The Key of the Bible, Biblical commentary · Part 2 · Section 2 · Subsection 15
James.
THe Catholique Epistle of JAMES the Apostle. So stiled in the Greek Copies. Bez.
Penman hereof was Iames. Iam. ….1. Iames in Greek and Latine is the same with the Hebrew Iakob, which signifies A supplanter. Gen. 25.25.27. 36. But what Iames this was, is not so easily determined. There were three of that name (as some learned Authors are of opinion) two of them Apostles, and one of the 70 Disciples, viz. 1. Iames the sonne of Zebedee, brother to Iohn, Matth. 4.21.22. & 10.2. He was with Christ at his transfiguration, Mat. 17.1. He was called Iames the greater, either in respect of his age, or of his stature, or of his calling to the Apostleship. The Syriack interpreter seems to ascribe this Epistle to this Iames, as Tremellius renders it, Tres Epistolae, &c. i. e▪ Three Epistles of three Apostles before whose eyes our Lord did trans-figure himselfe, viz. Of Iames, Peter, and Iohn. But (as Pareus notes, Proem. in Epist. Iac.) the Kings edition translated by G. Fabritius hath it thus, In nomine Domini I…shua Meschicho sigillamus tres Epistolas: Iaakoub, & Petri, & Iouchanon. i. e. In the name of the Lord Iesus the Messiah, we Seale the three Epistles of Iames, and Peter, and Iohn. This speakes not particularly of Iames the greater. Besides, this Iames was pu… to death by Herod Agrippa, in the second yeare of Claudius. See Act. 12.1, 2. but this Epistle seemes to be writt…n afterwards to the convert Iewes dispersed, afte… Claudius had cast both Iewes and Christians out of the City of Rome, Act. 18.1, 2. Su…ton in Claud. c. 25.2. Iames the sonne of Alpheus, an Apostle also, Matth. 10.3. Act. 1.3. Brother of I…de, Iud. 1. Called sometimes Iames the lesse, for distinction from the former Iames, Mark. 15.40. and the brother of the Lord, Gal. 1.19. Matth. 13.55. Mark. 6.3. Either 1 because he was the sonne of Ioseph (the supposed Father of Christ) by a former wife, as divers both Greeke and Latin Fathers think See Iacob. Laurentii Com. in la. 1.1. p. 1….12. Or rather … he is called the Lords brother (after the Hebrewes manner of speaking) because he was Cousin germane to him, his Mother being that Mary wife of Cleophas, (as some thinke) which was Sister to the blessed Virgin, Mark. 16.1. Hieronym. advers. He…uid. lib. Theodoret. in Epist. ad Gal. cap. 1. Ignatius thinks he was called the Lords Brother because he so exactly resembled Christ in countenance, and conversation, as if they had been twins, and that he was surnamed Iustus. Ignat. in Epist. 2 ad Ioan. Seniorem. This Iames is conceived to be Penman of this Epistle, it being most suitable to an Apostle of unlimited Commission to take care of all the Tribes dispersed. The matter of the Epistle becomes an Apostolicall Spirit. Nor (saith Pareus) doth any thing solidly contradict this opinion; who there answers objections against it. Therefore if the Epistle be Apostolicall, it is questionlesse of Divine Authority. 3. As for the third Iames called Oblias, of the number of the seventy Disciples, Bishop of Ierusalem, some question whether there were such an one; others count it most unlikly that he should be Penman of this Generall Epistle, that was confined him selfe to a Particular charge.
Occasion and Scope. Iames taking notice that the twelve Tribes dispersed were under great Temptations and tryalls of affliction; and also that too many among them contented themselves with a fruitlesse profession of Faith without the concurrent practice of Holinesse: w…ites unto them, principally to comfort and support them under their present sharp tryals and tribulations, Iam. 1.2. &c. 5.7, to 12. As also to exhort them to joyne good works and an holy life to their Faith, without which their Faith was but a dead carkasse, c. 2.14. to the end.
Principall parts. In this Epistle are,
I. A superscription, c. 1.1.
II. Substance of the Epistle, which is chiefly Hortatory (here and there some few Doctrinals being inserted.) They are exhorted, 1. To Patience and Prayer under the outward Tentations of the crosse c. 1.2, to 13. 2. To ascribe the inward Tentations to sin, to themselves, not to God, c. 1. ver. 13. to 19. 3. To right hearing of the word c. 1.19. to 26. 4. To true Religion and undefiled, c. 1.26, 27, 5. To avoid respect of persons, c. 2.1, to 14. 6. To joyn unto Faith the proper fruits of good-works, without which Faith is but false and dead, and not that Faith that justifieth, c. 2.14. to the end. 7. To avoid the sinfull abuses of the tongue, c. 3. 8. To restrain their corrupt lusts and the pernicious fruits thereof, c. 4.1, to 8. 9. To walk penitently and holily, c. 4. 8. to 13. 10. Not to undertake humane Actions with vaine confidence, but with dependence upon Gods providence, c. 4.13. to the end. 11. Not to abuse riches, &c. c. 5, 1. to 7. 12. That the Godly patiently beare the injuries of the rich, c. 5. vers. 7. to 12. 13. To take heed of all rash swearing, ver. 12. 14. To use Prayer, especially as an Antidote against afflictions, ver. 13. to 19. 15. To reduce an erring brother, ver. 19, 20.