Faith, Love, & Hope An exposition of the epistle of James For the Scattered Christians James 1:1b … to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. Every letter we write is addressed to a particular person or group. The letter James wrote was addressed to “the twelve tribes of the Dispersion.” The study of the history of the Jewish people is fascinating. One of its main characteristics is compulsory transplantings. This may be a permanent characteristic of this people, for we see it continuing even today, and it may continue till the consummation of time. James writes primarily to those Jews who were scattered all over the face of the earth, but he is writing to a particular portion of the scattered Jews—those who had accepted Jesus Christ as their Messiah, as their Lord and Savior. He himself was a Jewish Christian, and he is addressing Jewish Christians. His first concern was the believers among his own people. What an example this sets before us. There are many who are interested in everybody else except those of their immediate race. But our primary responsibility is to those around us, those who speak our language—those we know. James wrote from Jerusalem where he was the presiding elder of the Christian community. Undoubtedly many Jewish Christians came to Jerusalem to visit, especially during the feasts. James had the opportunity to observe their behavior. He could see that it fell far short of the standard that their progression of faith demanded. Hence he decided to write a letter to them and what he says has its origin in actual personal observation. But should we limit the application of the practical counsel of James to this particular group of Jewish believers? Let us not forget what the Word of God says concerning the believers of all other nations: “They which are of faith … are the children of Abraham.” This epistle, then, this counsel, is for you and me as well, even though we do not belong to the literal “twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (diasporá). The word diasporá is an intriguing one. It is made up of the preposition diá which, among other things, means “through,” and the noun sporá which means “sowing.” The period of time during which this epistle was written seems to have been somewhere between the martyrdom of Stephen in A.D. 35 and the apostolic conference held in Jerusalem in A.D. 52, at which James acted as chairman. As a result of the great persecution that broke out against the Christian Church at Jerusalem with Saul of Tarsus as its main instigator, the Christians were forced to leave their homes and flee to other towns. This is what is called the diasporá of the twelve tribes. It is the scattering of the persecuted Jerusalem believers. But is it merely a scattering for their safety? Remember that God permits persecution and hardship in the believer’s life always to accomplish some higher purpose. And there is no higher purpose either with God or with His children than the salvation of precious souls through sowing the seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Diasporá means the sowing throughout the world. The Lord wanted others to have the seed of the gospel sown in their hearts. But how could that be accomplished if it were not for the diasporá? Perhaps you who read this are one of the people through whom the gospel must be sown. I trust you will be faithful in interpreting God’s interventions in your life, which sometimes seem unwelcome and unpleasant, as His sowing appointments in the midst of a wicked and sinful world. We are a scattered family now which one day will be brought together, and what a glorious day that will be. Just as we start a letter with some kind of greeting, James does likewise in writing his fellow Christians. There is only one word in this greeting. It is the verb “to rejoice”—chaírein. The deeper meaning of the word is “to be satisfied.” Remember in this connection that James is writing to persecuted believers scattered throughout the world. His first message to them is for them to rejoice in whatever state they are found, for their lives are guided, not by accident, but by providence. He knew that their greatest temptation would be to grumble and be discontented. “We have believed, and now we have been deprived of our very homes, of our very relatives and friends.” That attitude must have been in the hearts of many believers then, as it is today. It costs something to be a Christian. The cost is the diasporá, the scattering abroad, but in spite of it we can rejoice. Remember that the Christian does not rejoice because of the ease of life, but in spite of its difficulties. Are you such a rejoicing Christian in the midst of the many difficulties, trials, and tribulations in this world of turmoil? Faith, Love, & Hope: An exposition of the epistle of James Spiros Zodhiates, : AMG Publishers.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 10:21:20 +0000