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James: An Annotated Bibliography
Compiled by Ernest Rubinstein, librarian of
the Ecumenical Library of The Interchurch Center, Thanks are due
the librarians of Union Theological Seminary for providing access
to the book stacks of the Seminary’s library
The book of James sparks a broad range of interpretations. Commentators
divide on such basic issues as the author of the letter, and the
time and place of its composition. A bibliographic sampling of
commentary is given below. Commentators sometimes newly translate
the text, sometimes use established translations in long use.
RSV stands for the Revised Standard Version, an ecumenical translation
of the Bible sponsored by the National Council of Churches; NRSV
is the New Revised Standard Version, an update of the RSV. NIV
is the New International Version. The King James version and updated,
New King James version are also very occasionally used. The more
expensive, academic books on the bibliography can be borrowed
on interlibrary loan. (Consult your local public library.) Out
of print titles are often available inexpensively through the
Internet used-book clearinghouse, Bookfinder (http://www.bookfinder.com).
Books on this list that the bibliographer could not personally
review receive a quotation describing them from the publisher’s
catalog. Link to Bibiography
for this web site.
Bibliographies
I. Commentaries on James | II.
Studies for Lay Readers
III. Academic Studies | IV. Background
on Liberation Theology
V. Background on Poverty and Wealth | Top
of Page
Background Pages
What's In A Word? | James
uses Biblical Texts | Paul and James
Will the REAL James Stand Up? | When
was James Written?
To Whom is James Sent? | Canon:
Is James IN or OUT?
Read it Yourself: Comments on James
in the Canon
Annotated Bibliography
I. Commentaries on James, in series
Publishers across the spectrum of the Christian denominations
issue commentary sets or series on the Bible. Generally, the publisher
of a series is an indication of its theological tendency: Baker,
Word, Zondervan, Eerdmans and Intervarsity are publishers in the
evangelical community. Abingdon, Fortress, and Westminster are
mainline tradition Protestant publishers. Paulist and Glazier
are Catholic publishers; while several publishers of commentary
series—Doubleday, T & T Clark, Hendrickson—are independent
of denomination. Listed here is a sampling of some of the more
important and accessible series. Some commentaries presuppose
more interest in technical aspects of ancient Greek than others.
The annotations try to guide potential readers to the commentaries
most suited to their level of interest.
Abingdon New Testament Commentaries,
Abingdon Press
Sleeper, C. Freeman, James. 1998. 152 p. $20.00
This accessible introduction to James translates a
mass of solid academic scholarship into easily understood language.
Though targeting theological students, the series can appeal to
a broader range of readers. The opening chapter discusses the
social setting of the letter, its literary context, its dating,
authority, and key themes. Though the NRSV Bible is presumed,
the verses cited for comment are not reproduced. The author is
professor emeritus of religion at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia.
Anchor Bible Commentary. Doubleday
Johnson, Luke Timothy.The Letter of James. 1995.
412 p. $39.95
For ecumenism and in-depth scholarship, this is the
premier commentary. Each volume in the series is newly translated
and includes detailed word studies of the original Greek. Luke
Timothy Johnson, one of the foremost biblical scholars of our
day, is professor in New Testament at Chandler School of Theology,
Emory University. Observing that James has interested him since
1981, Johnson adds that his aim here is to produce “a fuller
account of James’ reception and interpretation than is anywhere
available in English.” This volume updates an earlier Anchor
commentary to James by Bo Reicke (below).
Anchor Bible Commentary. Doubleday
Reicke, Bo.The Epistles of James, Peter and Jude. 1964.221
p. Out of print
This older commentary, by Bo Reicke, who was for many
years professor of New Testament at the University of Basel, Switzerland,
was written in the early years of the Anchor series, when the
commentaries produced for it were less richly detailed. The letter
of James, grouped here with Peter and Jude, occupies pages 3-66.
Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture.
New Testament. Intervarsity.
Bray, Gerald Lewis and Oden Thomas C., editors.
James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude. 2000. 350 p. $39.99
This unusual series is an anthology of patristic comment on the
Bible. Passages from the church fathers (Clement of Rome to John
of Damascus) are presented (in English translation) on each verse
of the biblical text. The series is intended as an aid to both
professional and lay readers who want to know how early Christian
scholars interpreted the Bible. Verses are gathered in thematic
groups, which are introduced by the editors, and the patristic
selections follow. The Bible verses given are from the RSV.
Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament.
Fortress
Martin, R. A. and Elliott, J. H. James, Peter, Jude. 1982.191
p. $23.00
R. A. Martin writes the 42 page commentary on James in this volume
intended for laity, students and pastors. For Martin, the letter
of James is parenesis (exhortation), motivating Christians to
live their faith. The commentary devotes special attention to
the issue of faith and works raised in 2:14-26. Martin believes
the letter was written by a Jewish, Hellenistic Christian sometime
towards the end of the first century.
Bible Speaks Today. Intervarsity.
Motyer, J. A.The Message of James: The Tests of Faith.
1988. 214 p. $13.99
As its name suggests, this series seeks to apply biblical texts
to modern life. The author presents James as a collection of sermon
notes, whose central theme is the birth and growth of the Christian
life, and whose principal exhortation is to patience, prayer,
and care. Motyer was minister of Christ Church, Westbourne, England,
at the time of writing.The Bible text is the RSV.
Black’s New Testament commentaries.
Hendrickson
Laws, Sophie. Epistle of James.1980, 1993.273 p. $22.95
These substantive, scholarly commentaries offer new translations
of the biblical books, place them in historical and literary context,
and comment on thematic units of text. Laws was lecturer in New
Testament at King’s College, London, at the time of writing.
Her thesis about James is that it is “the most consistently
ethical document in the New Testament” (p. 27). Her commentary
includes a 20 page section on the controversial issue in the letter
of faith and works. A now out-of-print version of this book was
also published in 1980 by Harper and Row as part of their series,
Harper’s New Testament Commentaries.
