Sermon
Who was the Author of the Book of James?
Publisher transcript
Transcript
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Last week after service, I was talking to
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various people, and there was so much excitement
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that we're in the book of James,
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Janet c arcadia. And we have to goes,
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I can't believe we're in this book of
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James She says, this is my favorite book
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of all the bible books. You know? And
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it's a favorite of many people. And if
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it's not your favorite... It's probably near the
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top of your list. Because it's such a
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powerful book.
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It's
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from the get go, it's very, very powerful,
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and I'm so encouraged
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because I believe that James is such an
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important book for the times in which we
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are living.
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When there's more
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persecution in the church here in the United
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States of America, on the horizon than there's
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ever been.
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Because you see the the Woke mafia rising,
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you know? And the anti Christian sentiments not
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only in our country, but around the world
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where it comes from islam,
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but it comes from liberal wisdom. Did you
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see the opening act of the Olympics?
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I mean, mind blowing stuff going on right
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now, guys? And the writing is on the
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wall, but more than the writing that we
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see on the wall is the writing in
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scripture is the word of God warns that
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these times would come.
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And this letter when you look at James
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chapter 1 verse 1 is addressed. James, a
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bond servant of God, and of the Lord
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Jesus Christ to the 12 tribes who are
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dispersed or scattered broad greetings.
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He's writing to believers who have been scattered
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or dispersed.
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Throughout
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Throughout Sam different parts of the Roman empire
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because of persecution, we're gonna get in that
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context a little bit today. Because we've looked
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about what it meant beans to be a
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servant already. We looked at a question who
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James is. We talked about some of the
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evidence is, the main evidence. I believe the
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best evidence is that people have that he's
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the brother of Jesus. Today we'll be looking
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at the best evidence as that he's the
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apostle
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apostle James. That Jesus picked in it's in
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a apostolic letter carrying the weight of an
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apostle. We'll look at that as well.
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But we also look at the idea of
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being scattered. So we'll get through verse 1
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And usually, if I start a book, if
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you go to my first time I went
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through Revelation, revelation 11I,
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like, Abc BCDEFG
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as parts of my verse 1 introductory.
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I mean, that's why it took gears to
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get through that 1. And the second time
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we went through it. But we're just gonna
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do 2 in
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James chapter 1 verse 1. And we'll talk
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about what it means to be scattered. So
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I love the idea when we look at
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who who wrote this, we're talk about, you
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know, who what where when and why as
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we go through this. And and when are
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we talking about who would have written it,
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and does the fact that they've been scattered,
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and they're being persecuted some of them to
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a degree.
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Relate to who the author might be. I
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believe it very likely does.
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At the end of the day,
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I I do believe it's 1 of the
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2 James,
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James the apostle
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or James, the brother of Jesus.
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We're not told specifically. It's not some... This
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is would be a silly thing the world
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to divide over. That'd be super mature to
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divide over who you think it is and
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make a big issue of it. But we
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shouldn't look at it because if I'm going
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through a letter, I wanna look at the
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evidence of who it might be, that wrote
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to me even though I know ultimately it's
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Learn. But so we're gonna check that out.
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I have a leading,
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you know, a lot of times if you
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asked me who wrote it Out say I'm
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actually in between. And even right now, I
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am in between.
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You know? But when I'm looking at James,
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you know, the son of the brother of
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Jesus, and I'm looking at the evidence that.
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I, yeah, Looks like it could be him.
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Then when I look at James apostle I'm
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like,
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whoa, really looks like could be him, you
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know. So because there's there's good there's good
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suggestive evidence for both of them, but it
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was probably written by 1 unless we get
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to heaven and they... They their health... They're
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they're hanging out together smiling that. We wrote
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it together.
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Know if anybody's had that theory. It popped
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in my head. I thought. Not probably not
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because it's really interesting when you look at
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this book.
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I'm excited about the book of James. Can
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you tell
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You know? You're you're... If you if you
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go to a church anywhere, the pastor should
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be excited about the word of god, Amen.
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Should it be this boring thing, you know?
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Because the word of God is not boring.
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It's a sin to make the word of
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God boring. You know? It's an it's the
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word of God. It's living in it's active,
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and it's interesting because when we look at
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James,
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We looked at some of the evidence
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of,
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James, But the reason I believe
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this is such a per... It's pertinent no
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matter when you live in church history.
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But because he's addressing
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the believers who had been. It's definitely addressed
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to believers. So we talking about the 12
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tribes of Israel that have been scattered. He's
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talking about the earliest Christians.
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The Jewish believers, early church was Jewish before
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gentile inclusion.
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And they're scattered we'll see pretty soon because
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of persecution.
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And
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that really pertains to 1 what's happened in
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the world today.
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And what
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is going to be happening to believers here
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in our country before who knows how long,
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especially if the
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end of the end of day come in
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our lifetime, but we could see as I
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said, the writing not just on the wall,
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but in holy scripture. Amen. Now it's interesting.
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We're gonna look again at the author who
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offered it. And if I take too much
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rehearsing what I said last time about the
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evidence that it was Jesus brother, James that
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wrote it. I'll take up the space I
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need to give to the other James, but
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I would do wanna reiterate, so you recognize
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that you... So you don't get the in
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his message and say, oh, it's a slam
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dunk. Of course, it's the apostle James
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because you might have missed that message.
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So you wanna also see... I wanna be
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fair.
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Because I want to give them both a
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fair shake.
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We know it's 1 of the
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2 most
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prominent James. Why? Because the James that wrote
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it expect to be understood because you wouldn't
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you wouldn't give any credit to a letter
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that just showed up you didn't know who
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it was.
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Whoever's
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identifying Elf has James, the serve of God
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and the
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end of the Lord Jesus Christ to the
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12 tribes who are dispersed abroad. Greetings, whoever's
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writing those first words.
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Understands that is understood have credibility, But he's
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also understood to be, yes who?
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James, a James that they would know.
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What makes it confusing is, well if it's
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a James they would know how can we're
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deciding whether it's 1 or 2 because in
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the time that it was written
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Depending on when it was written, 1 James
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was more prominent than the other James.
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In the first several chapters of the book
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of acts,
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which James was the prominent James.
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James the apostle. I mean, he was he
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was the only James following Jesus for the...
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Jesus ministry. Right?
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The other James they get saved until he
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saw. Jesus risen from the dead, and Jesus
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appeared to him.
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And you see him in acts chapter 1
Acts 1 chapter mention
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though.
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That James. But you don't see his name.
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It just says, you know, it mentions the
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other apostles by name, but he is... It
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mentioned mentions anne Mary and his brothers.
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That trip, Mary and all the brothers get
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saved when they see Jesus risen from the
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dead. And they're there. But James, His brother
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isn't even mention by name for the first
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11 chapters of bug acts. He's nowhere to
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be found by name.
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Because he's not prominent.
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So if James wrote his... This this is
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important. If James wrote his letter in the
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early chapters the book of acts,
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not even just early. The first 10 chapters
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the book or so.
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I believe the I believe that would be
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almost pretty much a slam dunk that we're
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talking about the apostle, James. Because they understand
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all this is from James Apostle.
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However, if it was written after he was
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marty, which happens in acts chapter 12,
Acts 12 chapter mention
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It was written after he was marty.
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I think it's pretty much a slam dunk.
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It's James the brother of Jesus.
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Because this other 1 is dead, and we
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don't believe that he's communicating from this spirit
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world. Right man?
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So it depends on when it was written
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and that's a big deal.
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Okay.
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And that's why I kinda chuckle when I
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I have a ton of kilometers. I love
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to read what everybody's is saying. I think
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that's wise. Wisdom a multitude of counselors Amen.
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I love I love commentaries and so forth.
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But I chuck went inside and I get
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a little ticked off you. They, oh, this
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was written by James, the brother of of,
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of, jeez. I'm like, wait a minute.
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How do you know that?
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How do you know the data? You don't
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know for sure when the date
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what's the indicators of when it was written
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and so forth.
