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JAMES 1:1

Victor M. Eskew

 

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

 

1.       James

A.   Strong (2385):  Graecized, Jacabus

B.    Thayer:

1.     James:  supplanter

2.     James the half-brother of Christ

 

2.       A servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ

A.   Strong (1401):  “doulos” – a slave (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntary; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or submission)

B.    Thayer:

1.     A slave, a bondman, man of servile condition

2.     Devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests

3.     Metaphorically, one who gives himself up to another’s will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men

C.   Vine:

1.     Signifying in bondage

2.     Frequently indicating subjection without the idea of bondage

3.     Used of Jesus (Phil. 2:7)

 

3.       Twelve tribes

A.      Robertson:  “The expression means ‘Israel in its fullness and completeness (Hort)” (e-sword).

          B.       Three views:

                     1.        Literal Israel, the Jewish nation

                     2.        Jewish Christians from the twelve tribes

                     3.        Christians, in general, who represent spiritual Israel

 

4.       Scattered abroad

A.   Strong (1290):  “diaspora” – dispersion, that is, (specifically and concretely) the (converted) Israelites resident in Gentile countries

B.    Thayer:

1.     A scattering, dispersion

2.     Of Israelites dispersed among foreign nations

3.     Of Christians scattered abroad among the Gentiles

C.   Vine:  A dispersion…”scattered” in I Pet. 1:1

 

5.       Greeting

A.   Strong (5463):  to be full of cheer, that is calmly happy or well off…be well

B.    Thayer:  to rejoice, be glad, to rejoice exceedingly, to be well, thrive, in salutations, hail!

C.   Vine:  to rejoice (See Acts 15:23)