Cambridge Bible Commentary on the New English
Bible. Cambridge University Press
Williams, R. R. Letters of John and James.1965. 152
p.$21.95
This series produces widely accessible introductions to the books
of the Bible in the New English version (an English translation
of the Bible that breaks with the King James tradition). The James
portion of this volume is limited to pages 75-141. The British
English of this commentary is elegant and easily understood.In
the introduction, parallel columns of verses from James, Matthew,
and 1 Peter highlight James’ close ties to those other New
Testament books. The commentary approaches the letter as an exercise
in “practical religion”. At the time of writing,
the author was bishop of Leicester, in England.
Communicator’s Commentary.Word
Books
Cedar, Paul. James, 1, 2 Peter, Jude.1984 262 p.$24.99
An evangelical counterpart to Westminster’s Interpreter’s
series (see below), these commentaries are intended for preachers
and teachers of the Bible in church settings. There is strong
interest here in applying the biblical books to daily life today,
which lends the writing a sermonic tone. The text used is the
New King James version. The section on James is on pp. 11-103.
The author was pastor of Lake Avenue Congregational Church, in
Pasadena, California, at the time of writing.
Daily Study Bible. Westminster
Barclay, William. Letters of James and Peter.Rev’d
ed.1976. 351 p. $12.95
This much-translated, popular commentary first appeared
in the 1950s. Though slightly dated even in the revised edition
of 1976, the writing is lively and engaging. Barclay (1907-1978)
was a minister in the Church of Scotland. The commentary gives
solid background to the Letter of James, and comments on the verses
in thematic units. James occupies pages 3-134. The text used is
the RSV.
Epworth Commentaries. Epworth Press.
Townsend, Michael.The Epistle of James. 1997.168
p. $15.00
Epworth Press is an affiliate of the Methodist Publishing House,
in England. Its American distributors include Trinity Press International,
which describes the series this way: “This series of biblical
commentaries is the first to be based on the Revised English Bible
[an English translation of the Bible that newly translates the
ancient texts, outside the King James tradition], and incorporates
the most recent research into both Old and New Testament books.
Written by experienced scholars for the use of ministers, preachers,
teachers, students, and church leaders, they relate the texts
in their ancient settings to the needs of Christians in a multi-racial,
multi-faith society.”
Hermeneia Series. Fortress.
Dibelius, Martin. Revised by Heinrich Greeven.
A Commentary on the Epistle of James.
1976.285 p. $48.00
This ecumenical series is designed for “serious
students of the Bible”. An interest in the connotations and
ambiguities of the original Greek is presupposed, though all Greek
passages cited are fully translated. Dibelius is noted in the
history of James interpretation for his view that this book does
not support any particular Christian theology, but is rather a
“book of popular slogans,” randomly assembled by the
early church as a guide to Christian life. The biblical text is
newly translated by Michael Williams, who largely follows the
RSV.
Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for
Teaching and Preaching. Westminster
Perkins, Pheme.1st and 2d Peter, James and Jude.
1995.204 p. $22.95
Like the Communicator’s commentaries cited above, the books
in this series also address preachers and teachers of the Bible,
but more from a mainline Protestant perspective. Verses are gathered
in sequential, thematic units and commentary offered that is easily
mined for classroom or pulpit use. The Bible version presupposed
is the NRSV. The James portion is on pages 83-140. The author
is professor of New Testament at Boston College.
New American Commentary. Broadman and
Holman.
Richardson, Kurt. James. 1997. 272 p.$27.99
The editors comment that all commentaries written in this series
are “unapologetically confessional and rooted in the evangelical
tradition.”The biblical text used is the NIV. Intended for
pastors, teachers and students, the commentaries confine technical
discussion of Greek terms to footnotes. They avoid contemporary
academic discussion, seeking the application of the text to“ministry
in both seminary and church.” The author teaches at Gordon
Conwell Theological Seminary.
New International Biblical Commentary.
Hendrickson,
Davids, Peter. James. 1993.172 p. $11.95
From the publisher’s catalog: “The NIBC series offers
the best of contemporary scholarship in a format that both general
readers and serious students can use with profit. The aim of the
series is to provide reliable guides to the books of the Bible
presented in a style that does not require formal theological
education to understand. Based on the widely used NIV translation,
each volume in NIBC presents an introductory chapter detailing
the background of the book, its audiences, its authorship, its
important themes, and other helpful information.”
New International Commentary on the New
Testament. Eerdmans
Adamson, James.The Epistle of James.1976, 1995.227 p. $30.00
These scholarly commentaries offer verse-by-verse interpretation
including frequent reference to other, established commentaries
and to the original Greek of the text. The biblical text is the
New International Version, in the evangelical community. Adamson
is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and of Cambridge
University, in England, and at the time of writing was a Presbyterian
minister in Santa Rosa, California.
New International Greek Testament Commentary.
Eerdmans
Davids, Peter. James.1982.226 p.$20.00
Commentaries in this series aim to make concerns with the original
Greek of the New Testament accessible to a broad, non-Greek-reading
audience.The commentaries are less technical than those of Dibelius,
Johnson, or Ropes and do not intend to be “full scale critical
commentaries”. The biblical verses commented upon are cited
but not reproduced. The author was professor of biblical studies
at Trinity Episcopal School for the Ministry, at the time of writing.
New Interpreter’s Bible. Abingdon.
Letter to the Hebrews, Letter to James … [etc.]. 1998.748
p. $60.00
This ecumenical commentary offers verse-by-verse comment and expounds
on larger Christian meanings of the text as it contrasts the New
Revised Standard and New International versions. The James commentary
is by eminent biblical scholar, Luke Timothy Johnson, and appears
on pp. 177-225. The older and out of print Interpreter’s
Bible is still found in many church libraries and presents the
King James and Revised Standard versions, with commentary by Burton
Scott Easton and Gordon Poteat.
New Testament Commentary series. Baker
Kistemaker, Simon. Exposition of the Epistle of James and the
Epistles of John.1986. 425 p. $49.99
This is another scholarly series geared to the NIV, like Eerdmans'’s
New International Commentary (above). The commentary offers verse-by-verse
interpretation of the biblical text and separately highlights
and explains key Greek terms. The commentary also offers, in places,
“practical considerations” that apply the text to modern
day. The author interprets James as two sermons strung together.
