Sermon Tone Analysis

Questions about James!

The author introduces himself as “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” ().

Of the New Testament persons named James who might have written this epistle, the (half) brother of Jesus seems most likely.

He does not claim to be an apostle, but he could be considered one in the broad sense (cf.

; ).

The apostle James, the son of Zebedee, had already been killed by the time this letter was written, and James, the son of Alphaeus, does not seem to have played a significant role in the early church.

A number of scholars hold that the work is pseudonymous—perhaps even a Christian reworking of an earlier Jewish writing—or the product of yet another James.

Myers, Allen C. The Eerdmans Bible dictionary 1987 : 550.

Print.

Before Jesus

John was one of the Son’s of Zebedee most likely the younger one mainly because he is mentioned after his brother James except for in Luke and Acts.

While birth order is usually how a set of sons would be introduced, in Luke and Acts as Peter, John and James as John was so closely associated with Peter at the beginning of the church.

John was one of the Son’s of Zebedee most likely the younger one mainly because he is mentioned after his brother James except for in Luke and Acts.

While birth order is usually how a set of sons would be introduced, in Luke and Acts as Peter, John and James as John was so closely associated with Peter at the beginning of the church.

Johns mother was likely Salome this is an inference from

(HCSB) — 1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so they could go and anoint Him.

Additionally it is very possible that John would have been Jesus cousin.

This can be inferred from

His mothers sister likely refers to Salome.

He was a Fisherman with his father and his brother James .

While we know fisherman are not the most refined, it is very likely that James came from a more well to do family as his father had hired servants,

and his mother Salome likely is one of the women mentioned in

John is usually identified as the un-named disciple that was with Andrew when John the Baptist pointed Jesus out and they went and followed and spent the day with him.

This being the case it is possible that like Andrew brought Peter John may have brought James.

However this is something that can not be known for certain.

John is usually identified as the un-named disciple that was with Andrew when John the Baptist pointed Jesus out and they went and followed and spent the day with him.

This being the case it is possible that like Andrew brought Peter John may have brought James.

However this is something that can not be known for certain.

With Jesus

We know that John was called with his brother James by Jesus

Jesus as he often did gave John and James a different name, sometimes names are a good thing sometimes not.

The likely reason is they were high spirited impetuous Galileans who were pretty undisciplined and didn’t count they cost before they made statements.

John shows this when He wants to be a part of the exclusive Jesus club.

One of my favorite pictures of Jesus showing his disciples a better way is when John and his brother wanted to prove how much they loved Jesus by burning up an entire town who wouldn’t let him walk through it.

I think though that the most telling thing that John and his brother had to deal with, was an over-inflated sense of self importance.

Encouraged by their mother, something that also can support the idea that they were related to Jesus albiet as cousins.

Interesting to note that the request is made either by his mother, or by the brothers.

We do know that the brothers were there when it was made because of Jesus replay to them so similar in both books.

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We know that John is one of the Three disciples closest to Jesus.

There are three occasions that point this out.

The raising of Jairus daughter.

The Transfiguration.

In Gethsemane when Jesus was praying.

Luke tells us that Peter and John were the ones sent to make preparation for Passover.

Finally we know that John is the one known as the Disciple whom Jesus loved.

While his name is never mentioned in the fourth gospel there are textual cues that tell us he was the one that wrote it.

After Jesus

John was a big part of the church in Acts.

He know he was with Peter and that people were amazed at his knowledge even though he was untrained.

That boldness used for good!

We know John laid his hands on the Samaritans that had been converted through Philips ministry.

He was a pillar of the church in Jerusalem acknowledged so by Paul.

(HCSB) — 9 When James, Cephas, and John, recognized as pillars, acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

10 They asked only that we would remember the poor, which I made every effort to do.

Johns end is different from other disciples.

While it is unclear when he left Jerusalem the assumption is that he did so and was in Ephesus where he was banished to the Isle of Patmos by The emperor Domitian because of the word of God and Testimony of and to Jesus.

This again seems to indicate that he lived to an old age, much older than the other apostles.