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But...
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And that's not because I'm, like, James Apostle
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wrote it.
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No It's because, you know what? Don't just
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currently repeat things that you read in commentaries
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guys.
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Or that are popular in the church.
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If that was the case, we'd all be
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pre.
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We all believe that once were saying we
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could just live like hell because that's so
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popular in the teach. No. We don't just
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believe what's popular out there.
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Okay? Although, I will say this when a
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when the prep proponents of scholars agree on
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something
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it it should get your attention though. So
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okay. Why?
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And I believe that the evidence that James
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wrote, and he's a son of he's a
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brother of Jesus.
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I believe the evidence is pretty interesting.
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I believe that,
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but it's not as even
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1 of the top scholars who holds that
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view
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Douglas Moo,
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acknowledges. It's not proof. You know, We don't
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know for sure. He acknowledges that. But the
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word greetings I went through, and I gotta
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be careful I'm already spending too much time
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on this, but... And I talked about this
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last time, so I'll just say this. The
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word they use is for greetings is the
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same. Words that James
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the brother, Jesus uses in acts chapter
Acts 15 chapter mention
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15
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after the other James dead, and he writes
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to the Gentile.
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Same Greek word. However, some will say, yeah.
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This
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this is like a unique word is not.
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I show another... I show it's not german
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just to that James, even the book of
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acts. Chapter 15, we see a pagan writer.
Acts 15 chapter mention
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We see his letter, and it starts with
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a same word for greetings.
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So it's not like unique stamp of James.
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Okay? And it wasn't as only James, the
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brother of Jesus could use that word. Although
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it is interesting and potentially at least suggested
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that it could have been him.
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But when I see that
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listen to this. When I see that as
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the main proof...
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It's kinda weak
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compared to what you're gonna see with the
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apostle James. Just late, this my opinion, you
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know.
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So you're saying the Apostle James wrote it.
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I don't know for sure.
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I hate to be wrong about anything. I
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wanna be right before God. That's why Hate
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to be wrong. That's me loud I'm preaching
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for the pulpit. You know?
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So
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I wanna be careful.
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So you talked to me 6 months to
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James. I might say, oh, yeah. Maybe it
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was.
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James the brother of Jesus.
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You talk to me right now? Mh. I'd
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say 50 50
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last week, baby.
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Let say 64
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70, maybe, James Apostle right now. I don't
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know for sure, but I'm check this out.
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Okay.
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Check this out. 1 thing I know is
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when I talk to people about who wrote
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Luke of James, they just say the book
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of James, They say James Brother Jesus, and
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I ask for... If they've seen the evidence
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about the apostle paul or the apostle James.
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And I know they haven't seen the evidence
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that I have to show, you know?
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Because some of it is stuff that I
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haven't seen.
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I memorized the first chapter of the book
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of James
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preparing this year for the book of James.
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And in memorizing it, some things really struck
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me. That's interesting,
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but we'll get into that now.
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So we can agree that it's a James
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that they... The people the audience knows,
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and we could agree that early on the
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book of acts. The other James isn't even
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mentioned by name for 11 chapters.
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So the apostle James,
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is is
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prominent
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as far as when you see what happens
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in the church persecuted and who hair a
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grip a singles out.
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However,
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later,
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of course,
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James, the Brother of Jesus is incredibly prominent
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just to give you a few more things
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about that brother because I wanna say give
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him a fair shake.
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James a brother Jesus in acts. He's the
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1 that writes the letter for the apostles.
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Not Peter.
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Interesting.
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I think that's significant.
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We read first Corinthians 15 that the apostle
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Paul appeared to not change just james the
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apostle appeared to him, but he also appeared
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to his brother.
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Do you know that?
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It's important to understand. He appeared to his
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brother?
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Like he was gonna be significant.
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When you read the book of Jude, the
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book of Jude, I memorized that book last
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year, and that's an amazing book and Jude
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tells us that he is the brother of
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James, a bond of Jesus Christ. Brother what
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James. Jude was a brother of James, who's
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a brother of Jesus.
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So James was a known commodity known person
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when Jude wrote his book, which was much
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later than this, Of course, but still he
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was a known person. So... And then when
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James is marty
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in chapters 12.
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He's marty.
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They're told to go... And then Peter's arrested.
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And that Peter gets out of prison,
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says go tell James.
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And the brethren,
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which James is talking about then.
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James the brother, Jesus
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because the other... Don't go tell James the
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apostle. He was just killed.
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Right?
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Otherwise, be confusing. Right? Rachel James Which 1?
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Well, he's got killed. Obviously he's not him.
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But it shows you that that James had
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some prominence at least in those last years.
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Or at last at least a short time,
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he rei to prominence prior to the James
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Marty. This has very, very interesting
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stuff. That's why I say, it's not an
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easy decision. But I love it because when
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we look at it, we get to know
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the book of James better. In this message,
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you'd be like, wasn't it just about who
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the author is.
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It's about what's going on in this church,
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and it's powerful.
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Now,
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Here's some of the evidence I want to
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talk about.
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This is interesting.
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The the evidence is... What's interesting is the
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oldest Latin manuscript.
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And some are most people are under in
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the assumption that the new testament, the scripture
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was were in to Greek and then translated
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right to Latin first. It wasn't translated to
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Latin first.
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It was translated
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Listen, it was translated to Syria
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first. But the Latin witness translated Latin pretty
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quick. The Oldest Latin manuscript we have of
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James is attributed to James the son of
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Z.
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Think that's interesting.
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That's what they believed
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in the transcription of that manuscript,
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but listen to this, not just Latin, another
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language.
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The oldest copy version we have of the
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Siri
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k,
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which was a,
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a form of Ara,
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which was spoken in by the chief center
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of, are you guys listening? The chief center
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of Christianity
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in the Middle East,
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Turkey and so forth.
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Syria was used, and the scriptures were read
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early on,
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checked this out.
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The early church,
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Syria.
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First
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version we have of James
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in Syria,
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which was 1 of the main languages that
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scriptures was translate to is it's attributed to
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guess who again.
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James, the son, James the apostle.
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So the earliest versions we have of James
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in the in the new... In ancient history,
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in ancient...
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Latin and in, or just say Latin. Because
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it's still the agent latin if you're learning
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Latin. And and Syria
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is
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they're both attributed
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jane... Attributing James to the apostle, James. In
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fact,
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the P
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Syria has it's known,
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is
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dates way back to
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the the earliest parts of this, and it
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said translation the bible. You see it right
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up there. K?
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Listen to this. This is the P Ser
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version. It says the 3 epi of the
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3 apostles. This is what So if you
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open this translation, Right? Which began to be
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written in the latter part of the second
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century. Right? And it's interesting. We even have
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an attribution from Eu cbs,
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mentioning this,
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talking about how it was written between, at
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least the gospel portions of it, written between
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01:60 and 1 80 80. That's a blessing
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to us because a lot of the critics
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of Christianity, which say, the gospel came much
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later And right there it shows that the
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gospel it has all 4 gospel in it.
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We're written quite early.
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And they have copies, and the copies are
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copies and copies back to the original manuscript,
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which is quite interesting.
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But what's interesting in the early 4 hundreds,
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guess what you had.
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A copy of the new testament.
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It was could called the Pas
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Siri,
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Siri. And this copy of the new testament
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contained all the books new testament
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except second and third John,
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Jude,
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second Peter in the book revelation.
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K? They're still trying to bring the the
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cannon together and some had the moratorium text.
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That's a whole other thing. I don't get
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too deep because I'm battling with time, which
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I always do.
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But I wanna say this to you guys.
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Is
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at the beginning
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before you get to
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right in front of James.
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Second, Peter.
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And first, John. You know what you read?
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Read it up there.
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The... It's the 3 epi of the 3
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what.
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Apostles.
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Before whose eyes, our Lord was what.
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Himself.
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That is James and Peter and John.
