Thursday, June 5 – Acts 14, James 1

1. What were Paul and Barnabas’ circumstances when facing opposition in Iconium? (Acts 14:1–7)

2. When Paul healed a lame man in Lystra, what was the people’s first reaction? (Acts 14:8–13)

3. How did the people of Lystra, influenced by visitors from Iconium, respond to Paul and Barnabas’ reaction? (Acts 14:14–20)

4. Instead of feeling discouraged by what happened, what actions did these servants of the Lord take? (Acts 14:21–25)

5. Finally, where did Paul and Barnabas return, and what actions did they take upon their arrival? (Acts 14:26–28)

6. Who were the primary recipients of the letter of James? (James 1:1)

7. What counsel does James provide to those facing various trials? (James 1:2)

8. If anyone lacks wisdom, what does the author suggest? (James 1:5)

9. To whom does James compare the one who doubts? (James 1:6)

10. Why is the one who endures temptation blessed? (James 1:12)

11. When we are tempted, should we blame God for it? Why? (James 1:13–15)

12. What is the source of every good and perfect gift? (James 1:17–18)

13. What wise counsel does James offer regarding temperament? (James 1:19–20)

14. What kind of relationship should we have with the Word and the Law of God? (James 1:21–25)

15. What constitutes true religion according to James? (James 1:26–27)

We are enjoying studying the early steps of the Church. Truly, the book of Acts is a gem filled with valuable and enriching information.

The exact date of the letter of James cannot be determined, though it is believed to have been written after A.D. 44. Its author is called “James,” a very common name at the time; in Hebrew, it was “Jacob,” the original name of Israel, the father of the nation.

Several men named “James” are in the gospel accounts, making it difficult to determine who the author really was. Three are to be considered:

1. James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, was named by Jesus as a “son of thunder.” He is unlikely to be the author since he was martyred by Herod early on.

2. James the Less, son of Alphaeus, was a disciple of Christ. He may have been the author, though this is not confirmed.

3. James, the elder stepbrother of Jesus and son of Joseph, seems to correspond to James, whom Paul consulted as a church leader and who presided at the Jerusalem Council. He may have been the one to whom Christ appeared after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7). Note that the Lord did not appear first to Peter, the supposed first pope, but to James.

Some believe that the James mentioned in the epistle was either the Lord’s brother or James the Less, but this is not widely accepted. All indications suggest the Lord’s brother led the church in Jerusalem. The fact that Jude introduces himself as the brother of James in his epistle (Jude 1:1) implies that both were stepbrothers of Jesus. See Matthew 13:55. It is believed they concealed their family relationship with the Master out of modesty. Although the identity of this “James” is not definitively established, most historians believe he was the “brother of the Lord,” a view that has been held since the second century of our era.

Ultimately, this is one of the things that will be clarified after we meet Christ at His coming.

May each of you gain heavenly wisdom as you study these two deeply meaningful chapters.