100 Fold Life Ministry Bible Studies
The Book of James, Week 1
by Founder and Teacher Martha Horn
Welcome to the 100 Fold Life Ministry Personal Bible Study on the Book of James.
The Book of James will open the door to insights into your life and behavior that you may never have seen before.
This study will take 10 weeks with daily questions and scripture meditation. To meditate on something means first to read it. Next ask the Holy Spirit who is your Helper and Teacher to tell you what the scripture means and how it applies to your life. As thoughts begin to come into your mind, write them down and trust that the Lord will direct your thinking in this process. You can then use the scriptures to confirm or deny what you were thinking. After you ask the Holy Spirit what the scripture means and how it applies to your life, you may then want to read a commentary on the text. Be careful; commentaries are helpful, but they are not the LOGOS (the inspired word) of GOD. It may be helpful also to have another person doing this study with you so you can discuss your findings. Remember this is a time for you to learn HOW to listen to the Lord and to get to know not only His Word, but, more importantly, His Voice.
Be patient and let this time be special between you and the Lord. Because it is a home study, you will have the freedom to do your personal study at the best time for you. Let this be part of your Quiet Time spent with the Lord each day. He wants to meets with you and grow you into his image. You are precious to him and He loves you very much.
(To help with your study, I am including a word study before the daily questions for Chapter one of James. You too can do a word study by purchasing a Greek/ English dictionary at your local Christian bookstore. This will be a great help in your study of the Bible. A tape series on the Book of James is available taught by Martha Horn. Contact: 100FLM P.O.Box 4621 Pinopolis, SC 29469. Tape list and prices are available on this web site)
So, Let’s start our study on the BOOK OF JAMES.
History of James:
Historically and traditionally the book of James is believed to have been written by James, the brother of Jesus. James was a leader of the Church in Jerusalem, although at first he did not believe in JESUS as the Son of God. William Barclays’ commentary on the Book of James cites Church Father Jerome (c 347-420), saying that James would not eat until Jesus was risen from the dead as He said He would. In I Corinthians 15:7, Jesus appears to James. According to Jerome and the writings of ‘The Gospel according to Hebrews” (not part of Holy Scripture), Jesus told the other apostles present to bring James food. Upon seeing the risen Jesus, James ate.
Reference Scriptures:
Matthew 26:46-50
Mark 3:21,31-35
John 7:3-9
Date of writing: 46-49 AD
According to our Church Father EUSEBIUS (c.265-340), who was the Bishop of Caesarea, Palestine, James was stoned to death after being pulled down from the Temple in Jerusalem. He was proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He died a martyr.
The Book of James had great difficulty finding it’s place in Holy Writ. The process of acceptance took place in stages starting in A. D. 350 with the appearance of James in a Latin manuscript called Codex Corbeiensis. The true advocate of the Book of James was Jerome who included it in his translation of the original scriptures into Latin. After much debate throughout Christendom, Athanasius author of the third Christian doctrine concerning the Trinity and Incarnation, issued his famous Easter letter in Egypt, outlining the list of books that are considered as HOLY WRIT; in this list was the BOOK OF JAMES. So, in the early church no one disputed it’s authority. It was later in 12-14th centuries that James was back on the “ hot seat”. Mostly, disputed by Martin Luther, who called the Book of James, “the Book of Straw.” Finally, in 1546 the Council of Trent, leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, once and for all laid down the content of the official Christian Bible, and the Book of James was present.
James is very direct about FAITH. The book can be divided into 3 sections:
1.The Test of Faith – Chapter 1:1-18
2. The Character of Faith – Chapter 1:19-5:6
3. The Triumph of Faith – Chapter 5:7-20 (Section titles taken from the NASB commentary on the introduction to the Book of James)
Read and meditate on James 1:1-12 and then answer questions for each day. Remember, re-read the text each day before answering your questions.
(To help with your study, here is a word study for Chapter One of James. You too can do a word study by purchasing a Greek/ English dictionary at your local Christian bookstore. This will be a great help in your study of the Bible.)
James, Chapter 1--Greek Word Study
1. Bondslave - doulos - one who gives himself up to the will of another. Servant, slave, to be a slave of service to righteousness.
2. Joy - chara - fruit of the Spirit. Happiness outside of circumstances.
3. Trial - periasmois - temptation, trials with a beneficial effect and purpose.
4. Endurance - hupomone - patiently bearing up.
5. Perfect - teleio - completed, as complete as you can be a particular moment.
6. Complete, or entire - holokleros - sound in every part.
7. Wisdom - sophia - insight into the true nature of things.
8. Scatter, or disperse - diaspora - outside of the promised land
9. Faith--pistis--Firm persuasion, a conviction based upon hearing.
Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing from the word of God.”
Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
10. Believe--pisteuo (verb); belief--pistis (noun)
11. Double-minded--dipsuchos--literally, two souled, two minded
two different thoughts, two different ways.
12. Strip, put aside--ekduo--to take off, to strip off, used to describe stripping off of ones clothes
or a snake its skin.
13. Filthiness--ruparia--that which soils clothes, body or mind. Derivative of repos, meaning earwax.
14. Religion (worship)--threskeia--signifies worship in the external aspect in homage to God.
THE BOOK OF JAMES PERSONAL STUDY QUESTIONS -CHAPTER 1:1-12
DAY 1
1. How can trials be helpful to us? (1:3,4)
2. What kind of help does God provide for Christians to endure trials? (1:5)
DAY 2
1. What does it mean to ask without doubting? (1:6-8)
2. How is this different from humility and uncertainty? What does it mean to be double-minded?
DAY 3
1. When was the most trying time of your life? What kept you going? What did you learn from it?
DAY 4
1. What does 1:9-11 have to do with enduring trials? How could having an eternal outlook help you to endure your struggles in a most fruitful way?
DAY 5 – PERSONAL REFLECTION
1. What are some of the trials you are currently facing?
2. What would help you respond to your trials with true Joy?
Over the weekend continue to think about what you have been studying and learning. Allow the Lord to open your heart and mind in a new way as you worship Him Sunday Morning. Give Him all the glory due His name, for He loves you very much.
See you on Monday for our next week together.
In Jesus, Martha
Click Here to Go to Top of Page and Print Form