7mm 7mm 83mm 155mm 22.5mm 155mm 83mm James Through the Centuries Gowler David B. Gowler is The Dr. Lovick Pierce and Bishop George F. Pierce Chair of Religion at Oxford James College, Emory University, USA. He has published Through the Centuries dozens of books, articles, book chapters, and book reviews, and since 1991 has served as co-editor of David B. Gowler Emory Studies in Early Christianity. James Through the Centuries This unique commentary on James by an outstanding New Testament specialist, David “Gowler’s commentary locates James not only at various intersections in the history B. Gowler, provides a broad range of original of learned commentary, from Chrysostom to Kierkegaard, but even more richly in the perspectives on how people have interpreted, history of icons, mediaeval woodcuts and other artistic representations, in monastic and been influenced by, this important epistle. rules, hymnody, literature, political polemics, and much more. This is a breathtaking survey of the ways, both overt and subtle, that James has become embedded in The author explores a vast array of interpretations multiple aspects of Western culture.” extending far beyond theological commentary, John S. Kloppenborg, University of Toronto sermons, and hymns, to also embrace the epistle’s influences on literature, art, politics, “In an engaging manner, David Gowler tells the story of the reception of the letter and social theory. The work includes examples of James through the centuries. Along the way we meet an eclectic group of of how successive generations have portrayed interpreters, some well-known and others not. The result is that we learn not only the historical figure of James the Just, in both about how James was read in scholarly circles, but also among the more marginal, pictorial and textual form. Contextualizing his outside of the academy. Such a story is indeed a tribute to the letter of James.” analysis with excerpts from key documents, Alicia Batten, Conrad Grebel University College at University of Waterloo including artistic representations of the epistle, the author reviews the dynamic interactions between the James and Jesus traditions and compares James’s epistle with those of Paul. The volume highlights James’s particular concern for the poor and marginalized, charting the many responses to this aspect of its legacy. Drawing on sources as varied as William Shakespeare, John Calvin, Charles Schultz’s Peanuts, and political 229mm cartoons, this is an exhaustive study of the theological and cultural debates sparked by the Epistle of James. Wiley Blackwell Bible Commentaries David B. Gowler James Through the Centuries Wiley Blackwell Bible Commentaries Series Editors: John Sawyer, Christopher Rowland, Judith Kovacs, David M. Gunn John Through the Centuries Galatians Through the Centuries Mark Edwards John Riches Revelation Through the Centuries Pastoral Epistles Through Judith Kovacs & Christopher Rowland the Centuries Judges Through the Centuries Jay Twomey David M. Gunn 1 & 2 Thessalonians Through Exodus Through the Centuries the Centuries Scott M. Langston Anthony C. Thiselton Ecclesiastes Through the Centuries Six Minor Prophets Through Eric S. Christianson the Centuries Esther Through the Centuries By Richard Coggins and Jin H. Han Jo Carruthers Lamentations Through the Centuries Psalms Through the Centuries: Paul M. Joyce and Diana Lipton Volume I James Through the Centuries Susan Gillingham David B. Gowler Forthcoming: 1 & 2 Samuel Through the Centuries 1 Corinthians Through the Centuries David M. Gunn Jorunn Okland 1 & 2 Kings Through the Centuries Genesis 1–21 Through the Centuries Martin O’Kane Christopher Heard Psalms Through the Centuries: Genesis 22–50 Through the Centuries Volume II Christopher Heard Susan Gillingham Deuteronomy Through the Centuries Song of Songs Through the Jonathan Campbell Centuries Daniel Through the Centuries Fiona Black Dennis Tucker Isaiah Through the Centuries Luke Through the Centuries John F. A. Sawyer Mark Bilby Jeremiah Through the Centuries Matthew Through the Centuries Mary Chilton Callaway Ian Boxall Ezekiel Through the Centuries Chronicles Through the Centuries Andrew Mein Blaire French Mark Through the Centuries Colossians and Philemon Through the Christine Joynes Centuries The Acts of the Apostles Through the Harry O. Maier Centuries