An introduction relates the letter to Jesus’ and Paul’s
teachings.
New Testament Message: A Biblical-Theological
Commentary. Glazier
Kugelman, Richard. James and Jude. 1980. 114 p. Out of
print
This series, intended for a broad audience, comments on verses
in thematic groupings, offering for each what reads as a small,
cohesive essay.The aim is to leave readers with an impression
of the major themes of each book of the New Testament.The Bible
text used is the RSV. Themes addressed in the volume for James
are: suffering and prayer, temptation, true piety, judgment, faith
and works, wisdom, wealth, and patience.
New Testament Theology. Cambridge University
Press.
Chester, Andrew and Ralph P. Martin.
The Theology of the Letters of James, Peter and Jude. 1994.
204 p. $22.95
This series avoids detailed linguistic exegesis in favor of articulating
the overarching theologies of the books of the New Testament.
Chester, who is lecturer in Divinity at the University of Cambridge,
wrote this commentary on James(pp. 1-60). He identifies the community
addressed as Jewish Christians, and discusses themes of eschatology,
faith and works, ethics, law, wisdom, sin, ministry, God, and
Christ. He also explores the letter’s tensions with Paul
and its significance for today in such ethical and theological
concerns as Jewish-Christian dialogue.
NIV Application Commentary. Zondervan
Nystrom, David. James. 1997.338 p. $22.99
This series works from the assumption that the meaning of the
Bible, contextualized as it is by the ancient world in which it
was written, needs “bridge” thinking to uncover its
significance for the modern day. Consequently, verses are interpreted
from three angles: “original meaning”, “bridge
contexts”, and “contemporary significance”. Nystrom
seeks the unity of this letter in the issues of personal and community
ethics it addresses, and the problems that such attitudes as favoritism
and status-seeking pose to Christian unity.
Pillar New Testament Commentary. Eerdmans
Moo, Douglas J. The Letter of James.2000. 271 p.$20.00
From the publisher’s catalog: “Designed for teachers,
pastors and serious students of the Bible, PNTC volumes seek above
all to make clear the text of scripture. Each contributor interacts
with the most important, informed contemporary debate, while avoiding
undue technical detail. Reflecting the best in contemporary scholarship,
these volumes … display an ideal blend of rigorous exegesis
and exposition with an eye alert to the contemporary relevance
of the Bible.”
Tyndale New Testament Commentary. Eerdmans
Moo, Douglas J. The Letter of James: An Introduction and Commentary.
1987. 191 p. $12.00
These commentaries, written for the “non-technical reader,”
cite without reproducing the verses of the biblical text. The
author of the James commentary was professor of New Testament
at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, Illinois) at
the time of writing.He sees the uniqueness of the letter in its
moral earnestness, rather than its theology, and divides it into
five units: trials, works, dissensions, Christian world view,
and concluding exhortations.
Way of Life Series. Abilene Christian
University. Thomas, J. D. Hebrews and James: Message of the
New Testament. 1989.91 p. Out of print.
Though the James portion of this book is only a few pages (pp.
67-91), it does provide a concise, well-organized summary of the
book. The letter is divided into thematic units, cited by verses,
but the biblical text is not reproduced. The organizing themes
include: trials, poor and rich, faith and works, wisdom, and prayer.
The commentary only occasionally extends beyond summary review
into critical comment.
Westminster Bible Companion. Westminster.
Gench, Frances Taylor. Hebrews and James. 1996. 128
p. $14.95
Intended for lay readers in church settings who want to understand
the Bible, this series divides books of the Bible into easily
comprehended thematic units.The biblical text is the NRSV. In
his introduction to James, Gench, who teaches biblical studies
at Lutheran Theological Seminary, emphasizes the hortatory nature
of the letter. The James portion of the commentary is on pp. 79-126.
Word Biblical Commentary. Word Publishing.
Martin, Ralph P. James. 1988. 240 p. $34.99
The editors of this series inform readers that “the broad
stance of our contributors can rightly be called evangelical.”
At the time of writing, Martin taught in the department of biblical
studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. These commentaries, like
the Anchor ones (cited above), provide new translations of the
biblical text, careful word studies, evaluations of manuscript
sources, sustained dialogue with modern biblical scholarship,
and original exposition.
Bibliographies
I. Commentaries on James | II.
Studies for Lay Readers
III. Academic Studies | IV. Background
on Liberation Theology
V. Background on Poverty and Wealth | Top
of Page
Background Pages
What's In A Word? | James
uses Biblical Texts | Paul and James
Will the REAL James Stand Up? | When
was James Written?
To Whom is James Sent? | Canon:
Is James IN or OUT?
Read it Yourself: Comments on James
in the Canon
Annotated Bibliography
II. Studies
Written with the Lay Reader in Mind
Adamson, James B. James: The Man and His
Message.
Eerdmans.1989. 553 p. $45.00
Though the author bases this work on his PhD dissertation, he
intends it for the layperson. He recommends reading it in tandem
with his commentary on James in the New International Commentary
on New Testament series (cited above).Here, the approach is not
verse-by-verse discussion, but extrapolation of the broad message.The
book examines the purpose, plan, and style of the letter, its
relation to Jesus and Paul, and the key themes of faith in action,
trial and temptation, God, wisdom, and salvation. Adamson claims
that James is “the oldest extant un-interpolated document
of early first century Christianity” (p. viii).
Bauckham, Richard. James: Wisdom of James,
Disciple of Jesus the Sage. Routledge.1995. 246 p.
This commentary uniquely combines the time-tested, literary and
historical methods of biblical interpretation with an interest
in the pastoral applications of the text to Christian life in
the modern world. Quotations from the 19th century
existentialist theologian, Soren Kierkegaard, introduce each chapter
and help to bridge the worlds of the scholar-interpreter and the
practicing Christian. The author, who here employs the NRSV text,
is professor of New Testament studies at the University of St.
Andrews.
