Epistle of James

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The Epistle of James is a rather short book, consisting mostly of admonitions to live holy lives, to refrain from squirrels quarrels among the believers, to be patient, slow to speak, and slow to wrath, and to care for widows and orphans. It also contains instructions on how to conduct faith healing, by anointing the sick with oil.

Of particular note is chapter 5, a section dealing with the rich. They shall weep and moan over their lost riches, which they have made on the backs of the poor by exploiting their labor. They have unjustly withheld wages from their workers who toil in the fields, and the workers cry out for vengeance against the rich. Their riches shall be as eaten by moths and rotted away. Wait, is this the Bible, or is this Eugene V. Debs speaking?

On the other hand, James says that wars and quarrels among people come from passions waging war in our members. Sigmund Freud could probably have a field day with this one.

In chapter two, James clarifies a misunderstanding which had arisen from the teachings of Paul of Tarsus concerning whether works such as circumcision are necessary for salvation. Paul says no. James agrees that works of law are not required, but he says that faith which is not accompanied by good works (like feeding the poor) is dead. This didn't sit well with Martin Luther, who called this book an "epistle of straw" and tried to get it tossed out of the canon.

[edit] See also

Guide to the Jewish and Christian Scriptures
Torah: Genesis - Exodus - Leviticus - Numbers - Deuteronomy Old Testament History: Book of Joshua - Book of Judges - Ruth - Samuel (1 & 2) - Kings (1 and 2 Kings) - Chronicles - Ezra and Nehemiah - Book of Esther Old Testament Wisdom: Book of Job - Psalms - Book of Proverbs - Ecclesiastes - Song of Solomon Major Prophets: Isaiah - Book of Jeremiah - Lamentations - Book of Ezekiel - Book of Daniel Minor Prophets: Minor Prophets

Deuterocanon (Catholic and Orthodox): - Tobit - Judith - 1 Maccabees - 2 Maccabees - Book of Wisdom - Sirach - Baruch - Letter of Jeremiah Deuterocanon (Orthodox): 1 Esdras - 3 Maccabees - Prayer of Manasseh - Psalm 151 Deuterocanon (Georgian Orthodox): 4 Maccabees - 2 Esdras Ethiopian Orthodox ("narrow" canon): Jubilees - Enoch - Rest of the Words of Baruch - 1-3 Meqabyan Syriac Peshitta: 2 Baruch Psalms 152-155


The Gospels: Gospel of Matthew - Gospel of Mark - Gospel of Luke - Gospel of John Acts: Acts of the Apostles Pauline Epistles: Romans - 1 & 2 Corinthians - Galatians - Ephesians - Philippians - Colossians - First Thessalonians - Second Thessalonians - First Timothy - Second Timothy - Titus - Epistle to Philemon General Epistles: Epistle to the Hebrews - Epistle of James - First Peter - Second Peter - 1 John - 2 John - 3 John - Epistle of Jude Revelation: Book of Revelation


Selected pseudepigrapha: Gospel of Judas - Infancy Gospel of James - Gospel of Mary - Gospel of Philip - Gospel of Thomas - Nag Hammadi texts


Rational Wiki's Guide to the Protestant Bible

Guide to Bible translations

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