The Letter of James (The Anchor Yale Bible | AYBC)

by Luke Timothy Johnson

Publisher:

Yale University Press

, 2008

Overview

The letter of James is one of the most significant, yet generally overlooked, New Testament books. Because Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant Reformation, disliked this letter for its emphasis on good deeds, the book has come to be viewed as being in opposition to Paul’s letters, which emphasize faith in God. To correct these and other misconceptions about James, Luke Timothy Johnson embarks on an unprecedented history of the interpretation of this pivotal letter, highlighting the vast appreciation for James over the centuries.

Johnson boldly identifies the first-century author as none other than James, the brother of Jesus Christ. While modern skepticism casts doubt on this conclusion, early textual witnesses, as well as saints and scholars throughout the centuries, corroborate Johnson’s position.

A thorough examination of the original-language texts and an explanation of the literary context of James help illuminate the original meaning of the letter. Johnson’s sensitivity to both the biblical text and the sensibilities of the modern reader, coupled with his convincing scholarly presentation, set this apart as one of the premier commentaries on James for present and future generations.

Key Features

• Offers original translations, including alternative translations, annotations, and variants
• Provides verse-by-verse commentary on the text
• Presents the reader with historical background, including analysis of authorship and dating
• Features an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary literature

Contents

• Greeting (1:1)
• Epitome of Exhortation (1:2–27)
• The Deeds of Faith (2:1–26)
• The Power and Peril of Speech (3:1–12)
• Call to Conversion (3:13–4:10)
• Examples of Arrogance (4:11–5:6)
• Patience in Time of Testing (5:7–11)
• Speech in the Assembly of Faith (5:12–20)

Top Highlights

“The point is never that the deeds substitute for the attitude, but that the deeds reveal the attitude; and if there are no deeds, then the attitude is simply ‘empty’ or ‘profitless’ or ‘dead.’” (Page 247)

“for it is becoming rather than being that is at issue, namely, turning profession into action” (Page 206)

“meekness.’ The point is to accept the word by which they were gifted as the norm for their lives.” (Page 202)

“James’ call for a perception of testing as a chance to grow in a commitment is certainly at odds with a world that conceives of life solely in terms of gratification and self-aggrandizement. In that worldview, anything interfering with pleasure is a source of ‘suffering,’ which must at all costs be avoided. The ideal of ‘endurance’ is not attractive to hedonism, for it assumes an understanding of human character based on something more profound than pleasure, possession, or power.” (Page 183)

“It is no surprise that the dominant mood of James’ verbs is the imperative. In 108 verses, there are some 59 imperatives (46 in the second person, 13 in the third person).” (Page 8)

Product Details

• Title: Letter of James: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary
• Author: Luke Timothy Johnson
• Series: Anchor Yale Bible
• Volume: 37A
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Print Publication Date: 2008
• Logos Release Date: 2009
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. James › Commentaries
• Resource ID: LLS:ANCHOR80JAM
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T19:08:08Z

About Luke Timothy Johnson

New Testament scholar and early Christianity historian, Luke Timothy Johnson (1943–), is the Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Professor Johnson earned his BA in Philosophy from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, an MDiv in Theology from Saint Meinrad School of Theology, an MA in Religious Studies from Indiana University, and his PhD in New Testament Studies from Yale University. A former Benedictine monk, Johnson has taught at Yale Divinity School and Indiana University. He is the author of more than 20 books, has published a large number of scholarly and popular articles, anthologies, book reviews, and other academic papers, and lectures and received several awards for excellence in teaching. He often lectures at universities and seminaries worldwide, where he is widely perceived as the leading conservative scholar on the debates surrounding the Jesus Seminar, taking stances against its view of Jesus.