Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion you should be able to:

• Describe the overarching unity of the Letter of James

• Show how James and Paul complement one another on the topics of works and faith

• Explain why James should be read in the wisdom tradition

• Discuss the practical application of James

• Give examples of places where James adapts the sayings of Jesus found in the Gospels

Course Outline

Introduction

• Introducing the Course and the Speaker

Unit 1: Introduction to James

• The Martins on James and Paul

• Date of James

• Order and Coherence

• Identifying Key Terms in James with the Concordance Tool

• The Fourteen Sections

• Salutation: James the Author

• Identifying James the Brother of Jesus Using the Factbook

• Salutation: James the Brother

• Salutation: James the Slave

• Investigating the Meaning of Doulos

Unit 2: True Faith

• Trials and Maturity (Jas 1:1–4)

• Wisdom and Faith (Jas 1:5–8)

• Poor Man, Rich Man (Jas 1:9–11)

• Blessings (Jas 1:12–15), Part 1

• Defining the Greek Term Makarios

• Blessings (Jas 1:12–15), Part 2

• The Problem of Deception (Jas 1:16–18)

• A Godly Quick and Slow (Jas 1:19–21)

• Finding Section Markers in James with a Morph Search

• Deceived Hearers versus Blessed Doers (Jas 1:22–25)

• Real Religion (Jas 1:26–27)

• Partiality versus the Faith of Jesus Christ (Jas 2:1)

• No Partiality (Jas 2:2–4): A Parable

• Honoring the Poor (Jas 2:5–7)

• The Royal Law (Jas 2:8–11)

• Identifying Old Testament Allusions in James

• Partiality and the Poor (Jas 2:12–13)

• Studying James’ Use of the Sermon on the Mount

Unit 3: Faith and Deeds

• Faith with or without Deeds (Jas 2:18–19), Part 1

• Faith with or without Deeds (Jas 2:18–19), Part 2

• Patriarchal Proof of Faith by Works (Jas 2:20–24)

• Matriarchal Proof of Faith by Works (Jas 2:25–26)

Unit 4: Speech Ethics

• Taming the Tongue (Jas 3:1–2), Part 1

• Taming the Tongue (Jas 3:3–5), Part 2

• Taming the Tongue (Jas 3:6–8), Part 3

• An Impossible Mixture (Jas 3:9–12)

Unit 5: The Wisdom of God

• Wisdom from Above (Jas 3:13–18)

• Our Selfish Natures (Jas 4:1–3)

• Friends of the World or Friends of God (Jas 4:4–6)

• The Hortatory Peak (Jas 4:7–10)

Unit 6: More Speech Ethics

• On Slanderous Judgment (Jas 4:11–12)

• Planning While Ignoring God’s Will (Jas 4:13–17)

Unit 7: Final Exhortations

• Woe for Hoarding Wealth (Jas 5:1–6)

• Patience in Suffering (Jas 5:7–11)

• Speech Ethics Revisited (Jas 5:12)

• Prayer for the Sick (Jas 5:13–16a)

• The Prayers of a Righteous Man (Jas 5:17–18)

• Restoration for the Wanderer (Jas 5:19–20)

• Conclusion

Details

• Title: NT365 Book Study: Letter of James

• Instructor: William Varner

• Publisher: Lexham Press

• Publication Date: 2016

• Product Type: Logos Mobile Education

• Resource Type: Courseware, including transcripts, audio, and video resources

• Courses: 1

• Video Hours: 6