Bryson, Harold T. How Faith Works: Studies
in the Letter of James. Harrison House.1985. 144 p.$12.99
The author finds a sequential flow in this letter, so often seen
as randomly assembled, from its opening idea of “Salvation”
to its closing one of “Restoring Erring Believers”.
He invites the reader to follow him through the flow, commenting
along the way on its applications to modern life. At the time
of writing, Bryson was professor in pastoral ministry at New Orleans
Baptist Theological Seminary.
Eastman, Addison J. A Handful of Pearls:
The Epistle of James. Westminster. 1978. 106 p. Out of print.
Using the RSV text, Eastman divides the letter into large, thematic
sections, and interprets each in the style of a short sermon.
Writing as a pastor with extensive background in missions and
ecumenical work, he aims to uncover the relevance of the text
for modern day Christians.
Hartin, Patrick J. A Spirituality of Perfection:
Faith in Action in the Letter of James. Liturgical Press.
1999.200 p. $17.95
Hartin, who teaches New Testament at Gonzaga University in Spokane,
hopes to rehabilitate the concept of perfection, unfashionable
ever since Freud.He contextualizes his interpretation of James
by examining concepts of perfection in the ancient world, and
then focuses on James’ controversial claim that faith is
perfected through works. His ultimate aim is to show the applicability
of perfection to modern human lives.
Hulme, William Edward. The Fire of Little
Jim: Power for Growth from the Letter of James. Abingdon. 1976.
158 p. Out of print.
Hulme, writing as a pastor with particular experience in hospital
chaplaincy, reads James with special sensitivity to his message
for the suffering and socially exploited. The way to overcome
suffering, that Hulme finds in James, is by “practicing community.”
Maynard-Reid, Pedrito U. Poverty and Wealth
in James.
Orbis. 1987. 136 p. Out of print.
The author, who at the time of writing headed the religion department
at West Indies College, in Jamaica, focuses on the passages in
James that discuss poverty and wealth. By careful examination
of those passages, and what we know of social stratification in
the ancient world, the author hopes to describe what the community
James addressed was like: a mixed Christian community of Jews
and gentiles, living in either Palestine or Syria, that drew from
James the message that true religion equates with social concern.
Palmer, Earl F. The Book that James Wrote.
Eerdmans.1997. 90 p.$10.00
From the publisher: “A user-friendly guide to James, The
Book That James Wrote is ideal for church use and for personal
or small-group studies. In a series of nine studies comprised
of Scripture readings, commentary, and questions for reflection,
Palmer walks readers through the historical setting of the early
Christian church and through each chapter of James. Focusing on
such key themes as the meaning of faith, wisdom, hope, and patience,
this study opens up the central truths of James in a way that
will both challenge and enrich your understanding of discipleship.”
Scaer, David P. James: the Apostle of Faith:
A Primary, Christological Epistle for the Persecuted Church.
Concordia. 1983. 158 p. Out of print.
Writing from a Lutheran perspective, the author comments on James
with respectful sensitivity to, while at the same time disagreeing
with, Luther’s own famously dismissive judgment on this letter.
Scaer sees James as an alternative to Paul, offering practical
hope to any Christian community undergoing suffering or trials.
The author comments on the verses in thematic groupings, using
the RSV text, and noting especially the letter’s strong affinities
with Matthew. Scaer was professor of New Testament and systematics
at Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, IN.) at the time
of writing.
Bibliographies
I. Commentaries on James | II.
Studies for Lay Readers
III. Academic Studies | IV. Background
on Liberation Theology
V. Background on Poverty and Wealth | Top
of Page
Background Pages
What's In A Word? | James
uses Biblical Texts | Paul and James
Will the REAL James Stand Up? | When
was James Written?
To Whom is James Sent? | Canon:
Is James IN or OUT?
Read it Yourself: Comments on James
in the Canon
Annotated Bibliography
III.
Academic studies on James
Baker, William R. Personal Speech-Ethics
in the Epistle of James. Mohr. 1995. 364 p.
This study is based on a thesis written for the Dept. of New Testament
Exegesis at Kings College, University of Aberdeen. The author
defines speech-ethics as the “rights and wrongs of utterance”:
when and how to speak, and to whom. Chapters successively address
“evil of the tongue,” inter-human speech, human-divine
speech, and the relation of speech to truth. Each chapter includes
an extensive review of literature from the ancient world relevant
to James’ understanding of speech-ethics, including Hebrew
scripture, Qumran texts, rabbinical literature, and Greco-Roman
literature. The author acknowledges a scholarly debt to the work
of Peter Davids, who wrote the James commentary in the New International
Greek Testament Commentary (cited above).
Bauckham, Richard. James : Wisdom of James,
Disciple of Jesus the Sage. London ; New York : Routledge,
1999. 256 pp. $31.00
The structure of James is sometimes a curiosity until
one understands that it contains a form of writing called “wisdom
literature.” Reading carefully, one hears the resonance with
the beatitudes, Proverbs and other down-to-earth theologies. Bauckham
gives generous attention to this character of James and reflects
on his brother and Lord, Jesus, as Sage as well as Savior.
Cargal, Timothy B. Restoring the Diaspora:
Discursive Structure and Purpose in the Epistle of James.
Scholars Pr. 1993. 245 p.$19.95
The author lays out two methods of interpreting the text: either
beginning with its social setting, outward-in; or with its own
internal logic, inward-out. After reviewing examples of the first
approach applied to James, he opts to employ the second. The author
constructs a “communications paradigm” for examining
the internal coherence of the letter’s ideas of perfection,
works, humility, the neighbor, and restoring the diaspora. He
concludes with a new translation of the letter that reflects his
interpretation. The book is a PhD dissertation written for Vanderbilt
University.
Edgar, David Hutchinson. Has God not Chosen
the Poor? The Social Setting of the Epistle of James. Sheffield
Academic Pr.2001. 261 p.
