James (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament | BECNT)

Dan McCartney, a highly regarded New Testament scholar and an expert on biblical interpretation, offers a substantive yet accessible commentary on James in this latest addition to the award-winning BECNT series. With extensive research and thoughtful chapter-by-chapter exegesis, McCartney leads readers through all aspects of the book of James--sociological, historical, and theological--to help them better understand its meaning and relevance. As with all BECNT volumes, this commentary features the author's detailed interaction with the Greek text and an acclaimed, user-friendly design. It admirably achieves the dual aims of the series--academic sophistication with pastoral sensitivity and accessibility. James, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament / Dan G. McCartney......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Series Preface......Page 10 Author's Preface......Page 12 Abbreviations......Page 14 Transliteration......Page 20 Map......Page 22 Introduction to James......Page 24 Character......Page 26 Authorship and Date......Page 31 Who Was James?......Page 32 View 1: The Letter Was Written by James Before Paul's Letters ......Page 37 View 2: The Letter Was Written by James After Paul's Letters......Page 40 View 3: The Letter is Pseudonymous ......Page 41 View 4: The Letter Comprises Material Originally From James but Reworked by a Later Editor......Page 42 External Indications and the Church's Reception......Page 43 Internal Evidence: Palestinian Indications ......Page 47 Language Issues......Page 50 Amanuensis or Collator?......Page 51 Historical Context Issues......Page 52 Conclusion......Page 53 Original Recipients and Occasion......Page 55 Was the Audience Christian or Jewish Non-Christian? ......Page 56 Was the Audience Ethnically Jewish or Gentile (or Mixed)? ......Page 57 Location of the Addressees......Page 59 Social Situation......Page 60 Communal Orientation......Page 61 Genre and Purpose......Page 62 Rhetorical Purpose and Origins......Page 63 Similarity to Greek Rhetorical Forms......Page 64 Jewish Literary Background ......Page 66 Old Testament Connections......Page 67 Sirach......Page 68 Wisdom of Solomon......Page 69 Sentences of Pseudo-Phocylides......Page 70 Eschatological Motivation for Exhortations......Page 71 James and the Wisdom of Jesus......Page 72 James and the Sermon on the Mount/Plain......Page 73 Conclusion......Page 74 James and 1 Peter......Page 75 Was James a Reaction to Paul (or Later Paulinism)?......Page 76 Controlling Theme: Genuine Faith......Page 79 P. H. Davids and the Double-Opening Theory......Page 82 Rhetorical Approaches......Page 83 Toward Resolving the Structure of James......Page 85 Proverbs as "Closers"......Page 86 The Parallel Structure of James 2 and James 3......Page 88 Summary and Outline......Page 89 Theology......Page 90 Fatherhood of God......Page 91 Christology......Page 92 Eschatology......Page 93 Two Dimensions: Individual and Communal......Page 94 Two Motivations: Past Word and Future Hope......Page 95 James's Specific Areas of Ethical Interest......Page 97 Summary......Page 98 I. Salutation (1:1)......Page 100 II. Overview of the Life of Faith (1:2-27)......Page 104 A. Faith and Wisdom (1:2-8)......Page 106 B. Pride and Wealth (1:9-12)......Page 118 C. Faith and Testing (1:13-18)......Page 126 D. Doing the Word of God (1:19-25)......Page 137 E. True Religion (1:26-27)......Page 150 III. First Discourse: Faith and Behavior (2:1-26)......Page 155 A. Part 1: Faith, Favoritism, and Law (2:1-13)......Page 156 1. Faith and Favoritism (2:1-7)......Page 