James (NIV Application Commentary | NIVAC)

by David Nystrom

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 1997

Overview

Straight to the point, practical, affirming, convicting—that’s the book of James. In it, we see a picture of early Christians wrestling to apply the teachings of Jesus to their everyday lives. And we see a community plagued by divisiveness and hypocrisy, with an emphasis on wealth and status. James pulls no punches addressing these issues, calling for a faith that shows itself in moral actions: in speech, in interpersonal relationships, in economic and social justice. He also lays out a theology of the redemptive value of suffering.

In our day when the behavior and attitudes of professed Christians are often not much different from the surrounding culture, in our society of great wealth, and in our culture that abhors suffering, the challenging message of James is greatly needed. Exploring the links between the Bible and our own times, David Nystrom shares perspectives on the book of James that reveal its enduring relevance for our twenty-first century lives.

Key Features

• Treats all the elements of traditional exegesis
• Compares the original context and the contemporary context
• Engages contemporary life and culture

Contents

Top Highlights

“True faith, he insists, always changes the heart and therefore results in acts of mercy and compassion.” (Page 150)

“James wrote to a church beset by a number of problems. These problems included divisiveness, intolerance, favoritism, and the overpowering desire for wealth and status.” (Page 15)

“James launches this discussion because verbal attack, in the same manner as the favoritism he has just discussed, has a particularly corrosive and lethal effect on the life of a community, especially a community of faith.” (Page 173)

“James makes his case that (1) testing ought to be received with joy, for it results in benefit, and that (2) wisdom is needed as the gift from God in order to perceive testing in this manner.” (Page 45)

“Proverbs 19:3 makes the point well: ‘A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord.’ When” (Page 73)

Praise for the Print Edition

This is the pulpit commentary for the twenty-first century.

—George K. Brushaber, president, Bethel College and Seminary

The NIV Application Commentary meets the urgent need for an exhaustive and authoritative commentary based on the New International Version. This series will soon be found in libraries and studies throughout the evangelical community.

—James Kennedy, senior minister, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church

It is encouraging to find a commentary that is not only biblically trustworthy but also contemporary in its application. The NIV Application Commentary will prove to be a helpful tool in the pastor’s sermon preparation. I use it and recommend it.

—Charles F. Stanley, pastor, First Baptist Church of Atlanta

Product Details

• Title: James
• Author: David Nystrom
• Series: NIV Application Commentary
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Print Publication Date: 1997
• Logos Release Date: 2010
• Pages: 352
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. James › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9780310427230, 0310427231, 9780310493600, 0310493609
• Resource ID: LLS:NIVAC80JAM
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-06-02T15:53:13Z

About David Nystrom

David P. Nystrom has been at William Jessup University for two years. He is an adjunct professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary and at Western Seminary. He is the author of The History of Christianity.