James Bible Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the book of James.
Bible Study: James: The Gospel in Shoe Leather
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James Basics
- Author: James, the brother of Jesus
- Who was James?
- Recipients: The 12 tribes scattered among the nations; from a Jew to Jews.
- Date & Occasion: James was martyred in 62 AD; Date is debated, probably 44-48 AD, before the Council of Jerusalem (c. 48-50 AD).
Background & Outlines
Blue Letter Bible: Chronology of Acts/Epistles
Blue Letter Bible: Outline of James
Ray C. Stedman: Overview of the Book
John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background
NIV: James Introduction
ESV: James Introduction
Analysis of James – James Van Dine
David Malick (Bible.org): Introduction To The Book Of James
David Malick: Argument Of The Book Of James
James – Charles Swindoll
Synthetic Bible Studies – James – James Gray (1906)
Introduction and Notes on the Book of James – J Vernon McGee
Key to James – William Orr
Introduction to James – Myer Pearlman (1935)
James Introduction – Wil Pounds
Maps from Holman Bible Atlas
Romans, Palestine, and Herod the Great
Roman Expansion in the 3rd & 2nd centuries BCE
Civil Wars amidst Roman Expansion in 1st century BCE
Roman Empire in the Age of Augustus
Roman Rule in Palestine 63-40 BCE
The Kingdom of Herod the Great
The World of Jesus
The Division of Herod’s Kingdom
Palestine in the Time of Jesus (1)
Palestine in the Time of Jesus (2)
Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls
The Kingdom of Herod Agrippa I
Maps from Bible-History.com
Key words in James
Occurrences are based on New American Standard Text. “4x/3v” means the word appears 4 times in 3 verses. “3x” means the word appears 3 times in 3 verses.
faith (16x/12v) – Strong’s G4102 in Jas 1:3; Jas 1:6; Jas 2:1; Jas 2:5; Jas 2:14; Jas 2:17; Jas 2:18; Jas 2:20; Jas 2:22; Jas 2:24; Jas 2:26; Jas 5:15.
Lord (15x/14v) – Strong’s G2962 in Jas 1:1; Jas 1:7; Jas 1:12; Jas 2:1; Jas 3:9; Jas 4:10; Jas 4:15; Jas 5:4; Jas 5:7; Jas 5:8; Jas 5:10; Jas 5:11; Jas 5:14; Jas 5:15.
works (12x/ 9v) – Strong’s G2041 in Jas 2:14; Jas 2:17; Jas 2:18; Jas 2:20; Jas 2:21; Jas 2:22; Jas 2:24; Jas 2:25; Jas 2:26.
law (11x/7V) – Strong’s G3551 in Jas 1:25; Jas 2:8; Jas 2:9; Jas 2:10; Jas 2:11; Jas 2:12; Jas 4:11.
judge/judged (5x/3v) – Strong’s G2919 in Jas 2:12; Jas 4:11; Jas 4:12; Jas 5:9; Strong’s G2923 in Jas 4:11; Jas 4:12; Jas 5:9.
perfect (4x) – Strong’s G5046 in Jas 1:4; Jas 1:17; Jas 1:25; Jas 3:2.
sin (4x/3v) – Strong’s G266 in Jas 1:15; Jas 2:9; Jas 4:17.
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
James, Author
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: James the Brother of Jesus
Easton Bible Dictionary: James
Fausset Bible Dictionary: James
Holman Bible Dictionary: James
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: James
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: James
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: James
McClintock and Strong: James
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: James
James means the same as Jacob “that suppliants” – Hitchcock’s Bible names
Eusebius: The Martyrdom of James
Whyte’s Dictionary of Bible Characters James the Lord’s Brother
James, Epistle
James Theology of – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
James, the letter – Holman Bible Dictionary
James, Epistle of – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
James, Epistle of – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
James, Epistle of – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
James, Epistle of – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary James, letter of
Fausset Bible Dictionary James, the General Epistle of
Smith Bible Dictionary James, the General Epistle of
The Jewish Encyclopedia James, General Epistle of
American Tract Society James, the Epistle of
Easton’s Bible Dictionary James, Epistle of
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia James, Epistle of
McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia James, Epistle Of
The Nuttall Encyclopedia James, Epistle of
Commentaries & Study Bibles
Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of James by Keith Mathison – Ligonier.org
Best Commentaries on James – Tim Challies
How to Begin a Commentary Collection – Challies Dot Com
Commentary on James – Best Commentaries Reviews
Top Five James Commentaries – Reading Acts
Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: James
Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible: James
Alford’s Exegetical Commentary: James
Matthew Henry’s Complete Complete Commentary on the Bible: James
Reformation Study Bible: James
Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: James
Articles
Suffering in James 1:2-12 – Tracy Howard
James 1:18 and the Offering of First-Fruits – F H Palmer
Mirrors in James 1:22-25 and Plato, Alcibiages 132C-133C – Nicholas Denyer
Father-God Language and OT Allusions in James – E Y Ng
THE SPECTRUM OF WISDOM AND ESCHATOLOGY IN THE EPISTLE OF JAMES AND INSTRUCTION Darian Lockett
The Rich Man in James 2: Does Ancient Patronage Illumine the Text? – Nancy J Vyhmeister
Mercy Triumphs Over Justice: James 2:13 and the Theology of Faith and Works – William Dyrness
