Jesus until he saw a vision of the Resurrected Jesus (according to Paul, Jesus appeared first to his half-brother James, and then to the apostles). He was known as "James the Just," and he spent most of his life in the Temple, kneeling before the Veil and praying for the coming of the Messiah. In the early Church, James was the first bishop of Jerusalem, and presided over the apostolic council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). He supposedly wrote this letter in the 50's AD. In the late 60's AD, members of the Jewish Sanhedrin in Jerusalem summoned James to the wall of the Temple to denounce Christianity. When he refused, someone pushed him from the temple. As he struggled to stand up, another man ran foward and hit him in the head with a "fuller's club," killing him. According to Josephus, this act sparked the Jewish rebellion against Rome that led to the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.
The book itself has a complex history. It was rejected by many in the ancient Church because of its dubious authorship. It was accepted in the list of books by Athanasius in the 3rd century, as well as the Council of Carthage in the 4th century, and has been in the Bible ever since. It was rejected by Martin Luther, who insisted that it was written by a Jew who had never had any direct contact with Christianity. Popular opinion forced him to keep the book in his German translations of the Bible, but he expressed his firm desire to "throw it out" altogether. The book, of course, completely refutes Luther's doctrine of salvation by faith alone. While Luther understood this point, many modern Protestants try to rationalize the book of James to make it harmonize with Luther.
An interesting point about the book: It maintains that salvation is based on works, that faith alone is dead (contrary to Luther), and that even the demons have faith (a point that is usually softened in Protestant translations of the Bible). He also gives one of the most concise explanations of the concept of theosis (divinization), or ontological union with God through good works.
The James's in Scripture:
James, son of Zebedee, brother of John
James Alpheus, son of Alheus (Cleophas) and Mariam (Mary, sister of Joseph), brother of Judas (not Iscariot), Simon Zealotes, Levi (Matthew) and Joses, cousin of Jesus
James the Brother of the Lord, son of Joseph by a prior marriage, brother of Jude (Judas), and half-brother of Jesus
2007-06-15 12:15:31 · answer #1 · answered by NONAME 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is ironic that Protestants reject the inclusion of the deuterocanonicals at councils such as Hippo (393) and Carthage (397), because these are the very same early Church councils that Protestants appeal to for the canon of the New Testament. Prior to the councils of the late 300s, there was a wide range of disagreement over exactly what books belonged in the New Testament. Certain books, such as the gospels, acts, and most of the epistles of Paul had long been agreed upon. However a number of the books of the New Testament, most notably Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 & 3 John, and Revelation remained hotly disputed until the canon was settled. They are, in effect, "New Testament deuterocanonicals."
While Protestants are willing to accept the testimony of Hippo and Carthage (the councils they most commonly cite) for the canonicity of the New Testament deuterocanonicals, they are unwilling to accept the testimony of Hippo and Carthage for the canonicity of the Old Testament deuterocanonicals.
2007-06-17 09:49:27 · answer #2 · answered by Isabella 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Catholic Encyclopedia accepts James the Just as the author and dates the writing of the epistle between 47 AD (after a famine in Jerusalem attested to by Josephus) and 52 AD (at which point James made some decision as bishop).
During the first century, persecution of Christians was at an all time high. In 70 AD the temple in Jerusalem was burned to the ground, just as Jesus said it would be.
2007-06-15 12:09:16 · answer #3 · answered by Max Marie, OFS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can tell you what it says in my Open Bible Study Bible. James was a popular name and they don't know for sure which James wrote it, but they think due to references in what was going on in the new church, that is was written from 45AD - 49 AD, If you can, get a study bible because they are filled with tons of info.
2007-06-15 12:05:56 · answer #4 · answered by I Love Jesus 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
area of the myth that Catholics are no longer Christians is that we placed no value on the Bible. Myths are contradictory or have extra suitable than one style, some say that we are forbidden to study it. as a results of fact the reason of lots of the twentieth century concepts in (American) Christianity are Bible based and because Catholics needless to say, via commentary or rumor, reject them, this is concluded we forget approximately with regards to the Bible. in component of certainty that we study the Bible in an exceedingly conservative way and don't locate "new issues" in it that have been exceeded over (or interpreted extra benignly) interior the previous. We carry that no person passage trumps something of scripture or divine revelation. many human beings don't be attentive to that meat comes from animals and fruit from wood. don't be surprisedd the are unfamiliar with the background of Christianity and the Bible. The literal meaning of the textual content cloth is the muse for all meaning interior the Bible. areas of the Bible are fiction, myth, and fantasy. this is not any longer a technological know-how textbook. this is inerrant with admire to concerns of religion and morals. An irresponsible be attentive to-how scripture is with out advantage or effect no remember how fervent the guy who holds it.
2016-10-09 07:17:24 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
James, the brother of Jesus (born from Mary and Joseph), wrote this letter probably about AD 49. He was a contemporary of Jesus---his flesh and blood brother, who at first doubted Him, but after seeing Him resurrected, believed in the Gospel. This was actually one of the first of the Epistles. I don't know the years of his life and death. I believe he was martyred by the Romans. I hope this helps you out!
2007-06-15 12:08:02 · answer #6 · answered by Todd J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some date the letter in the early 60's there are indicators however that it was written before A.D 50
he was martyred A.D. 62
the bible says that this is James (Jesus' brother)
2007-06-15 12:07:31 · answer #7 · answered by start 6-22-06 summer time Mom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can only guess. first century. my copy of the new testament suggests before 62 c.e. ( 62 A.D)
2007-06-15 12:08:47 · answer #8 · answered by djfjedi1976 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
62 C.E I have a lot of info. e mail me if you wish.
2007-06-15 12:02:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jam.
2007-06-15 12:05:30 · answer #10 · answered by drivn2excelchery 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