Publisher's Synopsis
The Letter of James describes Christian wisdom-both its theoretical knowledge and practical know-how-as embodied within a community. Since James reverberates with themes from the rich biblical wisdom tradition-from the sages of ancient Israel through the teachings of Jesus and Paul-we should review the working ideas of that tradition before turning to the letter's instruction. The themes of biblical wisdom emerged from the teaching faculty of ancient Israel who sought to educate the public about the rules to follow for a well-lived life. The Hebrew word for wisdom, hokma, reflects this classroom setting: its root meaning suggests using our God-given intelligence to pursue the insight and know-how we need to negotiate life in the public square.
Throughout the history of our country, Christians have enjoyed majority status and the deference that goes with it, but that circumstance has changed dramatically in recent years. Being a Christian has shifted from being an asset to being a liability (socially speaking), with many associating our faith with bigotry, hypocrisy, and a judgmental spirit - and the situation doesn't seem likely to change in the foreseeable future. This means that Christians must learn to live according to their marginalized status and do with all the wisdom God supplies. We not only hold firmly to our convictions but do so in a manner that causes others to see Jesus in us despite their prejudices. That's what it means to be dispossessed, and it is why James' message is so vital for our times.