This book is a revision of a PhD thesis for the University of
Dublin. It aims, in the author’s words, “to re-examine
the disputed question of the epistle’s setting within the
social world of emergent Christianity.” After reviewing the
history of scholarly interpretation of the letter, the author
examines links between the early Jewish Christian community he
believes is addressed by the letter, and its author, whom he takes
to be an anonymous Christian writing in the name of James, Jesus’
brother.
Felder, Cain Hope. Wisdom, Law and Social
Concern in the Epistle of James. PhD dissertation, Columbia
University. 1982.186 p. [available for purchase
through Bell and Howell, 800-521-0600, for between $31.00 and
$48.00; or, through interlibrary loan]
This unpublished PhD dissertation challenges the classic reading
of James by Dibelius (see above), according to which the letter
is random exhortation. Felder locates two key themes in James—wisdom
and law—and relates them to the letter’s overriding
concern with injustices, especially those arising from displays
of partiality and wealth. Felder believes the rich, whom James
condemns, are among the audience he addresses and that he wields
the biblically based themes of wisdom and law to shape new, more
ethical behavior in his listeners. Felder, a Methodist minister,
has taught for many years at Howard University.
Hartin, P. J. James and the Q Sayings of
Jesus.
JSOT Press. 1991. 266 p. $75.00
Biblical scholarship posits a document it calls “Q”
(for Quelle, which is “Source” in German) that represents
the material the gospels of Matthew and Luke have in common apart
from Mark. This book takes the idea of wisdom to be a connecting
link between “Q” and James. It also examines the relation
between James and Jesus sayings and traditions assigned to “Q”.
The author draws on these comparisons to help locate James in
the larger context of the early Christian communities. The book
is based on a thesis written for at doctor of theology degree
at the University of South Africa.
Jackson-McCabe, Matt A. Logos and Law in
the Letter of James: The Law of Nature, the Law of Moses, and
the Law of Freedom. Brill. 2001. 281 p.
This book is a revised dissertation submitted to the Department
of New Testament and Early Christian Literature at the University
of Chicago. The author opens by underscoring the diversity of
early Christianity and the difficulty of specifying any one essence
for it. He argues that a failure of scholars to fully appreciate
that diversity has concealed from them James’ debt to ancient
Stoic understandings of law, especially as these lie behind James’
reference to “ the implanted logos” in James 1:21. He
argues that James’ view of law merges elements from both
ancient Jewish and Greek teachings, culminating in a view of ancient
Jewish Torah as a law of freedom.
Ong, S. H. A Strategy for a Metaphorical
Reading of the Epistle of James. University Press of America.1996.
184 p.$26.00
This book draws on literary theories of metaphor to interpret
the letter of James. According to the author, James’ central
metaphor is that “life is a trial before God”.This overarching
trial metaphor, rooted in Jewish religious thought, brings unity
to an otherwise disparate collection of verses. The ultimate message
is the comforting one that sufferings endured now as trials will
have their final, good reward.
Penner, Todd. Epistle of James and Eschatology:
Re-reading an Ancient Christian Letter. Sheffield.
1996.331 p.
The author contests one traditional of reading James, that it
belongs to ancient Jewish wisdom tradition. He believes that the
opening and closing verses of the letter point to an idea that
can be seen to structure the letter as a whole: that the world
will soon end. The ethical prescriptions of the text are recast,
on this reading, as directives for how to live in the end-time.
The book concludes by placing the letter in the larger context
of early Christianity.
Wachob, Wesley Hiram. The Voice of Jesus
in the Social Rhetoric of James. Cambridge University
Pr. 2000.
251 p. $59.95
This book first appeared as a PhD dissertation submitted to Emory
University. It examines James’ rhetorical techniques, or
methods of persuading his audience. The author believes a critical
verse for uncovering those methods is 2:5, a saying about the
poor attributed to Jesus. Building on that verse, and the whole
of chapter 2, the writer of James constructs an effective tool
of social persuasion addressed to a community of pious poor: the
“Christian Jews in the dispersion”. To strengthen his
persuasiveness, the writer of James interprets himself along the
lines of an important social relation in the ancient world: that
of patron and client. As a client of God and Jesus, James can,
as patron, uniquely mediate their benefits to the community he
addresses.
Wall, Robert W. Community of the Wise:
The Letter of James. Trinity Press International. 1998. 360
p. $24.00
From a review in Bible Today, quoted in the publisher’s catalog:
“The author of this fine new commentary on James notes from
his teaching experience that the message of James, with its strong
challenges to integrity and justice, has an immediacy and clear
relevance for modern readers. The clarity of Wall’s commentary
and its rich theological perspective make this a particularly
valuable exposition of James”.
Webber, Randall C. Reader-Response
Analysis of the Epistle of James. International Scholars
Publications. 1996. 125 p. $49.95
From the publisher: “This new work provides two divergent
readings of James on the basis of plausible first-century audiences.
The work demonstrates the relationships between literary and social
criteria in James's work and provides enlightening information
regarding the incorporation of diverse materials into the New
Testament during the canonization process. Randall Webber's research
looks at previous approaches to James and explores reading as
socially conditioned. He discusses James as read by an early post-Pauline
audience and by a Palestinian audience, and deals with the Christian
transformation of the ideology of righteousness. In his conclusion,
Webber discusses diversity and the canonization process. This
work is an important contribution to James literature as well
as to New Testament research in reader-response studies.”
Webber teaches at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Williams, James G., 1936- Those who ponder
proverbs : aphoristic thinking and Biblical literature James
G. Williams. Sheffield : Almond Press, 1981. $22.00
Bibliographies
I. Commentaries on James | II.
Studies for Lay Readers
III. Academic Studies | IV. Background
on Liberation Theology
V. Background on Poverty and Wealth | Top
of Page
Background Pages
What's In A Word? | James
uses Biblical Texts | Paul and James
Will the REAL James Stand Up? | When
was James Written?
To Whom is James Sent? | Canon:
Is James IN or OUT?
Read it Yourself: Comments on James
in the Canon
Annotated Bibliography
IV. Background
in Liberation Theology
Boff, Clodovis, Feet-on-the-Ground-Theology:
A Brazilian Journey. Orbis. 1987. 185 p. Out of print.