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Was j was James, the son of the
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was James the brother, Jesus there the trans
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creation. Was wanna... Was he is that James?
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No it was James Who, the apostle. So
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I'm just letting you know that it's not
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like... And but what, I noticed this when
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I reached a commentary as I'll mention, well,
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It's not a testament to who wrote it
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in the earliest church fathers, but later on,
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it's a tradition that James, the brother Jesus
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wrote it. I'm like, you guys. How come
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you're not talking about the actual manuscripts in
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in whose name? They believed it was, you
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know? So it's important to understand or at
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least see this, it's quite interesting, I think.
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So
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they attribute it to James the apostle.
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Okay?
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Now next,
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the letters of James Peter and John Now.
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It's interesting
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in the Bae,
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when you think of these ancient manuscripts, you...
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I'm just letting you know. So if you're
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Syria speaker in the Middle East and there's
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all kinds of churches and denomination that
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spared from them. You're all understanding this to
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be for the most part. Why would they
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understand this was written by James the apostle.
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That's good questions. You know?
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It's a good question.
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They believe it was the apostle. James. Why.
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Let's start looking at some of that. First
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of all, look at Matthew chapter 10 verse
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2, If you don't have your bible, you
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can look up there. You can look up
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there anyway. But we see that Jesus is
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the appointed 12 apostles.
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And the first one's mentioned are Peter and
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Andrew, and then
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Peter and Andrew his brother, then James, the
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son of Z and John his brother. Was
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John and Peter and James
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important in the early church. Absolutely. You're gonna
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see that Jesus had an inner circle folks.
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He had the 12 apostles, but you know
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who the 3
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closest the apostles were to him that he
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picked to be the 3 main leaders,
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it was Peter.
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It was James, and it was John.
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And it's interesting because,
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usually, you'll see James name before you'll see
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John's name even. And John wrote 5
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works of the new testament first a segment
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third John,
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the Gospel John and the book of revelation.
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So it would not shock me if John
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the Apostle had at least 1 book.
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Being the older brother. I'd hope you get
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won, maybe, but I don't know. You know?
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So it's interesting.
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They were part of the big 3,
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being groomed by Jesus to be leaders
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look at Matthew chapter 3 3 verse 13
Matthew 3 chapter mention
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because liquid Jesus nickname these apostles.
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Matthew chapter
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can you go now? I'm sorry. To Mark
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chapter 3 verse 13.
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Mark chapter 3 verse 13. Is that up
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there next after Matthew?
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Mark chapter 3 verse 13.
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Okay If you don't have that, that's okay.
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James says the son of Z
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And John, the brother of James. So James
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and John or brothers are... What's their occupation?
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They're both white. Do remember?
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Fishermen.
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Pan picked by Jesus. Says in Mark 03:13,
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Jesus a son of Z,
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and John the brother you can read up
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there. Of James, I might have the attribution
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run. To whom he gave what, The name's
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what.
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Okay? Bow energies. K? Bow energies, that is
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sons of what.
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Thunder. So Peter,
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you know, these 2 are nicknamed Sons of
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Thunder.
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K? They're leaders in the early church.
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Why do you think they were given the
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name sons
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of Thunder
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because they were tempt because
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They had some,
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you know, they had to get control of
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their outburst.
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You know, Peter had some problems too. Aren't
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you glad god's patient with us?
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Look at what happens, they're going through Sam,
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and they're gonna state at a village and
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they're rejected and Jesus is told he can't
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stay there because they find out he's going
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to Jerusalem. And the Samaritan did not like
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the dealings with the Jews and and and...
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And and Jerusalem, and they tell them you
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can't stay here. So guess what? James and
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John get really ticked off. And look what
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we read about in chapter 9 of Luke
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09:24.
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Not Luke 09:54.
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We read this. When his disciples, James and
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John saw this?
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They said, Lord, do you want us to
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command fire to come down from heaven and
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consume them?
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He checked that out.
-
Jesus said he came to seek and say
-
that which lost. Right? And they're like, they're
-
rejecting my Jesus. You know?
-
Jesus is a son of god that rejecting
-
him.
-
Jesus.
-
James has this idea, John. They've probably talked
-
about because they come together.
-
Why us to just call heaven down is
-
wipe them out for you. You know?
-
And it goes on to say that Jesus
-
rebuked them.
-
Some manuscripts have Jesus saying. You do not
-
know what spirit you're of.
-
You know? So it's very interesting
-
they're giving this named sons of Thunder was
-
not a compliment.
-
Okay? Wasn't like, oh, Jesus was starting the
-
motorcycle gang. You know, the sons of thunder.
-
You know, and this is cool. No. It
-
it's something that they need to grow past,
-
and it's important because guess what. Sometimes we
-
get upset when our Jesus has talked about.
-
Or mocked.
-
In fact, look at this next slide.
-
This was the op from the opening ceremonies
-
of the Olympics.
-
Okay?
-
Well, there's a vinci painted in the last
-
supper butt above it. You have these these
-
trans,
-
people,
-
mocking
-
in the opening ceremony, bla,
-
mocking the Lord Jesus Christ. Okay?
-
And
-
when I see that stuff, it just... In
-
fact, let's... There's a little kid there by
-
the way, you know, because the trans people
-
are after the boys. Right? And they got,
-
you that, you know, gay trans hour or
-
whatever it is, you know, in the school
-
story time. And thereafter our children, we've proven
-
that over and over again that so many
-
of those in that community
-
in in the homosexual community,
-
by their own admission, you know,
-
they wanna ind our children and so forth.
-
And and they put a little boy in
-
there. It's just... And they're bla and Jesus
-
there. Let's let's get off that slide.
-
But that gal in the middle, you saw,
-
the heavy set yeah.
-
But then guess what? We can react in
-
an un godly way.
-
And that's the effect satan once. He wants
-
to create mock
-
and galvanized
-
those who are quote unquote woke against us,
-
but he wants us to retaliate
-
in a violent way. That's what Satan wants.
-
He wants to create warfare
-
and eventually the mass ladder of Christians. We
-
have to be careful
-
James audience, who he's writing to have been
-
scattered
-
throughout the Roman empire, or different parts of...
-
It was Jude, Same even beyond that as
-
we'll read later,
-
And a lot of them have lost their
-
homes.
-
Similar situation to Hebrews,
Hebrews 10 chapter mention
-
chapter 10. Remember where many of them were
-
been prison many of them are had lost
-
their homes it says, but they have... They
-
rejoice because they have an abiding home in
-
heaven it says. Could you imagine mass believers
-
being scattered and losing your homes and so
-
forth, and you're being spit upon you're being
-
rejected. You're being hated depending on where you
-
go, accepted more in some areas rejected more
-
in others James is right into those folks.
-
It's important to keep the context in mind.
-
You could imagine that you you would be
-
pre upset. Amen.
-
You got booted out of your home and
-
persecuted by wicked people
-
who love power who love money who hated
-
Jesus.
-
Remember Paul was going house to house according
-
x 28 he said,
-
causing people to bla Christ.
-
Threatening them with death, dragging them out of
-
their homes. He was 1 of the bad
-
guys.
-
If they would have brought fire down from
-
heaven on Some area,
-
would it happen to the woman at the
-
well and all the people that came in
-
Jesus.
-
They'd be torch.
-
That wasn't Jesus plan.
-
He came to seek and save that which
-
was lost.
-
Now keep keep all this in mind because
-
it's this is all very pertinent.
-
Because I looked at what people were saying,
-
and,
-
you know, Ryan Garcia, 1 of the most
-
well known boxer right now.
-
Profess Christian,
-
although he needs to
-
clean up his mouth and a lot of
-
other things and get right and right with
-
God, you know? But and I hope he
-
does because... But in his passion, he says,
-
I... You know, I I hate these people
-
and
-
you know,
-
He said some very strong statements. I don't
-
wanna mis quote him because,
-
but it was interesting.
