The Epistle of James: Linguistic Exegesis of an Early Christian Letter (McMaster Linguistic Exegesis of the New Testament)
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Overview
The Epistle of James is a collection of essays that applies to the book of James linguistic methods of analysis that are based on the same theoretical framework, namely Systemic-Functional Linguistics. This volume is unique in that it provides a theoretically consistent and unified approach to a single New Testament book, which makes the whole volume useful for researchers and students of James. Each essay makes its own creative use of this linguistic perspective to engage important critical questions and to pave new ground for Jacobean scholarship based on linguistic analysis. Various topics in this volume include the textual structure and cohesion of the letter, intertextuality, rhetorical strategies, ideological struggle, interpersonal relations, and other topics related to the letter’s social context and language use.
- Focuses on linguistic method in exegetical practice
- Provides a collection of linguistically informed exegetical analyses of a sub-corpus of the New Testament
- Engages important critical questions
- Introduction
- Mapping the Text: How Discourse Analysis Helps Reveal the Way through James
- Cohesion in James: A Response to Martin Dibelius
- Torah Observance without Faith: The Interlocutor of James 2:18 as a Critic of Jesus-Faith
- Minding the Gap: Linking the Thematic Relationship between Δίψυχος (Jas 1:8 and 4:8) and the Shema (Deut 6:4–5) through Hos 10:2
- An Analysis of James 2:14–26 with Special Reference to the Intertextual Reading of Abraham and Rahab
- The Rules of “Engagement”: Assessing the Function of the Diatribe in James 2:14–26 Using Critical Discourse Analysis
- Ask and Ye Shall Position the Readers: James’s Use of Questions to (Re-)Align His Readers
- Brothers, Sisters—Adulteresses! Establishing and Maintaining Tenor Relations in James
- Ἰακώβου Contra Mundum: Anti-Language and the Epistle of James
- Conclusion: Linguistic Exegesis of the Epistle of James with Reference to Exegetical Commentary Writing
- Zachary K. Dawson
- James D. Dvorak
- Benjamin B. Hunt
- Ji Hoe Kim
- Christopher D. Land
- Stanley E. Porter
- Jonathan M. Watt
- Cynthia Long Westfall
- Xiaxia E. Xue
James has emerged from an unlit corner in the library of early Christian scholarship onto the front table, and this series of studies, using systemic-functional linguistics wrapped up in classic historical exegesis, penetrates deeply into this letter with force and insight. For a long time this study will prove itself useful to anyone serious about studying James.
—Scot McKnight, Julius R. Mantey Chair of New Testament, Northern Seminary
This collection of essays tackles some of the difficult syntactic and structural aspects of James, at both macro and micro levels, through the use of modern linguistic analyses. Those working in linguistic approaches to the New Testament, as well as scholars who study the Letter of James in general, will want to consult this book.
—Alicia J. Batten, Professor of Religious Studies and Theological Studies, Conrad Grebel University College/University of Waterloo
We will always have room for new commentaries to address fresh applicational concerns that arise in our constantly changing cultures. But what I appreciate about the new LENT series—and its inaugural volume on James—is that it attempts to make advances on the meaning concerns in commentary writing . . . this series proposes to fill a gap in the production of NT commentaries that will be welcomed for its attempts.
—Douglas S. Huffman, Associate Dean, Division of Biblical and Theological Studies, Professor of New Testament, Biola University
- Title: The Epistle of James: Linguistic Exegesis of an Early Christian Letter
- Editors: James D. Dvorak and Zachary K. Dawson
- Series: McMaster Linguistic Exegesis of the New Testament (LENT)
- Publisher: Wipf & Stock
- Publication Date: 2019
- Pages: 348
- Resource Type: Collected Essays
- Topic: James
James D. Dvorak is Professor of Greek and New Testament at Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Zachary K. Dawson is a PhD candidate in New Testament at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario