Scofield Reference Bible Notes/James

by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield

Book Introduction - James

Read first chapter of James
WRITER: James (See Scofield "Matthew 4:21") , called "the Just" mentioned by Paul with Cephas and John as "pillars" in the church at Jerusalem Galatians 2:9. He seems to have been, as a religious man, austere, legal, ceremonial Acts 21:18-24.
DATE: Tradition fixes the martyrdom of James in the year 62, but his Epistle shows no trace of the larger revelations concerning the church and the distinctive doctrines of grace made through the Apostle Paul, nor even of the discussion concerning the relation of Gentile converts to the law of Moses, which culminated in the first council (Ac 15.), over which James presided. This presumes the very early date of James, which may confidently be set down as "the first Epistle to Christians."--Weston.
THEME: By "the twelve tribes scattered abroad" we are to understand, not Jews, but Christian Jews of the Dispersion. The church began with such Acts 2:5-11 and James, who seems not to have left Jerusalem, would feel a particular pastoral responsibility for these scattered sheep. They still resorted to the synagogues, or called their own assemblies by that name James 2:2, where "assembly" is "synagogue" in the Gr.). It appears from James 2:1-8 that they still held the synagogue courts for the trial of causes arising amongst themselves. The Epistle, then, is elementary in the extreme. To suppose that James 2:14-26 is a polemic against Paul's doctrine of justification is absurd. Neither Galatians nor Romans was yet written.
James' theme, then, is "religion" (Gr., threskeia, "outward religious service") as the expression and proof of faith. He does not exalt works as against faith, but faith as producing works. His style is that of the Wisdom-books of the O.T.
The divisions are five:

• The testing of faith1:1-2:26
• The reality of faith tested by the tongue, 3:1-18
• The rebuke of worldliness, 4:1-17
• The rich warned5
• Hortatory

CHAPTER 1

Verse 4

perfect
mature and complete. (See Scofield "Matthew 5:48").

Verse 14

tempted
"Temptation" is used in two senses:

• (1) Solicitation to evil (e.g. Genesis 3:1-6; Matthew 4:1; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 11:3,4; James 1:14).
• (2) Testing under trial (eg) Genesis 22:1; Luke 22:28 Cf Luke 4:2, Cf Matthew 6:13 (solicitation to evil) and 1 Peter 1:6 (testing under trial).

Verse 15

sin Sin.
(See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 17

gift
Two words are used in the original for "gift," the first meaning the act of giving; the second, the thing given.

Verse 20

righteousness
(See Scofield "Romans 3:21").

Verse 21

save
(See Scofield "Romans 1:16").

Verse 26

religious
(Greek - θρη̑σκος^[1] = outwardly religious).

Verse 27

world
"kosmos" = world-system. James 4:4; John 7:7 (See Scofield "Revelation 13:8")

CHAPTER 2

Verse 1

the Lord of glory the Glory, i.e. in the sense of Hebrews 1:3 as taking the place of the shekinah.
with respect In the presence of Christ the Glory, earthly distinctions disappear.

Verse 5

world
kosmos = mankind. (See Scofield "Matthew 4:8").

Verse 9

sin
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 11

transgressor
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 14

save
(See Scofield "Romans 1:16")

Verse 21

justified
(See Scofield "Romans 4:2").

Verse 22

perfect
(See Scofield "Matthew 5:48").

Verse 23

imputation
Imputation is the act of God whereby He accounts righteousness to the believer in Christ, who has borne the believer's sins in vindication of the law.
(See Scofield "Philemon 1:18").
righteousness (See Scofield "Romans 3:21").

CHAPTER 3

Verse 1

masters
teachers, knowing that we shall have the more severe judgment. Cf. Mark 12:40.

Verse 2

perfect
(See Scofield "Matthew 5:48").

Verse 6

hell
(See Scofield "Matthew 5:22").

Verse 18

righteousness
(See Scofield "1 John 3:7").

CHAPTER 4

Verse 4

world
"kosmos" = world-system. 2 Peter 1:4; John 7:7 (See Scofield "Revelation 13:8")

Verse 6

grace
Grace (imparted). 1 Peter 2:19; Romans 6:1; 2 Peter 3:18

Verse 8

sinners
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 12

save
(See Scofield "Romans 1:16").