-
He said,
-
burn in hell, trans people, you know, and
-
so forth. And and another Christian leader, I
-
shouldn't say another a Christian leader said, looked
-
at her and started mocking the lady in
-
the middle who's pretending to be Jesus with
-
the heart. It's disgusting what she's doing. And
-
he said, look at this 400 pound girl
-
lady, you know? You... She looks like a
-
a grease pig, you know, being ready to
-
be put on the spit and roasted, you
-
know? And I'm like, don't go to there.
-
That's what the enemy wants to be careful
-
now.
-
You know? He had said everything but put
-
a map... An apple in her mouth, and
-
I'm like, yeah. These are people... I was
-
anti antichrist before I came to Jesus.
-
I'm so thankful. He was patient with me.
-
I'm so thankful. He was patient with the
-
apostle Paul. Yet. We're supposed to hate evil.
-
And there's the other extreme is really the
-
worst extreme in the church because I mean,
-
there's 2 horrific extremes. Anybody that would go
-
toward violence.
-
Would be the worst extreme.
-
But there worst extreme on the other side
-
is people that are passive toward evil. They
-
tolerate evil they don't speak against it because
-
they're being coward in the pulpit pit. We
-
have to speak, this is damn.
-
And God's judgment is coming. They need to
-
repent.
-
Amen? So we need to walk that straight
-
narrow a line where we walk in love,
-
We remember from once we came,
-
but we also condemned that, which is wicked,
-
which is destroying souls. Amen.
-
Lord give us strength. In fact,
-
that Olympic opening ceremony
-
took place the day after
-
our next potential president
-
Come kamala Harris
-
appeared on... Let's go the next slide. Ru
-
paul's drag queen show, you know?
-
There she is and
-
so forth and and, you know, that's... I
-
mean, this is the woman and it's gotta
-
be honest with you. She slept her way
-
to power.
-
When she was in California.
-
At 30 years old, she started sleeping with.
-
There's pictures and then together and there's no
-
denial that they were to a thing with
-
a married man.
-
Who became mayor... Willie Brown,
-
and he was 60 years old at the
-
time, and married,
-
and she was just 30.
-
I think she was just overwhelmed by his
-
awesome looks.
-
No.
-
Yeah. And then before you knew it, eventually
-
she become Da and so forth.
-
This is crazy stuff, man. So
-
I'm not telling you to vote for, but
-
I'm definitely not voting for her.
-
Okay?
-
This is just sad. You know?
-
What kind of church am I at? That's
-
a church that speaks of truth.
-
Okay? Which speaks the truth and stands on
-
the gospel of Jesus Christ team amen. That's
-
what we wanna be wanna be,
-
you know, at here Totally and holy to
-
our Lord, Jesus Christ. Now,
-
I'm not gonna start calling her names and
-
everything else. I'm gonna speak the truth. You
-
know? Yeah. She slept her way to power
-
and and she carried... She's with the the...
-
On the trans thing. And and
-
when her office was common unless something's happened
-
sense about what happened at the Olympics, there
-
was crickets, you know, unless there's something that's
-
happened since if somebody read that was she
-
condemned it. It's just... We can see, you
-
know, worse they're at, You know?
-
Is very, very heartbreaking.
-
So when we look at this, we have
-
to think of the fact that the sons
-
of thunder
-
they got really upset
-
with the Samaritan amen,
-
and a lot of profess believers can get
-
really upset. And we have be careful
-
that we are in the word
-
that we're filled with the spirit that we're
-
not controlled by the circumstances and that we
-
also recognize the Lord said beforehand that this
-
would happen. So we're not shocked. Peter says
-
arm yourselves to suffer. Amen. Jesus just says
-
I told you these things ahead of time
-
if they spoke of me and called me
-
be above things like that.
-
Said how much more are they're gonna speak
-
evil of you. Right. You know?
-
He said they're gonna put to death thinking
-
that they're doing God servers. That's how diluted
-
some of them will be.
-
Basis I'm telling you these things ahead of
-
time, so you will not fall away.
-
Doesn't want us fall away. That's where we're
-
ahead of time. That's why churches that are
-
not warning people ahead of time are actually
-
part of grooming the great falling away. I'm
-
sorry, That's what's happening. It's heartbreaking indeed. Now,
-
it's also important to keep in mind this.
-
And I'm gonna get a little bit ahead
-
of myself, but I'll pick it up later
-
is the James that wrote this was incredibly
-
impacted by the sermon on the mountain.
-
Radically impacted.
-
Not just a spatter in here is his
-
spatter in there. His entire letter is p
-
by 35
-
illusions
-
to the sermon on the mount.
-
In fact, most of chapter 1, there's 13
-
references to the certain of the amount in
-
just chapter 1.
-
Would which James heard Jesus give the sermon
-
on the mountain.
-
James, the apostle.
-
Okay? Well, that doesn't it mean the other
-
James went have heard about her or heard
-
what Jesus said or what have you, but
-
there's no evidence and nobody really believes that
-
the gospel were written before g James has
-
marty him.
-
So James would have had to be an
-
eye witness of the sermon on the mount
-
this guy keeps coming after me. I mentioned
-
Bee a fly starts attacking me You know?
-
So
-
As long as not in my nose. I've
-
done that before, but I'm older now, You
-
know, asking. So anyway, it's interesting
-
because,
-
Just give you some hints in James chapter
James 1 chapter mention
-
1 because I'm not gonna have... I was.
-
You know what I gonna do today, but
-
I'm not gonna do. I was gonna go
-
through to you all the parallels from James
James 1 chapter mention
-
chapter 1. And the sermon in the mount.
-
But that's like, 3 pages long. And I'm
-
like, Lord, I'm already played with a clock.
-
So I'm went say like cutting off a
-
finger. It was hard. I'm like, Lord, How
-
do I do this? You know? And I
-
always battle with the clock and battle with
-
my message. But and if you've ever noticed,
-
I always put the word to god in
-
the message. I believe god's burned in my
-
heart above the clock though. I'll never put
-
the clock above the message I believe that
-
God's burning him my heart. But I come
-
really close at times, you know? And so...
-
But I cut out things I'm Constantly editing
-
even as I preach. But I've worked really
-
hard on this message to try to get
-
the stuff in that I want to get
-
in that I feel you need to see
-
that gives the best case on this James
-
as well. Now,
-
and by the way, I could make make
-
this message with evidence that lean toward that
-
James
-
3 messages along. But let me say this
-
you guys is
-
in the sermon of the mount.
-
Jesus says to rejoice when you're persecuted for
-
what.
-
Righteousness is a sake. What's the first command
-
James gives?
-
Considered all joy my brother. Right? When you
-
endure. Right?
-
Tribulation, various tribulation. Said Join my brother when
-
you encounter various tribulation. Oh, and Jesus dealt
-
a lot with anger in the sermon amount.
-
And guess what? James had an angry problem,
-
Didn't he.
-
Right? I mean, a son of thunder.
-
Would you agree it would be kind of
-
an an ag problem where you just wanna
-
destroy everybody with fire as bit of an
-
anger problem. Right? But guess what? Jesus is
-
correcting him. Sort amount has his great impact
-
on him if he indeed is the author
-
of this book. And what does he say?
-
Be so to speak slow to anger. Right?
-
For the anger of man does not achieve
-
the righteousness of God.
-
What did James learned that? If it's the
-
apostle James, from Jesus on the sermon of
-
the mount and from Jesus him personally.
-
So when I look at that, this is
-
why I think it's really, really, really heavy
-
If it's the apostle James because the book
-
has so much more layers than. Then you're
-
like, whoa, and that's what's been happening to
-
me. I'm like, whoa, this was James. We
-
don't know a lot about James the Son
-
is Eb. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. The we
-
do know John's... James son Deputy, the apostle.
-
We do know a lot about him. We
-
don't know a lot a lot about James,
-
the brother of Jesus.
-
You just know he's brother of Jesus. You
-
know he got converted all the resurrection, a
-
couple verses here and there and mentioned him
-
throughout the epi, and then you see him
-
in James chapter 15. There's not a whole
-
lot. Else and acts after 12 Go tell
-
James too after the other James has killed.
