The Epistle of James: Proven Character through Testing

by Zane C. Hodges

Publisher:

Grace Evangelical Society

, 1994

Overview

The epistle of James is a beautifully constructed Christian letter written by an author with a pastor’s heart. The writer is a skilled communicator. His style is both terse and graphic, employing a wide range of effective illustrations, making it easy to believe that he also taught God’s truth orally with considerable power. An indispensible element of the New Testament canon, the letter’s profound substance renders invalid Luther’s initial evaluation of the work as a “right strawy epistle.” The book of James is the voice of a great Christian leader whose grasp of the spiritual life and of human nature is equal to any in the canon of New Testament Scripture. The modern Church ignores James’s immensely practical admonitions at its own peril. In every way the epistle of James justifies the church’s historic, collective judgment that it belongs among the writings which are given by inspiration of God. Hodges’ commentary affirms the position of James in the New Testament canon and its usefulness for the church today.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Thus the teaching that goes by the name of ‘Lordship Salvation’ is flawed at its core. By insisting that saving faith is an act of the will, it demolishes the biblical concept of faith as an essentially passive and assured reception of God’s truth. Biblical saving faith is a conviction or persuasion about what God says to us in the Gospel (Rom 4:21). There is no place here for man’s will—even as influenced by God’s Spirit. God commands the light of His Word to shine into our hearts and, like blind men suddenly able to see, we perceive it as truth (2 Cor 4:6). Once received as truth, i.e., believed, there is no room for man’s will to act. Faith and regeneration have already occurred.” (Page 32)

“Death, then, is the grandchild of sinful lust or desire! Death is the cul-de-sac into which our lusts can lead us.” (Page 29)

“other words, in his various trials, the wealthy believer should say to God: ‘Thanks, I needed that!’” (Page 24)

“As James’s and Paul’s words reveal—and as both Luther and Calvin understood—faith is not an act of the human will, but rather a firm conviction about the truth of God when we are illuminated by it.” (Page 31)

“God’s intention in allowing our faith to be tested is to produce patience, more accurately, ‘endurance’ or ‘perseverance.’ The author of Proverbs wrote, If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small (Prov 24:10). God is in the business of building up strong Christian men and women who can ‘persevere’ in hard times without fainting.” (Page 19)

Praise for the Print Edition

I own many commentaries on James, but none of them captures the meaning of James so clearly and simply as this one. I recommend it above all others.

—Earl D. Radmacher, Th.D. President Emeritus, Western Seminary, Portland, Oregon

Read this book only if you are prepared to be challenged by a clear and convincing presentation of such topics as the tongue, anger, affluence, and a lifestyle that will be rewarded.

—Art Farstad, Executive Director, New King James Version, Dallas, Texas

Product Details

• Title: The Epistle of James: Proven Character Through Testing
• Author: Zane C. Hodges
• Publisher: Grace Evangelical Society
• Publication Date: 1994
• Pages: 128

About Zane C. Hodges

Zane C. Hodges (1932–2008) was the founder and president of Kerugma, Inc. He was the chairman of the New Testament Department at Dallas Theological Seminary, where he taught for 27 years. Hodges graduated from Wheaton College and Dallas Theological Seminary. He served for over 40 years as a pastor and authored many articles and books such as A Free Grace Primer.