Day 37 - James 2:1-2 Peter 1:15

James

The author of the Epistle of James is generally considered to be the half-brother of Jesus. He is mentioned both in the gospels and Acts. Although there have been attempts to make James a cousin of Jesus, or a son of Joseph by a previous marriage, these claims have no biblical support and are generally put forth as an attempt of Rome to justify their doctrine and to explain the perpetual virginity of Mary. The theme of James is its clear teaching on living the Christian life. Some have said that, for James, real faith must work. That is not to say that James promotes a works-based salvation, but that faith that is real will be clearly observable in the lives of believers.

Assuming the author of James to be the brother of our Lord, the book must certainly be dated prior to his death in AD 62. One must note, too, that without any reference to the Jerusalem Council of AD 49, the book was likely written prior to that. Thus, James is generally dated between AD 45 and 48.

Peter

Peter the fisherman and his brother Andrew, according to Matthew, were the first of the twelve to be called into the service of the Lord. The gospels describe Peter as a brash, quick-spoken, quick-tempered man, known more for his tactless approach and forthright speech than for considered deliberate action. Peter, along with James and John were the disciples in Jesus' inner circle. He witnessed the transfiguration; it was Peter who admitted that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16) at Caesarea Philippi; and it was Peter who swore allegiance to Christ on the night He was betrayed. This same Peter abandoned Jesus during His trial and was restored at Galilee only days later in order that he would speak boldly the words of Joel the prophet on the day of Pentecost. A man who had been so deeply in remorse became the boldest of the spokesmen in Jerusalem.

From the tone and admonitions in his letter, one may assume that the persecutions of the Church under Nero had begun, or were just beginning around AD 64. It does not appear that he was a prisoner of Rome at the time of writing although he does state that "She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings" (1 Peter 5:13). Perhaps this is used cryptically of Rome and the church located there as Babylon had for years been symbolic of everything hostile to God and His people (cf. Zechariah 5:5-11). Since Peter was martyred around AD 67 or 68, 1 Peter must have been written between AD 64 and 67.

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