-
But you know a whole lot about James
-
the apostle, and you know realized, wow. Look
-
at All jesus teaching, he was there for
-
pretty much most all of it. And then
-
when you go through James, it's like, wow.
-
You could see James the apostle
-
could relate to them being angry when they're
-
scattered by un believers, Aye amen, and you
-
could relate to him saying, count all join
-
my brother when you count various trials. You
-
relate to him saying, you know, be quick
-
to hear so to speak slow to anger
-
for Anger man isn't she the registered Scott,
-
because he would have learned. And you see
-
that this James, this is what I love
-
about James guys. And why I'm so excited
-
that we're going through it is James mind,
-
whether it's James the apostle,
-
the son of Z, or whether it's James,
-
the the brother of Jesus. Their mind is
-
permitted with the sermon of the mount,
-
which is the sermon that Jesus gave and
-
at the end of it, the most popular
-
message ever preached on earth by the way.
-
And at the end of it, warns that
-
you need to build your life on the
-
rock of his words, Amen or when the
-
trials come. And if you're built in the
-
sand, great where your destruction be.
-
So James got it, whichever James it is,
-
but which James would be more likely to
-
be the 1 that's radically impacted by the
-
certain amount.
-
Which 1?
-
James the apostle.
-
And this is what blows me away. When
-
I read James and it hit me so
-
hard Makes you wanna cry sometimes. When I
-
memorize the book of James, I'm working through
-
it right now. But when I go... I
-
memorized first chapter,
-
and I think about it, I'm like,
-
This guy's mind,
-
he is confronting the situations that the church
-
is facing
-
purely through the mind of Christ by the
-
holy spirit through the prism of the most
-
amazing teacher you to ever taught the sermon
-
of the mount. He has the mind of
-
christ.
-
His mind has been transformed. He's no longer
-
I wanna destroy everybody. He's like, man, God
-
had marissa at me. And he writes in
-
that way, and he rep packages
-
the sermon the mount.
-
In such a way that's applied to their
-
situations. I thought Lord give us that heart.
-
Give us that mind to where we look
-
at our problems and we apply Jesus teaching
-
in the sermon mount and elsewhere
-
throughout scripture to the things that we face,
-
amen.
-
That's the beautiful beautiful practical
-
application of this if it's written by James
-
the apostle. If it's written by James brother,
-
Jesus, It still applies. This as much though.
-
Right? We just don't have all the texture
-
and all the the the stories that would
-
relate to how he would have learned
-
by experience some of these
-
these teachings
-
and how we would apply them.
-
Now,
-
I need to pick it up
-
I need to pick it. I literally whittled
-
my message in almost half. Finally before I
-
got here. So let's check this out. Who
-
did Jesus take up with him to the
-
mount of olives?
-
Mark chapter 13
-
verse 2.
-
It says,
-
he was sitting on the mount of olives.
-
Opposite at the temple, Peter James and john
-
John and Andrew, we're questioned him privately. So
-
Andrew, there Andrew andrew's is the brother of
-
who. Neither Peter. K? Steve gave, pastor Steve
-
gave an incredible message on Andrew at the
-
men's retreat. You don't wanna miss a treats.
-
You get all these good messages and It
-
was it was great. So, Andrew happens to
-
be there. He's probably like, well, I'm with
-
the inner circle. Maybe Joking. Hey, peter I
-
gotta hang out with you guys. You know,
-
we don't know exactly what went down. But
-
it's pretty interesting.
-
Who was it that was with? Now Jesus
-
plan and he was trans
-
before some of his apostles.
-
Trans on the amount of configuration.
-
Who was it that he was before? Who
-
was it that he brought with him? Look
-
at Mark chapter 9 versus 2 and 3.
Mark 9 chapter mention
-
And after 6 days, Jesus took him with
-
Peter,
-
took with him, Peter and who, James and
-
John, James is always almost always again, mentioned
-
before John. John's an a incredible leader in
-
the early church. Okay? I found a couple
-
places at least 1 where John has mentioned
-
before him.
-
So... And 6 days, Jesus took him
-
with him, Peter and James and John, and
-
led them up a high mountain by themselves,
-
and he was trans
-
before them, picture of a second coming. And
-
his clothes became radiant intensely whites
-
As
-
as no 1 on Earth could bleach them.
-
It was like just radiant weight, and they're
-
tripping out.
-
And the corner, second Peter chapter 1, this
2 Peter 1 chapter mention
-
was a pre configuration
-
of Jesus second coming, and it certainly was
-
because we look at everyone when Jesus taught
-
about it. He goes into how, you know,
-
he's right before they basically let them know
-
they're gonna see a picture of his return.
-
But he brings James
-
you know, Peter James and John with him.
-
In his greatest time of crisis before he
-
went to the cross. When he went into
-
the garden of Yosemite, who did he bring
-
with him?
-
Well, he brought his inner circle again. Look
-
at Matthew chapter 26
-
verse 36.
-
Says,
-
then Jesus.
-
Went with them to the place called Geth
-
70. And he said he was disciples sit
-
here while I go over there and pray
-
and taking with him
-
the what?
-
The 2 sons of Z, that would be
-
James and John. He began to be powerful
-
and troubled.
-
They were definitely known to be leaders. In
-
fact, they were such leaders among the apostles
-
that
-
their mom, Sal made an end around Peter,
-
you know,
-
and confronted Jesus,
-
and she had a request regarding her 2
-
sons, James and John.
-
And what did she request? Let's look at
-
acts or Matthew chapter 20, Matthew chapter 20
Matthew 20 chapter mention Matthew 20:21
-
verse
-
21.
-
Grant that 1 of these 2 sons of
-
mine, Change and John may sit at your
-
right hand, right? Or at your right and
-
on on the other at what?
-
You're left in your kingdom. Meaning when you
-
come,
-
I want James and John to be at
-
your left and right hand Jesus.
-
You know how sometimes mothers could be really
-
ambitious for their kids.
-
You know?
-
You know, some others want Jewish sense to
-
be lawyers someone want them to be doctors.
-
She wants them at the right hand and
-
left handed of Jesus.
-
Okay? You keep thinking get better than that.
-
You know? She's definitely.
-
It's kind of a trip when you think
-
about it? And Jesus says, do you know
-
what cup, I'm gonna treat and they come
-
in and they talk to Jesus with her?
-
You know, when we compare the gospel accounts
-
it's kind of trip.
-
And he says, are you able to drink
-
the cup that I'm gonna drink?
-
You know what they say?
-
Yeah.
-
Well, they don't realize what kind of cup
-
he's gonna drink? And he he affirm that.
-
Yeah, You will be able to, but not
-
exactly what he's going to do. He's gonna
-
die for the sins the world.
-
Okay?
-
And,
-
they will go through some suffering as well.
-
So it's interesting.
-
Then we see James mentioned
-
with the other apostles in act, when the
-
book of acts gets going in chapter 1.
-
It sets up, letting us know the leaders
-
of the church were. Acts chapter 1 verse
-
13.
-
When they had entered the city,
-
They went up to the upstairs upper room
-
for the day of panic get prepared for
-
the day of Cost.
-
They went up... They entered the city. They
-
went up to the upstairs room and
-
They were there... And were staying there. That
-
is who. Peter
-
John James, and it goes on a wrench
-
and the rest of the apostles. Set for
-
J and he's replaced in chapter 1 by.
-
But then it goes on to say, all
-
these were continually dev voting themselves with 1
-
mind to prayer,
-
along with the women
-
and Mary, the mother of Jesus and with
-
his brothers.
-
So the brothers, which are mentioned last and
-
not even named, would include James
-
the son of the, Mary oldest son after
-
Jesus that would be,
-
the oldest of the sons besides Jesus.
-
But he's just 1 of the brothers at
-
that point.
