James 2:1-13 Bible Study Notes

Bible Study Notes - James 2:1-13

We continue our study in the book of James, a New Testament book of wisdom.  James encourages the Jewish Christians of the first century with practical methods and means of persevering in the Christian faith despite the persecution they suffer.  In our study, we glean from his practical advice and appropriate these principles to our twenty-first century contexts.  This week’s passage centers upon favoritism.  James adamantly prohibits Christians from showing favoritism within the Church.  Christians have an especial responsibility to the poor since God chose them for inheritance in the kingdom of God partially because of their low economic status.  A few questions immediately arise.  Is it possible to rich and Christian?  Does being poor necessarily make you more accepting of the Christian faith?  Should poor people fight to change social structures and the economy since God has already given them an inheritance in the kingdom of God?  How do we practically and legitimately love our neighbor as ourselves? Second, James grapples with obedience to the Law and the tendency of some Christians to utilize their adherence to some points in the Law as justification to neglect other significant aspects of it.  We contrast the teachings of Jesus, James and Paul on the Law.

Consider the following ideas and questions as you study the passage.

• James prohibits the display of favoritism by Christians.  In this directive, James agrees wholeheartedly with Paul who says that all Christians are equal children of God.  All baptized believers have been adopted into the family of God.  Galatians 3:28 says “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
• The second through the fourth verses warn against using clothing as an indicator of someone’s worth and then allowing it to determine how the Church treats that person.  Let’s discuss equality of treatment of believers.  Allude to my experience at New Zion AMEC.
• Is there an inherent connection between economic poverty and spirituality?
• Is it impossible to be rich and Christian?
• James exhorts the Church to resist insulting the poor.
• He further asks, “Is it not the rich who are exploiting you?  Are they not the ones dragging you into court?”
• In addition, are not the rich blaspheming the Name of Christ?  Refer to the late Robert Mapplethorpe art exhibit in New York City?
• In the eighth verse, James reminds the Church of the need to adhere to both parts of “The Great Commandment.”  Favoritism among believers definitely violates the Law.
• In the tenth verse, James posits that breaking one point of the Law results in breaking the whole Law.  Is this possible?
• In the twelfth verse, James offers that the Law gives freedom.  Isn’t this idea very ironic as it seems that the Law yields restrictions rather than giving liberty?
• “Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.”  Do you agree with the connection between judgment and mercy?  How does it relate to the American legal system?
• “Mercy triumphs over judgment!”  An act of mercy relieves a person of due and just punishment.  James insists that Christians demonstrate mercy in gratitude as receivers of God’s mercy.  Let’s discuss Susan Smith’s sentence for killing her two sons.  Let’s discuss the death sentence of twenty-five year-old Detrick Cole, the youngest person to be sentenced to death in the State of Tennessee.  He was sentenced to death at either eighteen or nineteen years of age.