1	Survey of James
2	Chapter Titles and Sentences
3	Chapter 1 Joy in Times of Trial In chapter 1 James gets a number of the key concepts of the epistle on the table.
4	Chapter 2 Faith and Works In chapter 2 James discusses how ridiculous it would be to suggest that a person could have faith without also demonstrating works.
5	Chapter 3 The Evil Tongue In chapter 3 James discusses the importance of controlling your tongue, especially if you are a teacher.
6	Chapter 4 Submit to God In chapter 4 James urges submission to God and not friendship with the world.
7	Chapter 5 Being Patient In chapter 5 James closes the letter, urging his audience to endure patiently as they await the coming of the Lord.
8	The Structure of James’s Argument
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12	Basic Themes of the Epistle in 1:2-11 “Consider it all joy, my brothers, whenever you fall into various testings” (1:2) “If you lack wisdom [in those times], ask God… every perfect gift comes from above.” Let the humble boast in their exaltation, the rich in their humbling [to come]. The catchword “testing” (peirasmos) may link 1:2 and 1:12.
13	Basic Themes in the Epistle 1:12-27 The word “blessed” (makarios--1:12 and 1:25) may bind 1:12-27 in an inclusio. Testing/temptation (peirasmos) does not come from God but from our individual desires (epithumia). Every perfect gift comes from God (1:17). “Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (1:19). Receive the implanted word (logos—1:21). Be doers of the word, not just hearers (1:22). True religion does things and is not defiled by the world (1:27).
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21	Faith Lived Out 2:1-26 Don’t show favoritism (2:1-13). A case study: a rich person walks into your gathering (synagoge—2:1-4). The theory: God has chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom(2:5). Your practice: You dishonor the poor and honor those who are dragging you into court and blaspheming the good name that was invoked over you (2:6-7). Such favoritism likened to murder (2:11). It negates the [atoning death of Christ].
22	Faith Lived Out 2:1-26 Faith and works (2:14-26). Faith without works is dead (2:17). The demons believe (pisteuo—2:19). Abraham and Rahab justified by their works (2:21-26).
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24	Watch Your Tongue 3:1-12 “Don’t many be teachers…” (3:1). The tongue is little, but it has great impact (3:5). It is a fire, enflamed by hell (3:6). With it some both bless God and curse others—who are made according to God’s likeness (3:9). That’s crazy.
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26	True Wisdom/Adulterous Friendship 3:13-5:6 True Wisdom comes from above. It is Pure Peace-loving Gentle Teachable Full of mercy and good fruit Without favoritism Genuine It sows the fruit of righteousness in peace to those who make peace (3:17-18).
27	True Wisdom/Adulterous Friendship 3:13-5:6 Bitter strife and discord—that’s not the wisdom from above but an earthly, human, demonic wisdom (3:14-15). Such “wars and battles” come from your passions (hedone—4:1, 3). Friendship with the world is hatred toward God (4:4). Therefore (4:7), submit to God (the solution to the problem). Don’t slander one another. Don’t judge your brother (4:11-12).
28	True Wisdom/Adulterous Friendship 3:13-5:6 Two woes pronounced on the rich: Traveling merchants who think they’re in control of their destinies and plans (4:11-17). “Look now…” (4:11). 2. The rich who have oppressed their workers (5:1-6). “Look now…” (5:1).
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31	Patience Till the Coming of the Lord 5:7-20 Therefore (5:7)—connects to the initial train of thought in 1:2, the endurance of testing that brings endurance. Consider the example of the prophets. Remember Job.
32	Patience Till the Coming of the Lord 5:7-20 Don’t swear (5:12). Let your yes be yes and your no, no.
33	Patience Till the Coming of the Lord 5:7-20 Are you suffering wrong, pray (5:13). Are you in good spirits, sing psalms (5:13). Are you sick? Have you sinned? Call the elders of the church.
34	Patience Till the Coming of the Lord 5:7-20 Sin and Sickness: Let the elders pray over you and anoint with oil (5:14). The prayer [of the elders] of faith will heal/save the sick (5:15). Sins will be forgiven. Therefore, confess sins to one another and pray for one another (5:16). The intense, energized prayer of a righteous person is strong (5:16). Look at Elijah (5:17-18)
35	Patience Till the Coming of the Lord 5:7-20 Bringing Back the Wanderer (5:19-19) It can be done. It saves a soul from death.
