03/14/2021 – Day 301- James: 1 – 3// 1 of 3: A biography summary of James from Halley’s Bible Handbook//
A little about James from Halley’s Bible Handbook before I get into our reading:
“The oldest brother of Jesus was named James (Matthew 13:55). This James was early recognized as leading Overseer of the Judean Church. (Acts 2:17, Galations 1:19), and is commonly regarded as the writer of this Epistle.
He was known as an unusually good man. Was surnamed ‘the Just’ by his countrymen. It was said that he spent so much time on his knees in Prayer that they became hard and callous like a camel’s knees. He is thought to have been married. (1 Corinthians 9:5) He was very influential both among the Jews and in the Church. Peter reported to him upon his release from prison (Acts 12:17). Paul acted on his advice (Acts 21: 18-26) He was a very strict Jew himself, but was author of the tolerant letter to Gentile Christans (Acts 15: 13-29). He endorsed Paul’s Gentile work, but was himself mainley concerned with Jews. His life work was to win Jews, and ‘smooth’ their passage to Christianity.”
Story of His Martyrdom
“According to Josephus; and Hegesippus, a Christian historian of the second century, whose narrative Eusebius accepts:
Shortly before Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army, A.D. 70 (see page 655) when Jews , were in large numbers, embracing Christianity, Ananus, the High-Priest, and the Scribes and Pharisees, about the year A.D. 62 or A.D. 66, assembled the Sanhedrin, and commanded James, “the brother of Jesus who was called Christ,” to proclaim from one of the galleries of the Temple that Jesus Was Not the Messiah. But instead, James, cried out that Jesus was the Son of God and Judge of the World.
Then his enraged enemies hurled him to the ground and stoned him till a charitable fuller ended his sufferings with a club, while he was on his knees praying, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do…
The Epistle was written probably, about A.D. 60, near the close of James’ life, after a 30-year pastorate of the Judean Church.”
Jimmy note – In the Synoptic gospels , we have an account of Mary and Jesus’ siblings coming to take him home from preaching, with an inference that “he had lost it”. I have read where it is speculated that James did not become a believer until after the resurrection.
And – a p.s. – Sunday – One day later in our Monday reading from Acts, check out what I discovered in The Acts of the Apostles – William Barclay commentary on Acts under the section: The Joy of Resoration – Acts 12: 12-19:
“In this passage we come on the first mention of the man who ws the real leader of the Christian Church in Jerusalem. Peter instructs them to go and tell the news to James. This is the brother of the Lord. There is a great mystery about him. In the East it would have been natural thing for the next brother to take on the work of an elder brother who had been killed; but from the gospels we learn that Jesus’ brothers did not believe in him (John 7:5) and that they actually thought him mad (Mark 3:21). During his lifetime James was not a supporter of Jesus. But the Risen Christ made a special appearance to James (1 Corinthians 15:7). The apocryphal Gospel, according to the Hebrews tells that after the death of Jesus, James made a vow that he would neither eat nor drink until he saw Jesus again; and that Jesus did appear to him. It may well be that what the life of Jesus could not do in his death did, and that when Jesus saw his brother die he discovered who he really was and dedicated all his life to serve him. The change in James may well be another great example of the power of the Cross to change the lives to men.”
Amazing!, as is all of God’s Word, down to the smallest tittle! Well brothers and sisters, we only have two months in our year read through. But I am going to find myself extremely challenged this next week to keep up. But the study of His Word does not end, it is like His kingdom. As I have mentioned before, the Holy Spirit has given me a relentless passion to write commentary , that is oftentimes just commentary from those brothers and sisters that have gone before us. This in spite of the fact that basically no one seems to be reading it. Oh well, ours is just to obey!. I know where I am supposed to be right now. Blessings!; always connected by His grace and through prayer!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Jimmy