This is an example of liberation theology emerging from within
a specific context of poverty: the communities of rubber-gatherers
who labor in the Brazilian jungles. Boff recounts his missionary
journeys among these laborers, and discusses the BCCs (Basic Christian
Communities) or grassroots churches that he helped sustain.
Boff, Leonardo and Clodovis Boff. Introducing
Liberation Theology. Orbis. 1987. 99 p. $14.00
This now classic introduction to liberation theology is written
by two of its premier practitioners. Grounding theologies of liberation
in acute awarenesses of poverty and social destitution, the authors
concisely describe the method, key themes and history of this
mode of theologizing. Building on the biblical idea that God sides
specially with the poor and oppressed, the authors emphasize that
intellectual reflection must find its fulfillment in socially
transformative practice.
Boff, Leonardo. Cry of the Earth, Cry of
the Poor. Orbis. 1997. 242 p. $22.00
Brazilian liberation theologian, Leonardo Boff, shows how concern
for the poor links to concern for nature. In the now established
spirit of liberation theology, he translates ethical theory into
concrete concern over that part of nature nearest to him, the
Amazon River of his native Brazil. He draws from feminine imagery
of Gaia, or earth mother, along with biblical images of the cosmic
Christ, to make his case for nature’s needs.
Boff, Leonardo. Church: Charism and
Power: Liberation Theology and the Institutional Church. Crossroad.
1985. 182 p. Out of print.
This challenging and learned work explores and contrasts the wide
meaning of “the church,” from institutional powerhouse
that has committed its share of human rights violations, to “base
ecclesial communities,” those spontaneous, grassroots assemblies
of Christians that represent a more democratic ideal. The book
concludes with a model for church structure that builds on the
image of the Holy Spirit, empowering the church extra-institutionally,
in accord with the resurrection, from the ground up.
William K. Tabb, ed. Churches in the Struggle:
Liberation Theologies and Social Change in North America,
Monthly Review Press. 1986. 331 p. $16.00
This book performs the service of translating to a north American
setting a theological style that originated in South America.
Monthly Review Press, a secular, socialist magazine, here gathers
essays from a racially and religiously diverse group of theologians
on expressions of liberation theology in North America. The aim
is to introduce “the religious left to the secular left,”
since, according to the editor, the two movements have much in
common. Essays address the different perspectives from which it
is possible to write liberation theology (African-American, feminist,
Jewish, etc.), and the relation of theology to Marxism, political
activism, and lived community.
Comblin, Jose. Called for Freedom: The Changing
Context of Liberation Theology. Orbis. 1998. 252 p. $25.00
Comblin, a Belgian theologian writing in Brazil, has long identified
with the central concerns of liberation theology. However, in
this book he notes that social changes in Latin America have rendered
much previous liberation thought in that region outdated. For
example, Marxism is no longer a world force and the rural, peasant
communities that drew so much of the liberation theologians’
attention are quickly passing away in favor of more concentrated,
urban environments. Rethinking the concept of liberation along
more global lines, Comblin addresses its application to newly
emerging social, economic, political, cultural, and personal realities.
Gutierrez, Gustavo. A Theology of Liberation:
History, Politics, and Salvation. Orbis. 1988. 323 p. $19.00
Gutierrez, the unofficial founder of Latin American liberation
theology, wrote this book in 1971, but it remains in print as
a foundational document of the movement. Readers will hear the
clarion call of liberation theology to reject abstract, disembodied
reason, as an instrument of theological method, in favor of thought
contextualized by the social realities of poverty and suffering.
The characteristic themes of liberation theology—the social
nature of sin and the imperative to identify with the poor—appear
here in classic formulation.
Gutierrez, Gustavo. The Density of the
Present: Selected Writings. Orbis. 1999. 190 p. $22.00
This book gathers lectures and presentations by Gutierrez written
over the past 20 years. The essays show the breadth of Gutierrez’s
social and theological interests. Topics addressed include recent
papal encyclicals, the Jesuit order, the Carmelite mystic John
of the Cross, and the spiritual power of poetry and silence. All
the diverse topics find their center here in their application
to concrete issues of poverty and suffering.
Hennelly, Alfred T. Liberation Theologies:
The Global Pursuit of Justice. Twenty-Third Publications.
1995. 382 p. $19.95
Hennelly, who is professor of theology at Fordham University,
offers here a handy and readable introduction to Latin American
liberation theology and its many applications to other distinctive
groups of people living in and under constrained circumstances,
including: women, African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asians,
and Africans.The book also explores the implications of liberation
theology for the ecology of the planet and for first-world thinkers
worried about unshared concentrations of wealth in their own regions.
Hutchinson Edgar, David. Has God not chosen
the poor?: the social setting of the Epistle of James.
Sheffield, England : Sheffield Academic Press, c2001.
Margaret Farley and Serene Jones, eds. Liberating
Eschatology: Essays in Honor of Letty Russell. Westminster.
1999. 261 p. $24.95
Yale Divinity School faculty member Letty Russell began her career
working for the East Harlem Protestant Parish, in New York City.
Ever since, she has written with special emphasis on liberation
issues affecting women and members of diverse minority groups.
The essays gathered here, by Rosemary Radford Ruether, Phyllis
Trible, Elsa Tamez, James Cone, Katie Cannon, and Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz,
among others, illustrate the different strands of focus and attention
within liberation theology.
Melendez, Guillermo. Seeds
of Promise: The Prophetic Church in Central America. Friendship
Press. 1990. 125 p. of print.
Melendez is a Roman Catholic lay theologian from Costa Rica with
particular interest in grassroots faith communities in Latin America.
Distinguishing the prophetic church, which aspires to interact
transformatively with society at large, from the church of Christendom,
which works to cultivate and nurture its own power, Melendez traces
the interaction of these forms of Christian witness within Central
America since 1950. This introductory presentation of a Central
American liberation theology attends simultaneously to the region
as a whole and to the specific countries within it.
Russell, Letty M. Human Liberation in a
Feminist Perspective: a Theology. Westminster. 1974. 213 p.