Verse 17

sin
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

CHAPTER 5

Verse 1

sin
Sin{{header

| title    = Scofield Reference Bible Notes
| author   = Cyrus Ingerson Scofield
| section  = James
| previous = Hebrews
| next     = [[Scofield Reference Bible Notes/1 Peter|1 Peter]
| notes    = 

}}

Book Introduction - James

Read first chapter of James
WRITER: James (See Scofield "Matthew 4:21") , called "the Just" mentioned by Paul with Cephas and John as "pillars" in the church at Jerusalem Galatians 2:9. He seems to have been, as a religious man, austere, legal, ceremonial Acts 21:18-24.
DATE: Tradition fixes the martyrdom of James in the year 62, but his Epistle shows no trace of the larger revelations concerning the church and the distinctive doctrines of grace made through the Apostle Paul, nor even of the discussion concerning the relation of Gentile converts to the law of Moses, which culminated in the first council (Ac 15.), over which James presided. This presumes the very early date of James, which may confidently be set down as "the first Epistle to Christians."--Weston.
THEME: By "the twelve tribes scattered abroad" we are to understand, not Jews, but Christian Jews of the Dispersion. The church began with such Acts 2:5-11 and James, who seems not to have left Jerusalem, would feel a particular pastoral responsibility for these scattered sheep. They still resorted to the synagogues, or called their own assemblies by that name James 2:2, where "assembly" is "synagogue" in the Gr.). It appears from James 2:1-8 that they still held the synagogue courts for the trial of causes arising amongst themselves. The Epistle, then, is elementary in the extreme. To suppose that James 2:14-26 is a polemic against Paul's doctrine of justification is absurd. Neither Galatians nor Romans was yet written.
James' theme, then, is "religion" (Gr., threskeia, "outward religious service") as the expression and proof of faith. He does not exalt works as against faith, but faith as producing works. His style is that of the Wisdom-books of the O.T.
The divisions are five:

• The testing of faith1:1-2:26
• The reality of faith tested by the tongue, 3:1-18
• The rebuke of worldliness, 4:1-17
• The rich warned5
• Hortatory

CHAPTER 1

Verse 4

perfect
mature and complete. (See Scofield "Matthew 5:48").

Verse 14

tempted
"Temptation" is used in two senses:

• (1) Solicitation to evil (e.g. Genesis 3:1-6; Matthew 4:1; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 11:3,4; James 1:14).
• (2) Testing under trial (eg) Genesis 22:1; Luke 22:28 Cf Luke 4:2, Cf Matthew 6:13 (solicitation to evil) and 1 Peter 1:6 (testing under trial).

Verse 15

sin Sin.
(See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 17

gift
Two words are used in the original for "gift," the first meaning the act of giving; the second, the thing given.

Verse 20

righteousness
(See Scofield "Romans 3:21").

Verse 21

save
(See Scofield "Romans 1:16").

Verse 26

religious
(Greek - θρη̑σκος^[2] = outwardly religious).

Verse 27

world
"kosmos" = world-system. James 4:4; John 7:7 (See Scofield "Revelation 13:8")

CHAPTER 2

Verse 1

the Lord of glory the Glory, i.e. in the sense of Hebrews 1:3 as taking the place of the shekinah.
with respect In the presence of Christ the Glory, earthly distinctions disappear.

Verse 5

world
kosmos = mankind. (See Scofield "Matthew 4:8").

Verse 9

sin
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 11

transgressor
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 14

save
(See Scofield "Romans 1:16")

Verse 21

justified
(See Scofield "Romans 4:2").

Verse 22

perfect
(See Scofield "Matthew 5:48").

Verse 23

imputation
Imputation is the act of God whereby He accounts righteousness to the believer in Christ, who has borne the believer's sins in vindication of the law.
(See Scofield "Philemon 1:18").
righteousness (See Scofield "Romans 3:21").

CHAPTER 3

Verse 1

masters
teachers, knowing that we shall have the more severe judgment. Cf. Mark 12:40.

Verse 2

perfect
(See Scofield "Matthew 5:48").

Verse 6

hell
(See Scofield "Matthew 5:22").

Verse 18

righteousness
(See Scofield "1 John 3:7").

CHAPTER 4

Verse 4

world
"kosmos" = world-system. 2 Peter 1:4; John 7:7 (See Scofield "Revelation 13:8")

Verse 6

grace
Grace (imparted). 1 Peter 2:19; Romans 6:1; 2 Peter 3:18

Verse 8

sinners
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 12

save
(See Scofield "Romans 1:16").

Verse 17

sin
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

CHAPTER 5

Verse 1

sin
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 4

the Lord of sabaoth
i.e. Jehovah of hosts.

Verse 16

faults Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").
righteous (See Scofield "Romans 10:10").

Verse 20

sins
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 4

the Lord of sabaoth
i.e. Jehovah of hosts.

Verse 16

faults Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").
righteous (See Scofield "Romans 10:10").

Verse 20

sins
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

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2. strong="G2357"