157 2. Faith and Law (2:8-13)......Page 169 B. Part 2: Faith and Works (2:14-26)......Page 177 IV. Second Discourse: Faith, Wisdom, and Speech Ethics (3:1-18)......Page 199 A. Part 1: Teachers, Tongues, and Turmoil (3:1-12)......Page 201 B. Part 2: Wisdom from Above (3:13-18)......Page 220 V. Third Discourse: Strife in the Church as Lack of Faith (4:1—12)......Page 228 A. Part 1: Lusts and Repentance (4:1-10)......Page 229 B. Part 2: Defamation and Censure (4:11-12)......Page 243 VI. Interjection: Two Oracles of Warning (4:13-5:6)......Page 246 A. Oracle 1: Warning to Merchants (4:13-17)......Page 248 B. Oracle 2: Warning to Landlords (5:1-6)......Page 254 VII. Fourth Discourse: Looking to God (5:7-18)......Page 262 A. Part 1: Faith and Patience (5:7-11)......Page 263 B. Bridge Verse: Prohibition of Oaths (5:12)......Page 268 C. Part 2: Faith and Prayer (5:13-18)......Page 273 VIII. Closing Exhortation: Mutual Responsibility and Blessing (5:19-20)......Page 285 Faith Is Christological (2:1)......Page 290 Doubting, or "Double-Mindedness," Is the Opposite of Faith......Page 291 Salvation Is by Faith......Page 292 Faith Is an Attitude That Is "Quick to Hear"......Page 293 Excursus 2: Faith, Works, and Justification in James and Paul......Page 295 James and Jewish Wisdom Literature......Page 303 Wisdom Is a Divine Gift......Page 308 Wisdom Is Ethical Rather Than Intellective......Page 309 Wisdom Is Eschatologically Motivated......Page 311 Wisdom Is Spiritual......Page 312 Wisdom Is the Teaching of Jesus......Page 313 Conclusion......Page 315 Excursus 4: James and Suffering......Page 316 Suffering Is a Characteristic of the People of God......Page 317 Suffering Is One of the Trials That Are Means to Christian Maturity......Page 318 Suffering Calls Forth Faithful Living (Living by Faith)......Page 321 Conclusion......Page 323 Works Cited......Page 324 Index of Subjects......Page 336 Index of Authors......Page 339 Index of Greek Words......Page 342 Old Testament......Page 344 New Testament......Page 347 Old Testament Apocrypha......Page 353 Old Testament Pseudepigrapha......Page 354 Josephus......Page 355 Classical Writers......Page 356 Church Fathers......Page 357 Other Writings......Page 358 Introduction To James -- Salutation (1:1) -- Overview Of The Life Of Faith (1:2-27) -- Faith And Wisdom (1:2-8) -- Pride And Wealth (1:9-12) -- Faith And Testing (1:13-18) -- Doing The Word Of God (1:19-25) -- True Religion (1:26-27) -- First Discourse : Faith And Behavior (2:1-26) -- Part 1: Faith, Favoritism, And Law (2:1-13) -- Part 2: Faith And Works (2:14-26) -- Second Discourse : Faith, Wisdom, And Speech Ethics (3:1-18) -- Part 1: Teachers, Tongues, And Turmoil (3:1-12) -- Part 2: Wisdom From Above (3:13-18) -- Third Discourse : Strife In The Church As Lack Of Faith (4:1-12) -- Part 1: Lusts And Repentance (4:1-10) -- Part 2: Defamation And Censure (4:11-12) -- Interjection : Two Oracles Of Warning (4:13-5:6) -- Oracle 1: Warning To Merchants (4:13-17) -- Oracle 2: Warning To Landlords (5:1-6) -- Fourth Discourse : Looking To God (5:7-18) -- Part 1: Faith And Patience (5:7-11) -- Bridge Verse : Prohibition Of Oaths (5:12) -- Part 2: Faith And Prayer (5:13-18) -- Closing Exhortation : Mutual Responsibility And Blessing (5:19-20) -- Excursus 1: Faith As The Central Concern Of James -- Excursus 2: Faith, Works, And Justification In James And Paul -- Excursus 3: James And Wisdom -- Excursus 4: James And Suffering. Dan G. Mccartney. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. A highly regarded New Testament scholar offers a substantive evangelical commentary on James in the award-winning BECNT series.