James 

AUTHORSHIP UNCERTAIN.
There are three prominent persons named James, in the New Testament. It is quite generally agreed that James, called by Paul "the Lord's brother" was the writer of the epistle.
 Gal 1:19

TO WHOM ADDRESSED. Apparently to the Jewish converts who lived outside the Holy Land; possibly also to the devout Jews of the dispersion
 Jas 1:1

MAIN THEME, Practical Religion, manifesting itself in good works, contrasted with mere Profession of Faith.

KEY TEXTS
 Jas 1:27 2:26

IMAGINARY DOCTRINAL CONFLICT BETWEEN PAUL AND JAMES.
Some have seen a conflict of doctrine between the teachings of this epistle and that of Romans. This is purely imaginary. Paul, harassed by Judaistic teachers in the churches, naturally laid great stress upon JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH apart from trust in ceremonial observances. Nevertheless, when writing to Titus, he made the IMPORTANCE OF GOOD WORKS the main subject of his epistle, thus showing his perfect harmony with the teachings of James. It is evident that the latter, when he seems to depreciate faith, is referring to mere intellectual assent to truth, and not to "saving faith" spoken of by Paul.

SYNOPSIS. This epistle does not easily lend itself to analysis, but most of the material may be arranged under two headings, True and False Religion.

PART I. The Marks of True Religion.

Ch. 1.
(1) Joy and patience in the midst of trials
 Jas 1:2-4

(2) Unwavering faith and singleness of mind
 Jas 1:5-8

(3) Acceptance of the providential allotments of life
 Jas 1:9-11

(4) The endurance of temptation
 Jas 1:12

(5) The recognition of the sources of temptation and the results of yielding thereto
 Jas 1:13-15

(6) The recognition of the divine source of all blessings
 Jas 1:16-18

(7) Spiritual hearing, deliberation in speech, and patience under provocation
 Jas 1:19,20

(8) Forsaking all evil, and the meek reception of saving truth
 Jas 1:21

(9) Searching after the truth and practising it
 Jas 1:25

(10) Practical philanthropy and purity
 Jas 1:27

Ch. 2.
(11) Good works
(a) As a demonstration of faith
 Jas 1:18
(b) Coöperating with, and perfecting faith
 Jas 1:21-25

Ch. 3.
(12) Heavenly wisdom
 Jas 2:17,18

PART II. The marks of False Profession.
Ch 1.
(1) Careless and forgetful hearing of The Word
 Jas 1:22-24

(2) The semblance of religion, accompanied by the unbridled tongue
 Jas 1:26

Ch. 2.
(3) Respect of persons; honouring the rich and despising the poor
 Jas 2:1-9

(4) Partial obedience to the law
 Jas 2:10-12
(5) Unmercifulness

 Jas 2:13
(6) Mere profession of faith unaccompanied by acts of mercy and help
 Jas 2:14-16

(7) Inactive faith
 Jas 2:17,18

(8) Intellectual assent to truth, without change of character
 Jas 2:19,20

Ch. 3.
(9) The unbridled tongue, destructive in its influence
 Jas 3:1-8

(10) Blessings and cursings proceeding from the same mouth
 Jas 3:9-12

(11) Envy, strife and satanic wisdom
 Jas 3:14-16

Ch. 4.
(12) Unrest and unholy passions
 Jas 4:1,2

(13) Unanswered prayer and worldliness
 Jas 4:3,4

(14) Pride, stubbornest, impurity, double-mindedness, and impenitence
 Jas 4:5-9

(15) Evil speaking and uncharitable judgments
 Jas 4:11,12

(16) Presumption in arranging future business enterprises
 Jas 4:13-16

(17) Neglect of known duty
 Jas 4:17

PART III. Warnings, Exhortations, and Instructions.
Ch. 5.
(1) Warnings to the rich.
(a) Concerning future misery
 Jas 5:1,2
(b) Respecting hoarded wealth, and withholding the wages of the poor
 Jas 5:3,4
(c) Concerning pleasure seeking and persecution of the righteous
 Jas 5:5,6

(2) Exhortations in view of the coming of the Lord.
(a) To be patient and steadfast, refraining from murmuring against
one another
 Jas 5:7-10
(b) To follow the example of the prophets and Job, in patient
endurance
 Jas 5:10,11
(c) To refrain entirely from oaths
 Jas 5:12

(3) Instructions respecting prayer, confession of faults, and 
soul-winning.
(a) Prayer in time of trouble and for the sick
 Jas 5:13-15
(b) The confession of faults and intercessory prayer
 Jas 5:16
(c) Effectual prayer illustrated by Elijah
 Jas 5:16-18
(d) The duty of soul-winning
 Jas 5:19,20

(Outline from Thompson’s Chain Reference Bible)

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