By: Daniel Goepfrich The Audience Peter’s intended recipients were people scattered throughout Asia Minor. The word διασπορά (diaspora, “dispersion”) is used elsewhere in the New Testament only twice. In James 1:1 the “twelve tribes”are specified, and in John 7:25 it refers to Jews dispersed “among the Greeks.”Although 1 Peter contains principles available for all Christians of all time, since Peter was acknowledged to be the apostle to the Jewish people (Galatians 2:7) and since the word διασπορά was used to refer to [...]

By: Daniel Goepfrich Final Encouragements Chapter five concludes this letter with a series of topics, all designed to be final encouragements to James’ readers. James 5:1-6 contain a two-part negative encouragement, patterned after the Hebrew prophets who would encourage their immediate listeners by prophesying judgment on their oppressors (e.g., Amos and Nahum). First, James’ oppressed readers would certainly be encouraged to know that God knew of their suffering. Second, James’ oppressive readers would be encouraged to change their ways (do good deeds) [...]

By: Daniel Goepfrich The Power of the Tongue Chapter three’s teaching on the power of the tongue seems to be disconnected to its context (James 3:1-12). However, its “size-to-impact ratio” concept could point back to chapter two, where not loving one’s neighbor (a “small” sin) has a profound impact within the Christian community. Likewise, the tongue, a small member of the body, can greatly affect those around us, either building up for good or tearing down for bad. The life change that [...]

By: Daniel Goepfrich Growth through Trials James 1 begins very abruptly with a short greeting and quick encouragement. These believing Jews had been displaced from their homeland and had lost their close-knit Christian family. Even though their immediate persecution had stopped, they found themselves facing a new persecution that was both anti-Semitic and anti-Christian. They were certainly tempted to give up their faith to blend into their new communities as much as possible. James offered them three reasons to not give up [...]

By: Daniel Goepfrich James was probably the first or second (behind Matthew) New Testament writer (approximately the early- to mid-A.D. 40s). He followed the pattern of Old Testament exhortation (especially the prophets and proverbs), and his letter has been compared to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount for that reason. James wrote this letter to Christian Jews who had been dispersed from Israel during the early persecution of the Church (see Acts 8) to encourage them to live out their Christian faith, especially [...]