$19.95
Letty Russell is one of most widely published thinkers in feminist
theology. Consciously allying with Latin American liberation theology,
Russell applies its method of writing “out of an experience
of oppression in society” to women’s concerns. As long
ago as 1974, Russell, who teaches at Yale Divinity School, had
already experienced enough of human struggle—from East Harlem
in New York City, to the YWCAs of India—to write her own
feminist-oriented liberation theology. Russell’s sense that
all liberation theologies must cooperate to address the manifold
social ills of our time rests on solid biblical and theological
erudition.
Schubeck, Thomas L. Liberation Ethics:
Sources, Models, and Norms. Fortress, 1993.226 p.$22.00
Schubeck, who teaches at John Carroll University, in Cleveland
Heights, Ohio, begins his book with a concise history of liberation
theology and its critics. Focusing on the ethical dimensions of
the movement, he explores several if its definitive themes: the
relation of practice to thought, the ethics of power, and interpreting
the Bible from within concrete social settings. Important figures
discussed include Gutierrez, the Boffs, and Jose Comblin.
Shaull, Richard. Heralds of a New Reformation:
The Poor of South and North America. Orbis. 1984. 140 p. Out
of print.
At the time of writing, Shaull, who for many years
taught ecumenics at Princeton Theological Seminary, was conducting
research in Latin America. Drawing on his experiences with the
poor of Colombia and Brazil, and biblical teachings on justice,
he constructs a readable introduction to liberation theology for
North Americans. An especially helpful chapter discusses the basic
Christian communities that have figured so centrally in Latin
American theological reflections on the church’s response
to poverty.
Subversive Scriptures: Revolutionary Readings
of the Christian Bible in Latin America. Trinity Press. 1997.
224 p. $19.00
This book collects scholarly essays that originally appeared in
Spanish or Portuguese in the Journal of Latin American Biblical
Interpretation. The ecumenical selection of writers includes Catholics,
Lutherans, one Presbyterian, and a Methodist (Dagoberto Ramirez
Fernandez, a Chilean minister). Though grounded in the traditional
historical-critical research methods, these scholars write from
the perspective of “the postmodern neo-liberal Latin American
poor.” The authors provide close readings of biblical passages
that stimulate resistance to oppression and advocacy for the poor.
However, none of the articles are devoted specifically to James.
Tamez, Elsa. Bible of the Oppressed.
Orbis. 1982. 88 p. $30.00 [from Books on Demand]
Elsa Tamez, author of this year’s Spiritual Growth study,
here looks at themes of liberation and oppression in the Bible.
Tamez reads the Hebrew scriptures for their sensitivity to the
sufferings of the ancient Israelites, and interprets the New Testament
as offering, for Christians, an answer to oppression everywhere:
conversion to God’s just ways.
Bibliographies
I. Commentaries on James | II.
Studies for Lay Readers
III. Academic Studies | IV. Background
on Liberation Theology
V. Background on Poverty and Wealth | Top
of Page
Background Pages
What's In A Word? | James
uses Biblical Texts | Paul and James
Will the REAL James Stand Up? | When
was James Written?
To Whom is James Sent? | Canon:
Is James IN or OUT?
Read it Yourself: Comments on James
in the Canon
Annotated Bibliography
V.
Background readings on rich and poor in the New Testament
Birch, Bruce and Larry Rasmussen. Predicament
of the Prosperous. Westminster. 1978. 212 p. $19.95
This book is part of a series called, “Biblical Perspectives
on Current Issues.” Accordingly, the moral issues that wealth
raises, especially in the United States, are addressed here from
biblical standpoints. The authors warn against the temptation
to spiritualize biblical teachings on wealth and poverty, and
note that while biblical calls to justice reach the ears of the
poor as words of comfort, they can only be received by such prosperous
social segments as the American middle class as words of judgment.
The book spells out the implications of that judgment and offers
guidance to Americans for redressing the social and economic wrongs
in their midst. Readers should note that this book, written in
1978, reflects the political and social realities of that time.
Boerma, Conrad. The Rich, the Poor, and
the Bible.
Westminster. 1979. 112 p. Out of print.
Boerma, who at the time of writing was a Dutch Reformed pastor
in Holland, unravels the complex treatment of wealth and poverty
in the Bible, which both critiques them as economic realities,
and transforms them into metaphors of spiritual life. After even-handedly
reviewing the Bible’s statements on poverty and wealth, from
the beginnings of Hebrew scripture up through the prophets and
the New Testament, Boerma extracts the sum of his findings as
teaching for the modern church: that poverty become an issue of
justice, rather than charity, and that the rich exercise their
wealth in solidarity with the poor.
Countryman, L. Wm. The Rich Christian in
the Church of the Early Empire: Contradictions and Accommodations.
Mellen Pr. 1980. 239 p. $89.95
This study, based on a PhD dissertation submitted to the University
of Chicago, discusses attitudes towards wealth in early Christian
history, from New Testament times to the 3rd century.
Issues addressed include almsgiving, sharing, and the dangers
wealth poses to both individuals and the church. Two church fathers
who gave special attention to the morals of wealth, Clement of
Alexandria and Cyprian of Carthage, receive chapters here. The
author’s view of the Letter of James, discussed unfortunately
only in passing, is that it “draws the sharpest contrast
of any New Testament book between rich and poor” (p. 82).
Hanks, Thomas D. God So Loved the World:
The Biblical Vocabulary of Oppression. Orbis, 1983. 152 p.
$18.00
This book gathers essays and addresses that the author wrote or
delivered for diverse occasions. In the world of liberation thought,
which is typically Catholic and sometimes Marxist, Hanks’
book is unusual for being written from a Protestant, evangelical
perspective. The author relates liberation theology to the Protestant
Reformation and gives special attention to the prophet Isaiah’s
themes of the suffering servant and the jubilee year. A substantial
section on James presents that book as a transition document between
Old and New Testament teachings on the poor. At the time of writing,
Hanks taught at the Seminario Biblico Latinoamericano in Costa
Rica.
Hanson, K. C. and Douglas Oakman. Palestine
in the Time of Jesus: Social Structures and Social Conflicts.
