What do you think of the book of James in the New Testement?

Question

We studied James in Sunday School yesterday. I love the book of James. I wish we could study it for more than one lesson as there are so many things in it that we were forced to skip over because we only had one hour to discuss it.
Do you have a favorite passage or verse from James? I don't know if I can pick just one, but I'll try to include a few of my favorites later on.

1:22
2:14-26, but especially 15-16. So often we see that someone is in need, yet do nothing about it. Those two verses are like a lesson within a lesson.
And chapter 3 - it's like he was speaking to those in our time, and that they had the same problem back then just seems to prove to me that it really is a significant problem.
Chapter 4:1-3 can be taken introspectively as well as a commentary on our current world situation, in my opinion.
4:7- 8 Such consolation...
4:12 Need I say more?
4:17 Does this not say that truth is truth, no matter where it is found, whichever church/faith/religion? If you know that something is good/true, and do it not, then the fault lies with you. Just because I don't agree with you doesn't mean that you don't have some truth, so it's up to you to live your religion.
5:16 ...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

So many words of wisdom can be found in James.

Answer 1

The whole book is wonderful. It is too hard to pick just one verse to go on. If I had to, I would select James 2:8 or 1:12. Honestly I would feel cheated to only spend an hour on James. Last time our Sunday School class went over this book, we had over 20, one hour lessons on James. Now as a minster, I have spent over 3 hours studying Hebrews with my class and we aren't even close to being finished with chapter 2. James is a very deep book and my advice would be to spend several hours digging into each chapter.

Answer 2

Hey, we studied James yesterday, too (and I taught the class)... it's nice to actually see evidence that everyone in the Church is learning the same stuff each week, no matter where we are. I agree with you, there is lots of information crammed into those six pages; it's no wonder that an entire lesson would be devoted to just this one little book (in contrast, next week's lesson is on 1st Peter, 2nd Peter, and Jude).

Do I have a favorite verse from James? Well, I don't think I can choose just one, but I'd say some really good ones include 1:5-7, 1:12, 1:22, 1:26-27, 2:14-26, 3:3-12, 4:17, 5:14-16.

Answer 3

James direct way of speaking is refreshing from Paul's form of speach. Even Peter mentions that Paul can be hard to understand unless you have the Holy Ghost, the spirit of inspiration, to guide you. As I reread the New Testament, I was struck by the abscure passages that bring the letters together as opposed to seemingly diverging.
I think that James clear declaration of needing faith and works for salvation is probably my favorite.
Second would be his declaration to ask in faith, nothing waivering, in order to secure wisdom from God.

Answer 4

those unique information have long sence been misplaced and the oldest present copies are decidedly "youthful" or new which comprise fourth to 5th century on the oldest and a few much greater moderen. in case you may opt to study a correct yet incredibly short account of the creation and compilation of the Torah/Tenakh and the hot testomony, you may desire to have an interest in "the Bible, a biography", with the help of Karen Armstrong. there is in basic terms one present scripture that has been maintained in its unique form after its compilation and has remained unaltered because of the fact that that component and that's the Holy Qur'an. Alhumdulillah! ma'a salaam

Answer 5

I really like the book of James. It's one of those it hurts so good books of the Bible to read. Once when a friend of mine and I were having some disagreements, my pastor told us to read the book of James. No person could have told us how to straighten out better than God did in the Word.

Answer 6

You only got to spend one lesson on the whole book? That is a shame; the message of equality, mercy, and active compassion that James conveyed is sorely needed today. I don't have a favorite passage; sorry. Guess the whole thing is a favorite.

Answer 7

James was the brother of Jesus and had a unique insight on the teachings of his older brother.

James is famous for stating that faith without works is dead. When a person truly believes something, they ACT like it. That's why it's difficult sometimes to tell a believer from a non-believer. To our shame, Christians too often act like the world we were called from.

Answer 8

James, the half brother of Jesus who is the Christ, wrote the Epistle of James.

According to the Bible, James was a legalist. It is apparent in Acts 15 when he decided not to listen to Peter. It is apparent in Acts 21 when he told Paul that he should do a ritual of purification - as if there is anyone purer than those who are washed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and it is apparent in Galatians 2
11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.

So James was a legalist, and his message in the Epistle of James was preaching 'another Gospel' ,
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. ( Galatians 1 )

So I am saying that James got it wrong. He was not preaching the same thing that Jesus, Paul, Peter, and the rest of the Apostles were preaching, but preaching a legalistic perversion of the Gospel, which is erroneous.

Weigh what I said on God's Spirit.

Answer 9

Do I have to pick just one?....

I agree that James' writings were a lot more clear, easier to understand than Paul. He gets a little confusing to me. I prefer plain and precious.

If any of you lack wisdom (not just the leadership- ANY of you)

Let him ask of God...

Who giveth to all men liberally (ask and ye shall receive?)

And upbraideth not (he won't even get upset at your ignorance)

And it shall be given.



But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (but there's more than just asking- have some confidence in God)

For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (Hm- faith is like an anchor- keeps us steady, helps us stay where we need to be... btw- did any of you see The Perfect Storm?... Mmm-kay.)

Answer 10

James is my favorite book too. I love the stuff that's written in James. Honestly, not just because it's my name. Fitting that the name of the Bible is the KING JAMES version.

Rock on James.