Brother of Jesus, Friend of God: Studies in the Letter of James

by Luke Timothy Johnson, James the Just

The letter of James has enjoyed a colorful history, with its background and significance widely debated over the centuries. In this book an outstanding scholar of the New Testament offers new and selected studies of James that show its roots in antiquity and its importance for Christian history and theology. / Luke Timothy Johnson explores the letter of James from a variety of perspectives. After a general introduction to James, he looks at its history of interpretation. Johnson then examines James's social and historical situation, its place within Scripture, and its use of the sayings of Jesus. Several exegetical studies take care to place James in the context of Hellenistic moral discourse. Two concluding essays look at the themes of friendship and gender in James. / While seemingly of interest only to professionals, Johnson's Brother of Jesus, Friend of God will also be accessible to general readers serious about Bible study, and church groups will find this volume to be a fruitful entry into an important portion of the New Testament.

Genres: New Testament

304 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2004

About the author

Luke Timothy Johnson is an American New Testament scholar and historian of early Christianity. He is the Robert W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Candler School of Theology and a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University.

Johnson's research interests encompass the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts of early Christianity (particularly moral discourse), Luke-Acts, the Pastoral Epistles, and the Epistle of James.

Reviews

[Michael Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compilation of some of Johnson's best work on James. Much is derived from his Anchor commentary or his journal articles, but it is handy to have it one bound volume. He deals at length the reception of the book by the early church (east and west) and with the history of interpretation. Where he really shines, as always, in his exegesis of critical passages in James (1:26-27, 1:22-25, and especially 3:13-4:10) and the application of those to modern life. If you've read the Anchor commentary and his journal articles, there will be very little that's new here.
NOTE: in the exegetical essays, when he quotes a word, phrase or verse, it is almost always in Greek without English translation. Readers unfamiliar with Koine may find it difficult to follow.