Numbers Through the Centuries Heidi J. Hornik and Mikeal C. Parsons Ryan P. O’Dowd Romans Through the Centuries Job Through the Centuries Paul Fiddes David Tollerton and Stephen J. Vicchio James Through the Centuries David Gowler B. This edition first published 2014 © 2014 David B. Gowler Registered Office John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK Editorial Offices 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148–5020, USA 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UK The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK For details of our global editorial offices, for customer services, and for information about how to apply for permission to reuse the copyright material in this book please see our website at www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell. The right of David B. Gowler to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher. Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author(s) have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. It is sold on the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services and neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Gowler, David B., 1958– James through the centuries / David B. Gowler. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4051-5114-6 (cloth) 1. Bible. James–Commentaries. I. Title. BS2785.53.G69 2014 227′.9107–dc23 2013020984 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Cover image: St Michael fighting the dragon, woodcut by Albrecht Dürer, 1498, from The Revelation of St John (Revelation 12:7–9) Cover design by www.cyandesign.co.uk Set in /.pt Minion by SPi Publisher Services, Pondicherry, India 1 2014 In memory of Aurelia Stookey and Mitchell Stookey Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. James 3:13 Contents List of Plates ix Series Editors’ Preface xii Preface xiv Acknowledgements xviii Introduction 1 James 1:1–11: Trials, Endurance, Wisdom, and the Exalted Poor 63 James 1:12–27: Trials, Endurance, and Doers of the Word 99 viii Contents James 2:1–13: Deeds of Faith, the Chosen Poor, and the Law of Liberty 143 James 2:14–26: Faith without Works Is Dead 173 James 3:1–12: The Power and Danger of Speech 204 James 3:13–4:12: The Fruits of Wisdom versus Friendship with the World 219 James 4:13–5:6: The Sovereignty of God and God’s Judgment upon the Rich 252 James 5:7–11: The Patience of the Faithful and the Compassion of the Lord 278 James 5:12–20: Speech and Actions in the Community of the Faithful 288 Biographies 317 References 323 Index of Names 331 Index of Subjects 335 List Plates of 1.1: Mural of the flight into Egypt (from left to right: James, Joseph, Jesus, and Mary), Dormition Abbey, Jerusalem 33 1.2: The martyrdom of James, Sts. James Cathedral, Jerusalem 42 1.3: The martyrdom of James, James thrown from the pinnacle of the Temple, Sts. James Cathedral, Jerusalem 42 1.4: The martyrdom of James, James about to be struck with the fuller’s club, Sts. James Cathedral, Jerusalem 42 1.5: James with episcopal robes, wearing a mitre, and holding a crozier, a painting by E. Esme in the western courtyard of Sts. James Cathedral, Jerusalem 43 1.6: James (close-up view) with episcopal robes, wearing a mitre, and holding a crozier, in the western courtyard of Sts. James Cathedral, Jerusalem 43 x List of Plates 1.7: The throne of St. James, chancel area, Sts. James Cathedral, Jerusalem 44 1.8: Painting of St. James of Jerusalem seated on the chair of the episcopate, chancel area, Sts. James Cathedral, Jerusalem 44 1.9: Painting of St. James of Jerusalem seated on the chair of the episcopate (close-up view), chancel area, Sts. James Cathedral, Jerusalem 45 1.10: The throne of St. James with paintings of the patriarchs of Jerusalem in the background, Sts. James Cathedral, Jerusalem 45 1.11: Painting of St. James as the first patriarch of Jerusalem, Sts. James Cathedral, Jerusalem 45 1.12: Painting of Mary and Jesus (center), James the Great (left), and James of Jerusalem (right), Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem 46 1.13: Close-up view showing James the Great (left) and Mary and Jesus (right), Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem 46 1.14: Close-up view showing Mary and Jesus (left) and James of Jerusalem (right), Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem 46 1.15: Painting of St.