36	Themes/Patterns in James
37	Recurring Themes Testing Consider it a joy (1:2). It brings endurance and wholeness. Ask God for wisdom in it (1:3). But ask in faith, not with divided loyalties. Successful endurance brings a crown of life (1:12). It does not come from God (1:13), and if it tempts you, that comes from your desires (1:14).
38	Testing Common trial in the church: oppression by the rich (2:6-7), including being taken to court. James urges them to be patient when they are suffering wrong, especially since the return of the Lord is near (5:7-11, 13).
39	Recurring Themes The Contrast between Submission to God and Friendship with the World The “double-minded” person (1:8). “Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God” (4:4).
40	Friendship with the world leads to favoritism toward the rich and neglect of the needy You show favoritism toward the rich person visiting your gathering, and make the poor sit at your feet (2:1-4). You “murder” your brother, whom you are supposed to love (2:8, 11-13). You thus are a lawbreaker, not justified (2:9). You bless God with your tongue, but curse your brother (3:9). It results in wars and battles among you (4:1). It results in slandering one another (4:11-12).
41	Friendship with the world leads to favoritism toward the rich and neglect of the needy Friendship with the world neglects the poor and needy. But “pure and undefiled worship before God, even the Father, is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress, to keep oneself pure from the world” (1:27). You say to a needy brother or sister, “Go in peace, be warm and well fed” without doing anything for them (2:16).
42	Recurring Themes Contrast between Rich and Poor Poor will be exalted (1:9). The rich will fade away (1:10-11). God chose the poor (2:5). The rich blaspheme Christ (2:7). The rich are not submitted to God’s will (4:15). The rich have oppressed those who work for them and will be slaughtered by the Lord of Hosts (5:1-6).
43	Recurring Themes Earthly loyalties result in strife and ultimately death. Desires facilitate temptation, bringing sin and eventually death (1:14-15). Wars and battles among you come from pleasures fighting inside (4:1-2). You ask in order to spend on pleasures (4:3). The one who wanders from the truth is headed for death (5:19-20).
44	Recurring Themes True Faith leads to Action The implanted word bears fruit (1:21). We become doers, not just hearers of the word (1:22). This word relates to the perfect law (2:25), love your neighbor (2:8). Faith without works is dead (2:17, 26). True wisdom shows itself in conduct of life (3:13).
45	Recurring Themes Solution to the Problem is Submission to God “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners. Purify your hearts, double-minded” (4:7-8). Every good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of lights, in whom is no change or shadow of turning (1:17).
46	Recurring Themes True Wisdom/Perfect Patronage Comes from God Above “Every good giving and every perfect gift comes down from above…” (1:17). “The wisdom that comes from above …” (3:17).
47	Background Notes Pervasive Honor/Shame Language Boasting of poor (1:9). Humiliation of rich (1:10-11, 4:13-5:6). Blessedness of the one who endures trial (1:12, 25).
48	Background Notes 2. Patron/Client Relationships God as only legitimate patron (1:17). The beguiling patronage of the rich and of pleasure's desires (2:1-4, 4:13-5:6).
49	Background Notes Intertextuality: Paul’s Writings The use of Abraham to argue for the opposite conclusion—a common topos. James: “From works a person is justified and not from faith only” (Jas 2:24). Paul: “A person is justified by faith apart from works of law” (Rom. 3:28).
50	Background Notes Intertextuality: Matthew’s Gospel “Be perfect as I am perfect” Matt. 5:48; Perfection language in James. Father as the giver of good gifts (Jas. 1:17; Matt. 7:7-12). Asking the Father (Jas. 1:5; 4:2). The law of love (Jas. 2:8; Matt. 22:39). Daily bread (Jas. 2:15; Matt. 6:11). Not clothing the naked, feeding the hungry (Jas. 2:16); Parable of Sheep and Goats (Matt. 25:42-43).
51	Background Notes Intertextuality: Matthew’s Gospel Don’t judge (Matt. 7:1; Jas. 11-12). Blessed are the merciful (Jas. 2:13; Matt. 5:7) and the peacemakers (Jas. 3:18; Matt. 5:9). Emphasis on God’s wisdom (Jas. 1:5; 3:17; Matt. 11:19). Let your yes be yes (Jas. 5:12; Matt. 5:33-37). Reclaiming the sinner (Jas. 5:19-20; Matt. 18:15-20).