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James 1:1
1 James [Iakobos], a servant [doulos] of God [theos] and [kai] of the Lord [kurios] Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos], to the
twelve [dodeka] tribes [phule] which [en] are scattered
abroad [diaspora], greeting [chairo]. KJV-Interlinear
1 James, a bond-servant of God
and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad,
greetings. NASB
From the fall, to the Assyrians, of the Northern
Kingdom, also called Israel in its day, where the northern ten tribes
disappeared forever from history, to the fall of Judah to the Babylonian Empire,
to the final dispersion of Judah at the hand of Rome in 70 A.D., even to our
present day, the Jewish people have lived and established permanent residences,
in foreign lands all across the planet.
At the time of this writing, which we presume to be
around 45 A.D., and prior to the Roman sacking of Jerusalem and the cities of
Judah in 70 A.D., here James writes to Jewish peoples who have lived
continually in foreign lands, for centuries.
There were originally thirteen tribes, but remember
that the Tribe of Levi did not possess any territory as they were a Priesthood
and responsible for the maintenance of the scriptures.
We have several references to the Jews living in
foreign lands.Even as early as the book
of Esther under a king of Persia, the Jewish peoples lived in diverse places
from Ethiopia to India.
Ezek. 11:16
16 'Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord God,' Though I
had removed them far away among the nations, and though I had scattered them
among the countries, yet I was a sanctuary for them a little while in the
countries where they had gone. ''NASB
Est. 3:8
8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, 'There is a
certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces
of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of all other people, and
they do not observe the king's laws, so it is not in the king's interest to let
them remain. NASB
Acts 2:5
5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men,
from every nation under heaven. NASB
Not all Jewish people who had been disbursed in wars
and such, returned to Judah, when the opportunity presented itself.
Many of these were the faithful, who carried with them
copies of the scriptures. Copies in whatever form they had in their day, for
dissemination to people.They were Jews
who looked to the coming savior, but were not present in Judah when that time
in history arrived.
There are two kinds of Jews.The first are those who have believed in the
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.People
who believe that He is the promised Messiah and has already come.Then there are those who have rejected
Christ, and are still waiting for Him to come.
The first group are of course Christians and saved.
The latter group still pursue Judaism, and the many
regulations it imposes on its followers.They are still waiting for a savior to come and not necessarily to save
them, but to redeem them for their pursuit of their human effort by keeping the
law and the many moral codes contained within Judaism.These are unbelievers and have missed the
whole point of the Old Testament scriptures.
Though all Jews may be genetic descendants from
Abraham, however salvation and the family and nation of God is not genetic, but
spiritual.Faith in Christ enters you
into that family and nation, not physical human birth.
Many if not most of these Jewish peoples, have lived
lives under oppression and prejudice, and have been persecuted during their
lives.And it is to these folks that
this book is primarily addressed, but likewise, since the book is addressed to
all believers who may or will be exposed to suffering, it is addressed to all
of us as well.
James addresses God the Father, and Christ, who are
both God.The former, the Father, who is
acknowledged by all Jewish peoples, but specifically to the Lord, who is the
only means of access to the Father.
Now is the time to post a prayer.
End Of Lesson
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
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