-
And through the first 11 chapters the book
-
of acts, you don't see him mention 1
-
time. You don't see any acts that he
-
did, what he's doing.
-
But, well, gets even more interesting.
-
Now,
-
Christianity is spreading.
-
Hero Ag grip wants to make a statement
-
against the church as it grows.
-
So guess what he does. He attacks the
-
leaders of the church.
-
Look at acts chapter 12. Now we're deep
Acts 12 chapter mention
-
in the book of acts now. Acts chapter
Acts 12 chapter mention
-
12.
-
Verse 1.
-
It says,
-
It was about this time that King hero
-
arrested some who belonged to the church, intending
-
to per them.
-
He had who.
-
James, which James.
-
The brother John, the apostle.
-
James brother, John put to death with the
-
sword.
-
Who does he go after first and who
-
does the holy spirit emphasize that he put
-
the death?
-
The first marty
-
when he says, yeah, we can treat your
-
cup. Jesus.
-
Did he, not in the way that Jesus
-
drank it for our sins, but he became
-
the first apostle who was marty, and that's
-
highlighted in scripture for us. I believe it's
-
for reason to show his rank his who
-
he was. And then it goes on to
-
say, when he saw that this met... What
-
this met with approval among the Jews. He
-
saw the jews. We're like, happy about it.
-
Believe in jews that would be. Even though
-
your jews are being killed. Right? He proceeded
-
to sees who.
-
Peter also.
-
Now let me go after Peter. Well, who's
-
Jesus inner circle?
-
Peter James and John.
-
Now, if James did now come out if
-
be honest. If James us, the the brother
-
of Jesus is really prominent right now, Why
-
does he just not kill him? Because this
-
is a James that's most prominent at this
-
time?
-
Now guess who becomes more prominent among the
-
changes after he's marty.
-
Well,
-
only 1 other guy could. I mean, there
-
was James the son of Alt, which was
-
another James who was an apostle, but he's
-
not mentioned. He's not part of the inner.
-
He's not part of the big 3 He's
-
not mentioned as there's not anything really much
-
said about him. So some do believe because
-
right after he says, go tell his brother,
-
go tell the brothers after Peter, was arrested
-
and, you know, and so forth.
-
Go tell his brothers and James.
-
Now that can't mean James the Marty that
-
was just the apostle. Right? Obviously, That means
-
as I mentioned, James, the brother of Jesus.
-
Now I will say this because I have
-
to let you be straight with you is
-
some believe that the James there and who's
-
mentioning mentioned it acts chapter 15 is still
Acts 15 chapter mention
-
not the brother of Jesus.
-
That is is James, the son of A
-
the other James the apostle. K?
-
Different scholars I believe that through the centuries
-
and so forth. I personally believe based on
-
paul's letters, based on Jesus making a special
-
appearance to James his brother
-
based on Paul mentioning him
-
elsewhere as as as a pillar of the
-
church that this is James the brother of
-
Jesus. I have no doubt on my mind
-
that. The second James.
-
After the apostle James is marty.
-
Okay?
-
So
-
did you ever think
-
looking at the author of who wrote a
-
book would be so interesting?
-
I love this kind of stuff. You know,
-
I just think it's so awesome. Now,
-
this is... It gets crazier though. Okay?
-
Go tell James. Okay. I love that. So
-
now, check this out. When you say, who
-
wrote the letter of James,
-
Which James,
-
do you understand there's only 2 that are
-
prominent?
-
And the question is best answered as to
-
when was it written? Do you understand that?
-
Because the James that's
-
writing would be known at the time?
-
And if it's early acts, that would be
-
James the apostle. If it's later acts, that
-
would be James
-
brother of Jesus. Are you with me?
-
That's why you just can't say, oh, I
-
know it was James, the apostle for sure,
-
or I know. You know what? It was
-
obviously James, the brother Jesus really. How do
-
you know that? Hi do you know when
-
was written?
-
That's why I'm saying. We gotta be careful
-
not to be super dogma...
-
Well, I believe God's showing me. Well
-
Lot of people believe that God shown them
-
something that doesn't really get you very far,
-
you know?
-
So...
-
And I did pray Lord Show we make
-
it clear to me. But not a mystical
-
way Just show me through scripture. And I'm
-
not saying he answered that prayer because I
-
don't wanna be
-
dogma and and and believe that that prayer
-
was answered in that way. I didn't get
-
a dream or a vision, Joe, it was,
-
James,
-
the brother of Jesus or James, the apostle.
-
You know? And if that happened, I would
-
not even share that with you. Okay that
-
would be wrong, I believe. So,
-
but give you an example. Let's say that
-
I wrote a letter to...
-
No. Not I wrote. Let's say
-
There was a letter that was dug up
-
later
-
that it was from Joe,
-
from Blessed Valley,
-
a server of the Lord
-
to our live streamers.
-
Right?
-
Now follow this, man, this gets interesting. So
-
I wanted to illustrate this to you. And
-
you get years later, it's a a hundred
-
years after the, you know, lesson right right
-
now.
-
And like, oh, wow. Check this out. Some
-
of these churches have this letter that Joe
-
wrote by hand because Internet was down. You
-
know, Christians were not to using him or
-
whatever. Right? And as as Joe, a servant
-
at blessed Hope Chapel
-
to the blessed hope live streams in the
-
blessed hope churches. Right?
-
Who would you think wrote it?
-
A, but what if I died in so
-
many years,
-
and another joe becomes the pastor.
-
And there is the continues to grow. We
-
continue to reach other people.
-
And now that path that guy's been passed
-
for 30 plus years, and then over 40
-
plus years,
-
and he dies.
-
Now you can't be sure.
-
A, but what would you look for?
-
What are the circumstances in the letter?
-
Now if the letter is addressed to live
-
streams and fellowship,
-
you know, in, you know,
-
Idaho,
-
in Mexico and you know, Costa Rica and
-
then live streams in various areas that we
-
have our live groups.
-
The what would you think?
-
Think this Joe. Right? Oh, but what if
-
you continue to read and said to those
-
live stream groups and the live groups we
-
have throughout China, and the fellowship that are
-
throughout China now. And and the churches that
-
are throughout, you know, New Zealand and and
-
and in Russia and in a iraq that
-
are that are growing
-
churches.
-
Well, that's not happening right now.
-
But it was... Let's say that was happening
-
under the second Joe. Right? It grew. Then
-
you think it was that? Which Joe? The
-
second Joe. Are you with me? So let's
-
look at who this is addressed to and
-
what the circumstances were during the time when
-
this was probably a written. Okay? Think that
-
is very interesting.
-
James 1 1 again.
-
Okay?
-
James 1 1.
-
James, a servant of God and in the
-
lord Jesus Christ. To the 12 tribes were
-
scattered among the nation's, greetings or dispersed among
-
the nations.
-
It's writing when it's writing to who.
-
To Jews and gentile believers or just Jewish
-
believers. Just Jewish believers?
-
That's important to understand.
-
Because the early church, during the time of
-
the apostle James was exclusively Jewish.
-
Okay?
-
And by the way, it's like, well, why
-
isn't he just right? The apostle James? Just
-
we're we we're possible there? Why isn't... If
-
it's the other James doesn't he to say
-
James, the brother of Jesus or at least
-
what Jude did and say the brother of
-
Jude, give us a hint. You know?
-
The both of those arguments are arguments from
-
silence.
-
It'll don't get you far. But if James
-
was an apostle and he wrote went all
-
he's an apostle, they would all know who
-
he was, they would know it's he has
-
apostolic authority.
-
Where after his death, if it's James the
-
son is Eb, he doesn't... He's not a
-
quote quote apostle, but he would still have
-
authority because he's the leader or the pastor
-
or at least a senior pass we could
-
call them my guess at the church in
-
Jerusalem.
-
So...
-
But notice who it's addressed to, the jews
-
who are dispersed
-
they're dispersed.
-
They're scattered.
-
It's to Jews.
-
Okay?
