The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 26

Ver. 1.-The writer and his work. Our bnsiness to identify writer, trace life and character, consider special aim in Epistle, and note its main characteristics. (See especially Plumptre.) I. IDENTIFY WRITER. Four men of this name come before us in New Testament: (1) James son of Zebedee; (2) James soll of Alphreus; (3) James the Less, son of a. certain Mary, the wife of Clopas; and (4) James "the Lord's brother." So far as writer's description of himself goes, he might have been any one of the four. Therefore evi- dence must be sought elsewhere. As to James the son of Zebedee, never seriously maintained till lately, and on grounds by no means conclusive. Never been attempted to ascribe it to James the son of Alphreus, except on the supposition that he was the same as James the son of Clopas, and identical likewise with him who was called "the brother of the Lord." But neither of these identifications can be established. And therefore the ancient and general opinion, with which internal evidence agrees, remains as the most probable hypothesis, that the Epistle was written by "the Lord's brother." In what sense this appellation given? See Lightfoot ('Galatians'), Plumptre, Smith's 'Bible Dictionary,' Neander, and critical notes. Whether or not an actual son of Mary, in all probability a son in some sense, and therefore one of the household of Nazareth. II. LIFE AND CHARACTER. For early life, left to conjecture. Olle of the elder brothers, perhaps, ill the Nazareth home, watching the unfolding of that young life. Trained devoutly by parents. Passing at father's death into world, leaving the mother to be maintained by her Son Jesus, whom men thenceforward called "the carpenter." So till the preaching of the Baptist, when the brothers became baptized unto John's baptism, and Jesus, no longer the carpenter, unfolded his mission as the Son of man. And now follows the offence. The reading at Nazareth, and avowal that the promises of the prophets were fulfilled in him. "They were :filled with wrath, and rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereoll their city was built, that they might cast him down he11.dlong" (Luke iv.). The brethren tremble for him, but are not prepared to believe in his mission (Mark vi. 4). The missioll proceeds. Disciples gather, but plots thicken. Pharisees and Herodians combine to bring him to his death. Still he teaches and works. And his brethren and mother, anxious to eave him, and thinking him beside himself, come to Capernaum seeking him, and bring upon them the rebuke of Matt. xii. 48-50. But still his heart yearns towards them (Matt. xiii. 54). But still they disbelieve. And even to the last (John vii. 5). Then the betrayal, the trial, the death. Their worst fears were realized; their misguided Brother had brought this doom upon himself. Ah, as yet their eyes were sealed! But soon would the unveiling come, and the giving of sight to the blind. 'l'he Urucified rose, and appeared to hie disciples, and-" to James" (1 Cor. xv. 7). And now the true belief, the sincere discipleship, the steadfast witnessing and work, the 20 THE GENERAL EPIS'l'LE OF JAMES. [en. 1. l-2T.