James 2:1-17

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible -  KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Similitude II, Similitude VIII.6, Shepherd of Hermas. (c.145)
  • IV.10, IV.11, VI.18, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • II.2, On The Apparel of Women, Tertullian (c. 202)
  • From the Geneva Notes.
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
  • From Wesley's Notes.
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "First Thoughts on Passages on Year B Epistle Passages in the Lectionary: Pentecost 14," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Social justice christology is 'in' at the moment - but like the term, social justice, itself, can die of its popularity as our fascination with it innoculates us against engagement and the vision dies to become just an idea and a good concept to include in our strategic plans and visions."
  • "Flattering the Rich, Exploiting the Poor: Labor Day, 2006," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation.
    • "How can Christians best help the poor?"
  • "Favoritism Forbidden," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
• Articles & Background:
  • "A Syntactical Note on the Dative TWCHOSMW in James 2:5," Peter Frick, Filologia, 2004.
    • "The objective of this brief note is to propose that the dative tw~| ko&smw| in James 2,5 (o9 qeo\j e)cele/cato tou_j ptwxou_j tw~| ko&smw| ) should be read as a dative of means of the causal type ('God chose those who are poor on account/because of this world')."
  • "Hunger, Poverty and Biblical Religion," Bruce C. Birch, The Christian Century, 1975.
    • "...perhaps the clearest statement of the continuing need for the community of faith to identify itself with the poor, even as has God, is to be found in James 2:1-7. In this passage it is clear that even in the early church the temptation to identify with wealth and status had appeared. This neglected passage should serve as a judgment on all generations of the church that succumb to that temptation."
  • "An Evangelical Theology of Liberation," Ronald J. Sider, The Christian Century, 1980.
    • "The text clearly says that if we fail to aid the needy, we do not have God’s love -- no matter what we may say. The text demands deeds, not pious phrases and saintly speeches. Regardless of what we do or say at 11:00 A.M. Sunday morning, those who neglect the poor and oppressed are not the people of God."
  • Adultery: "Fire in the Bosom," from And Adam Knew Eve: A Dictionary of Sex in the Bible by Ronald L. Ecker.
  • "A Comparison of Mishnah Gittin 1:1 - 2:2 and James 2:1-13 from a Perspective of Greco-Roman Rhetorical Elaboration," Vernon K. Robbins, in Mishnah and the Social formation of the Early Rabbinic Guild: A Socio-Rhetorical Approach, ed Jack N. Lightstone, 2002.
• Articles in ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are subscribed and logged in to ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
  • Birch, Bruce C., "Hunger, Poverty and Biblical Religion," The Christian Century, 1975.
  • Brown, Jeannine K., "James 2:1-13," Interpretation, 2008.
      Image Browse - PDF
  • Dowd, Sharyn, "Faith That Works: James 2:14-26," Review and Expositor, 2000.
  • Duncan, Graham, "Practical Theology: 'Faith apart from Works Is Dead'," Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, 1985.
  • Goetz, Ronald, "Evangelism by Works Alone," The Christian Century, 1985.
  • Hiebert, D. Edmond, "The Unifying Theme of the Epistle of James," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1978.
  • Hughes, David M., "The Best Seat in the House: James 2:1-10, 14-17," Review and Expositor, 2000.
  • Jenkins, C. Ryan, "Faith and Works in Paul and James," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2002.
  • Macarthur, John F., "Faith according to the Apostle James," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1990.
  • Polhill, John B., "Prejudice, Partiality, and Faith: James 2," Review and Expositor, 1986.
  • Porter, Virgil V., Jr., "The Sermon on the Mount in the Book of James, Part 1," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2005.
  • Porter, Virgil V., Jr., "The Sermon on the Mount in the Book of James, Part 2," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2005.
  • Powery, Emerson, "Under the Gaze of the Empire: Who Is My Neighbor?" Interpretation, 19:18.
      Image Browse - PDF
  • Sider, Ronald J., "An Evangelical Theology of Liberation," The Christian Century, 1980.
  • Smit, D.J., "Exegesis and Proclamation: 'Show No Partiality...' (James 2:1-13)," Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, 1990.
  • Talbert, Charles H., "James: Teaching Outlines and Selected Sermon Seeds," Review and Expositor, 2000. (See especially, "Against Unjust Favoritism" (p. 173) and "On a Living Faith," (p. 174).)
  • Warden, "The Rich and the Poor in James: Implications for Institutionalized Partiality," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 2000.
• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "James: Clothes Talk! Money Talks!" Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
  • "True Believers," Dr. Haddon Robinson, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1995.
  • "Atoning Alone," sermon by William McKinney, President, Pacific School of Religion.
    • "Those of us committed to ministries of compassion and justice have a lot of work to do. We will be sustained in that work by faith in God, but we better move ahead in community."
• With Children:
  • "What's Inside?" Talks to Children, Rev. Donald McCorkindale, Dalgety Parish Church, Fife, Scotland.
  • "Faith that Works," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
  • "Faith without Works Is Dead," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
• Drama:
  • "Shaylen," Hannah M., dramatix.
  • "Extreme Makeover," Melinda Cousins, dramatix.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Commercial Site: "Faith By Itself Is Dead," (James 1) The Work of the People, Films/Visual Liturgy based on RCL texts.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: James 2:16. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • Heir of the Kingdom
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of James