-
Now,
-
When did the scatter take place? This gets
-
really interesting. Get to know our bibles better,
-
get to know what's going on in church
-
history?
-
When did the scatter take place?
-
Not long after the day of Pent cost
-
actually.
-
Most scholars believe it was 34
-
or 35
-
ad d. Okay?
-
Some believe it was even earlier than that.
-
But let's go with 34, 35 ad d
-
because that's when Stephen
-
was marty.
-
I said James was the first apostle that
-
was marty. He wasn't the first 1 marty
-
in the church.
-
John the Baptist was marty as he's was
-
starting the church, but Stephen, the Dea
-
was the first marty in the book of
-
acts in acts chapter 7.
Acts 7 chapter mention
-
Guess what happened.
-
Paul is a leader among this hand he,
-
and he's going house to house. He's going
-
to promise to promise.
-
Right? And before he's converted on the road
-
to Damascus. Right? He's going everywhere. Dragging Krishna
-
out of the homes is causing the blast
-
Christ. He imagine the guilty dealt with.
-
He had tormented him he praise God. He
-
was called himself the chief of sinner,
-
and causing them to blast team and threatening
-
them with death. He oversaw Steven's death
-
in acts 7.
-
That's powerful The whole chapter which his about
-
Steven's death,
-
But what happens as result of Stephen's death.
-
Look at acts chapter 8, the very next
Acts 8 chapter mention
-
chapter, and what do we read?
-
Verse 1,
-
Acts 8 verse 1,
-
Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him
-
that is Steven to death.
-
And on that day,
-
a great. And by the word, the word
-
right there great,
-
for surface you like this is mega.
-
Okay? But it was a great
-
persecution began against the church in Jerusalem,
-
and they were all what,
-
scattered
-
throughout the regions of
-
And Sam.
-
Accept the apostles.
-
What apostles?
-
Peter, James, John and the rest of the
-
apostles.
-
They stayed in Jerusalem.
-
God protected them because that was their base
-
at at that time. Some devout men buried
-
Stephen and made loud limitation over him.
-
But saw before he became the apostle paul,
-
began ra the church, began what? Ra the
-
church.
-
Entering house after house and dragging off men
-
and women. He would put them in prison.
-
So notice in the in the beginning of
-
that text it says, there was a great
-
persecution and they were wet.
-
They were scattered.
-
That's long before James marty them, the apostle.
-
Churches is already scattered. Are you with me?
-
Also, we read in acts chapter 11.
Acts 11 chapter mention
-
Meanwhile, the believers verse 19, who had been
-
scattered during the persecution after Stephen's death travel
-
as far as Pho,
-
cypress and antioch of Syria
-
interesting.
-
Not it's gonna tie tit you meetings things
-
together, but I'm gonna resist a temptation. They
-
preach the word of God, but only to
-
who
-
jews. And then if you keep reading and
-
then it goes out, begins to go to
-
the gentile.
-
But
-
further down. After the scatter, the gospel will
-
still go mainly to the Jews, but now
-
in acts chapter 10 and 11,
Acts 10 chapter mention
-
Remember,
-
Cornelius get saved and the door begins to
-
open to the gentile towels. Not begins. It
-
does. It just open to the gentile towels.
-
Just before James is marty.
-
Isn't this interesting.
-
Now, let's look at a map of the
-
scatter
-
that took place
-
here you see,
-
you can see where all those arrows come
-
out from Jerusalem where they're scattered to Same
-
area, you know, and and throughout J and
-
so forth and actually even beyond those areas.
-
The church was actually scattered. And now you
-
have a problem
-
because all these Christians
-
who... By the way, many of these Christians
-
came from all these different regions of the
-
world. Right? For what celebration, the day of
-
what.
-
Pent. Day, amen.
-
That's a day of harvest.
-
Right? And on Harvest day, and the 7
-
feast are all fulfilled by Jesus. 4 of
-
these feasts are already fulfilled. Harvest feast is
-
1 of them That's when the great harvest
-
of souls would go out. Hey, man. All
-
kinds of believers are coming for the day
-
of Pent,
-
and they're hearing about the resurrected Christ by
-
the apostles. Many of them stay there.
-
Hell Jews that are having disputes with the
-
native Jewish Widows because they're not getting the
-
same treatment the widows are and all these
-
different things are going down. And but they're
-
settling there because they meet all their brothers
-
and sisters in Christ. You have all 3001
-
day, little right after that 4000 saved. And
-
all kinds of people can say the church
-
is growing, but now it's persecuted. They're being
-
hunted by Paul and others. And now they're
-
all over the place.
-
And in those days, the early church was
-
meeting wear. Do you remember where they're meeting
-
it at first in the book of acts?
-
Where would they go?
-
Houses, but also wear?
-
It starts the Synagogue. Amen. There... Did you
-
know the Jews and the gentile towels... Are,
-
I'm sorry. The Jews, the Jewish believers had
-
relations with the non jewish believers to degree
-
at the Synagogue?
-
And they were tolerated for a while. And
-
then throughout the book of x, you see
-
they get more and more persecuted.
-
So it's interesting. So these guys are settling
-
in In fact, it's interesting.
-
Look at James chapter 2 verse 2, very
-
interesting.
-
It says this,
-
For if a man comes to your assembly,
-
see the words assembly there, the Greek I
-
have the Greek up there. It's soon
-
gone.
-
Okay? Ci.
-
And I'm sorry. I got that run. Sun
-
go gain. K? Soon Go again. The Greek
-
word. That's the Greek word for Synagogue.
-
Synagogue game.
-
And that's the only time that's ever used
-
of a
-
a synagogue go gain was what,
-
says, for if a man comes
-
to your assembly of the believers, you're synagogue
-
go on or so On, sort a Go
-
gain. I'm used saying episode of Go. Okay?
-
Which is
-
another word for Gathering, which is related to
-
a synagogue, but here it's a sin go
-
gain. If they come to your synagogue,
-
with a gold ring James says and dress
-
and fine clothes and there also comes any
-
a poor man in dirty closing that tell
-
them how to treat each other. They were
-
meeting early on in the Synagogue.
-
Which fits with verse 1. That's to the
-
jews have been scattered. Right? It's not that
-
they weren't meeting the houses too. Sure a
-
lot of them were, but they were also
-
going to Synagogue.
-
Preaching the word and and and sharing sharing
-
the gospel and non believing Jews can hear
-
the gospel that way too. But it's interesting.
-
I think it's really interesting because
-
check this up.
-
Who does James in chapter 15, the second
-
James?
-
The son
-
or the brother of Jesus? Who does he
-
address in his letter in acts 15. Look
-
at acts 15 verse 23.
-
To the what?
-
To the gentile
-
to the gentile,
-
believers in antioch Syria and Greetings.
-
When he writes his letter, the gospel will
-
spread to the gentile towels by then.
-
Okay? It just started the the door to
-
the Gentile was just opened not long before
-
the first James, the apostle death. He's writing
-
the gentile house.
-
This is 1 of the indications that James
-
was not written after this church council.
-
Because if James was written after the church
-
Council when... When Gentile towels were brought in,
-
and there was a dispute. You remember act
-
15, it was a dispute as to whether
-
or not Gentile towels had to be whacked...
-
I'm not let's just say, ci sized.
-
Okay?
-
There was a dispute where they had actually
-
be ci size or not to be... To
-
become Christians.
-
And James is saying do out the book
-
of Acts or in acts 15 and and
-
Paul and Peter
-
So for no. They don't have to become
-
jews. Our fathers couldn't keep the yoke law.
-
How could how can we put this on
-
the back of the gentile and so... And
-
he's writing the gentile towels. So guess what?
-
If you're writing, you're including gentile towels in
-
the gospel after this, or you think you're
-
gonna leave them out of your letter. When
-
you bring up the law which he does
-
more than once you're gonna not bring up
-
that dispute, so they have understanding that... No.