Fortress, 1998. 235 p. $21.00
The authors, both scholars, introduce their book as one of the
few that attempts to analyze the New Testament world from the
standpoint of the modern social sciences. Useful charts and graphs
help to picture social stratification in Palestine under the Roman
Empire. One chapter especially relevant to issues of wealth addresses
the ancient economy, land use, taxation, and the uses of money.
The authors conclude with a glossary of terms and reference to
a web site on which they feature their book.
Hengel, Martin. Property and Riches in the
Early Church: Aspects of a Social History of Early Christianity.
Sigler Press, 2002. 96 p. $12.00
This book, which first appeared in English in 1974, is a careful
scholarly analysis of teachings on wealth and ownership across
a broad range of ancient sources: Hebrew scripture, Greco-Roman
culture, the gospels, Paul’s letters, Clement of Alexandria,
and Cyprian of Carthage. Hengel warns against too facile applications
to the modern world of biblical idealizations of poverty, since
some of the New Testament reflections on wealth were informed
by a vivid apocalyptic anticipation of the world’s imminent
end. As the church adapted to life in the Roman Empire, it had
to make its peace with wealth and property. Hengel nonetheless
extracts from the Bible’s sometimes apocalyptic context teachings
on wealth that can apply to Christian life in the world of today.
Hoppe, Leslie J. Being Poor:
A Biblical Study.
Glazier. 1987. 191 p. Out of print
Hoppe, who at the time of writing taught at Catholic Theological
Union in Chicago, wends his way through the entire Bible, from
Genesis to Revelation, commenting on sections along the way that
explicitly treat of poverty. Also included are brief surveys of
this theme in the apocalyptic literature and in rabbinical literature.
James, however, receives only brief attention, since the author
judges this book to be more about the evils of wealth than the
needs of the poor.
Jeremias, Joachim. Jerusalem in the Time
of Jesus: An Investigation into Economic and Social Conditions
during the New Testament Period. Fortress. 1969. 405 p. $20.00
This monumental study by an eminent New Testament scholar offers
in-depth insights into the social and economic world of ancient
Jerusalem. Separate chapters address the conditions of the rich,
middle class, and poor (which included day laborers, slaves, and
those living on relief). Jeremias also analyzes the industry and
commerce of the times, and the impact of visitors and pilgrims
on the economics of the city. However, there is no discussion
of the Letter of James.
Meeks, Wayne A. The First Urban Christians:
The Social World of the Apostle Paul. Yale University Press.
1983. 299 p. $17.00
Though limited to the New Testament world of Saint Paul, which
is not necessarily the same as James’, this book does address
commonalities of social stratification in biblical times under
the Roman empire. The chapter, “The Social Level of Pauline
Christians” discusses the different factors affecting social
status, such as wealth, family background, sex, closeness to political
power, and whether slave or free. Meeks relates the social stratification
of the early Christians to Paul’s ideal of one church in
Christ.
Pobee, John S. Who Are the Poor?: The Beatitudes
as a Call to Community. World Council of Churches. 1987.71
p. Out of print.
Pobee, an African Christian, writes with the poverty of Africa
in mind. At the time of writing, he was associate director of
the World Council of Churches’ Programme on Theological Education.
Pobee notes that the blessings which the beatitudes call down
on the poor really apply to two potentially different groups of
people: the materially poor, and the “poor in spirit,”
that is, the humble who model an appropriate stance towards God.
Though the first group can be taken as a metaphor for the second,
this does not absolve the church of the responsibility to work
towards eliminating material poverty. On the contrary, especially
from an African standpoint, this reasonability is more urgent
than ever.
Santa Ana, Julio de. Good News to the Poor:
The Challenge of the Poor in the History of the Church. World
Council of Churches. 1977. 124 p. Out of print.
At the time of writing, Julio de Santa Ana served on the World
Council of Churches’ Commission on the Churches’ Participation
in Development. This book compactly surveys the history of Christian
attitudes towards poverty from the Bible through the Middle Ages.
Especially helpful for this year’s Spiritual Growth study
is a section devoted to James’ teachings on the contrast
between rich and poor (pp. 47-52).There, de Santa Ana shows James’
focus of concern on the actual poor (especially in contrast to
Paul, whose issues are more theologically abstract) and the active
attitude of alliance with the poor that James hopes to arouse
in his readers.
Sider, Ronald. Rich Christians in an Age
of Hunger: A Biblical Study. Word Books. 1997. 300 p. $15.99
This is the 20th anniversary edition of a book that
first appeared in 1977. Sider, who holds the PhD in history from
Yale University and teaches at Messiah College in Grantham, Penn.,
hopes to waken all Christians complacent about poverty from their
moral slumbers. He reviews some of the biblical provisions for
aiding the poor—the sabbatical year, restrictions on gleaning
the harvest—and explores ways of translating the spirit of
those provisions to the modern day. While this second edition
of the book is able to report some progress in the church’s
response to poverty, since it was written 20 years ago, much remains
to be done.
Stegemann, Wolfgang. The Gospel and the
Poor.
Fortress. 1984. 78 p. Out of print
This little book by a German scholar succinctly reviews New Testament
teachings on poverty, noting that the gospels’ favorite word
for the poor—ptochos—connotes utter destitution and
not mere want. The unstated supposition of the gospels is that
poverty among those living in Palestine during New Testament times
had reached desperate proportions. The good news is that God is
building a community—the church—whose express purpose
is to identify with the destitute. Stegemann concludes by offering
guidelines to Christians in wealthy countries for responding to
the needs of the poor today.
Bibliographies
I. Commentaries on James | II.
Studies for Lay Readers
III. Academic Studies | IV. Background
on Liberation Theology
V. Background on Poverty and Wealth | Top
of Page
Background Pages
What's In A Word? | James
uses Biblical Texts | Paul and James
Will the REAL James Stand Up? | When
was James Written?
To Whom is James Sent? | Canon:
Is James IN or OUT?
Read it Yourself: Comments on James
in the Canon
Annotated Bibliography
|