The Soteriology of James 2:14 – Gale Heide
Faith, Works, and the Christian Religion in James 2:14-26 – Mark Proctor
“Saved by Faith [Alone]” in Paul Versus “Not Saved by Faith Alone” in James – Robert H Stein
James 2:14-26: Does James Contradict the Pauline Soteriology? – Robert Rakestraw
James 2:21-24 and the Justification of Abraham – R Bruce Compton
An Exegesis of James 5:14-20 B J Forrester
The Significance of Elijah in James 5:13-18 Keith Warrington
The Waiting Church and Its Duty: James 5:13-18 – Mark a Seifrid
Will God Heal Us–A Re-Examination of James 5:14-16a – Gary S Shogren
Preaching from the Book of James – George Davis
The Theological Message of James – Simon J Kistemaker
The Christology of James – Robert B Sloan
Christology in the Epistle of James – William R Baker
“A Right Strawy Epistle”: Reformation Perspectives on James – Timothy George
Commenting on Commentaries on the Book of James – David Dockery
The Main Theme and Structure of James – William C Varner
True Piety in James: Ethical Admonitions and Theological Implications – David Dockery
A Perfect Work: Trials and Sanctification in the Book of James – Ron Julian
The Wisdom of James – Robert W Wall
The Wisdom of James – John Burns
The Wisdom of James the Just – Dan G McCartney
The Spectrum of Wisdom and Eschatology in the Epistle of James and 4Q Instruction – Darian Lockett
Faith According to the Apostle James – John MacArthur
First Response to “Faith According to the Apostle James” by John F MacArthur, Jr – Earl D Radmacher
Second Response to “Faith According to the Apostle James” by John F MacArthur, Jr – Robert L Saucy
Doctrine of Faith – Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 19, No. 1 (1900), B W Bacon
Christ, Community and Salvation in the Epistle of James – Michael J Townsend
The Theology of Prayer in James – C. Richard Wells
James’ Instructions to Ill Christians – P G Nelson
Cessationism, “The Gifts of Healings,” and Divine Healing – Richard Mayhue
The Rich and Poor in James: Implications for Institutionalized Partiality – Duane Warden
GotQuestions.org
What can we learn from the life of James, the brother of Jesus?
How can I find joy in the midst of trials? Why does God test us?
Why does God allow us to go through trials and tribulations?
Is there a difference between joy and happiness? How can I experience joy in my Christian life?
What does the Bible say about patience?
How can I tap into the wisdom of God?
How can I be sure I am praying according to the will of God?
What does the Bible say about overcoming lust?
Why is “the devil made me do it” not a valid excuse?
What does it mean to be double-minded (James 4:8)?
What does the Bible say about perseverance?
What are the five heavenly crowns that believers can receive in Heaven?
What is the law of liberty (also James 2:12)?
Christian liberty – what does the Bible say?
Do Christians have to obey the Old Testament law?
Law vs. grace—why is there so much conflict among Christians on the issue?
What is pure and undefiled religion?
What does the Bible say about suffering?
Why do so many people have to experience terrible suffering before death?
How can a Christian cope while suffering with a degenerative disease?
What does the Bible say about favoritism? Does God have favorites?
What is the definition of faith?
Can a person believe in some sense but not be saved?
What are some of the signs of genuine saving faith?
What can we learn from the life of Abraham?
What can we learn from the life of Rahab?
What does it mean for salvation to be a gift from God?
What does it mean that salvation is by grace through faith?
What does it mean that good works are the result of salvation?
Is salvation by grace plus works a false gospel?
Why is faith without works dead?
Why is salvation by works the predominantly held viewpoint?
Is salvation by faith alone, or by faith plus works?
Taming the tongue – why is it so difficult?
Is it true that life and death is in the power of the tongue?
How can I tap into the wisdom of God?
What does it mean to resist the devil, and why will resistance cause the devil to flee?
What can I do when I am under spiritual attack?
What does the Bible say about fighting?
What does the Bible say about motives?
What does the Bible say about worldliness?
What is the definition of enmity?
How can I overcome having a critical spirit?
What does the Bible say about setting goals?
What does the Bible say about time management?
What does the Bible say about a death bed conversion?
What is a sin of omission? What is a sin of commission?
How should a Christian view wealth?
What is a husbandman in the Bible?
Can the return of Christ truly be said to be imminent?
The patience of Job—why is Job famous for being patient?
What is the key to effective prayer?
Why should we confess our sins to one another
Do we need to confess our sins to those we have sinned against?
What does the Bible say about confession of sin to a priest?
How can I be sure I am praying according to the will of God?
Why is praying for others important?
What should I look for in an accountability partner?
How does love cover all wrongs (Proverbs 10:12)?
When is it necessary to rebuke another believer?
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