-
No that's brought up, which is why it's
-
so indicative and with this, I agree with
-
many modern scholars. That this James, whoever this
-
James is, he wrote
-
probably around 44
-
or probably or maybe before 44 80 d.
-
But even those who believe that many scholars
-
today, like Douglas Moo,
-
that James,
-
the brother of Jesus wrote this,
-
They don't believe he wrote it after this
-
after x 15, but before.
-
But now he's got thread the needle.
-
Because now he's got a thread the needle.
-
Before the council and after the death of
-
James.
-
That's why they'll say, oh 40 40 80.
-
But that's so arbitrary.
-
But they have to to put it on
-
James the brother of Jesus
-
because they don't wanna to put it after
-
the acts 15 deal because the letter doesn't
-
make a lot of sense then.
-
They know it's earlier these scholars I'm talking
-
about, that believes it's the brother of James.
-
I'm sorry, The brother of Jesus. But they
-
don't wanna put too early because guess what?
-
Then it looks like it was by the
-
apostle James,
-
which I believe a lot of evidence does
-
indicate that because listen to this.
-
The day of harvest. The day of Pent
-
cost. All these Christians become all these Jews
-
become Christians. They're like, man, we wanna stay
-
here. They're Jews from different tribes, like Paul
-
was from the tribe of benjamin. He'd gets
-
saved later though. Right? There's there's
-
1 in the ut testament I mentioned from
-
the Tribe of Asher. Who's a believer. There's,
-
of course, those from the Tribe of Judah.
-
And so forth. But you have these believers
-
scattered.
-
Now this is interesting.
-
When you think it through on the day
-
of harvest.
-
They were the first believers.
-
They were the Jewish believers. They were the
-
first fruits. Look at how James addresses them
-
and acts checked us out. I'm sorry, In
-
James chapter 1
-
verse 18.
-
James,
-
we read
-
that's from verse 1. I jumped to verse
-
18 then to the 12 tribes scattered among
-
the nations that's from verse 1, greetings.
-
In the exercise of his will, now I'm
-
verse 08:18,
-
he brought us forth by the word of
-
truth, so that we would be a kinda
-
of what?
-
First fruits among his creatures. These are the
-
believers that first got saved out the day
-
of Pent and after that. And then we're
-
scattered abroad. When was a scattered about according
-
to many scholars?
-
34
-
35
-
ad. I'm just gonna tell you from a
-
pastor perspective. If blessed up here, got scattered
-
all over the place, and I didn't have
-
the internet. Didn't have... I couldn't text you,
-
email you or anything.
-
I'm not gonna sit around waiting 10 years
-
to write to you.
-
Do you understand that?
-
What's so hard? Oh, the pent weighs so
-
much? No.
-
I need to write to you. Okay. That
-
doesn't mean the lord didn't have reasons. His
-
ways are higher than our our ways. That
-
he didn't wait 09:10 years. But if if
-
Stephen was marty and the scattered had happened
-
at 34 30 5AD, and James his marty
-
in 40 4AD. That gives him almost 10
-
years to write this letter. Are you with
-
me? Amen.
-
K. Where you sound more than 65 percent
-
there, Joe.
-
Well, I'm that's because I'm halfway through the.
-
And I'm like, looking at and like, well,
-
this is quite interesting.
-
So they're going through all their trials. That's
-
why he's saying considered all joy, you know,
-
Don't be angry all these things. Right? He's
-
warning... He's concerned about people falling away. Be
-
concerned about people falling away if we all
-
got scattered.
-
That's why he enters the pistol brother if
-
any among you turn from the truth, and
-
1 brings him back I'll save a soul
-
from death the hide him all sense. He's
-
trying to make sure those who were scattered.
-
Don't commit apostasy. Amen.
-
Now this is interesting.
-
Because look at what Douglas move rights. And
-
I I respect a lot of his academic
-
research and and and him as a scholar
-
in many ways. He's reformed. I don't agree
-
with his calvin, but look what he states
-
here.
-
Doug sm says, but James was put to
-
death by Hero Grip.
-
And he just currently dismiss James by the
-
way, the apostle. Look this how he does
-
it.
-
But James was put to debt by hero
-
in Grip, the first, perhaps in about 80
-
44.
-
Most agree with that. And and we probably
-
ticked as 6 out. Okay? And we went?
-
Probably should not date the letter of James
-
quite this early.
-
Why?
-
We probably
-
why not?
-
I think it's biased his confirmation because he
-
doesn't wanna to be the other James.
-
Okay? Because he has his reasons for it
-
to be the brother of jesus. Okay? That's
-
But he... It doesn't know though.
-
Why not 43
-
before he's murdered. Why not 42.
-
Why not 41 went that 41 at 39
-
01:38 Went at 37 wednesday Thursday. I believe
-
personally, the letter could been written anywhere between
-
the mid thirties
-
and early forties.
-
Very likely,
-
Why not?
-
Could have been written later than that? Yeah
-
before the council, you're gonna have to pigeon
-
and hold it in about 44, though, 44,
-
45 or so.
-
But look what Moe says.
-
And I'm gonna just... I'm not even gonna
-
read the next, but you to the next
-
quote from me. Here he basically says, because
-
I'm wanna cover more important stuff. But here
-
points out in this quote I have from
-
his book. That the circumstances
-
in which James wrote does not indicate that
-
these guys were Christians for very long when
-
you read James, that it fits the idea
-
of them being newer Christians end danger falling
-
away and so forth.
-
Okay? Now I think it's interesting. Let's look
-
at the next slide, where move states. Now
-
states here in the next slide.
-
Doug Moo says James.
-
This is important.
-
Next slide.
-
James, he says, was probably written in the
-
what.
-
Middle forties.
-
Perhaps just before the apostolic council.
-
Why did you say that? Because he knows
-
that probably wasn't written after the episode council.
-
So he puts it just before
-
around web.
-
44,
-
45, 46.
-
You're getting really close to James the apostle
-
there,
-
but it's still arbitrary.
-
There's no reason he can't put it
-
44 or 43. But by saying the mid
-
40 guess what. That allows
-
Would you say mid forties would be 43
-
44 45 46 47, maybe?
-
That would... Insult encompass when James Apostle was
-
still the prominent possible in 43 44.
-
There's nothing to say it wasn't written in
-
35 36 37.
-
Okay?
-
I just think this is really interesting.
-
Now,
-
some internal evidence,
-
some internal evidence.
-
I think this is a crazy. Let's say
-
another analogy along these lines.
-
Let's say,
-
you come to blessed hope,
-
and
-
you find out there's a message that People
-
say it's a really good message you should
-
check it out. But nobody has a message
-
on audio because remember the Internet was shut
-
down and Joe's been arrested, and 1 of
-
the elders preached it.
-
And you don't know which Elder because you
-
just transcript of the message, but doesn't say,
-
who, says 1 of the elders. But then
-
you read it, and there's different analog
-
in the letter. Try to figure out whether
-
it was pastor Steve or whether there's was
-
John or Chad. And there's 3 different illusions
-
to wrestling and stuff.
-
Who would you think it... Who would you
-
think wrote it probably?
-
Chad.
-
Well, guess what? This guy who writes the
-
book of James. Seems like he's really into
-
the sea.
-
He seems like a man of the sea.
-
Okay? In fact, it's interesting. I wish I
-
get deeper into this, but look at James
-
1 6.
-
Okay?
-
He says this.
-
Okay? He warned or he talks about, but
-
he must ask in faith being those who
-
ask from the lord without any doubting for
-
the 1 who doubts is like the what.
-
The surface the sea driven and tossed by
-
the wind. I don't see these many illusions
-
in this much space to fishing in the
-
sea. But in this book.
-
Was James, the brother of Jesus the fisherman?
-
No. No. We don't think he was. Here's
-
probably a craftsman carpenter like Jesus. And like,
-
his father, Joseph.
-
K? But guess what? He's comparing a weakness
-
of faith, doubting to being, like the waves
-
of the sea that are being shifted and
-
being driven by tossed by wins. Amen. Think
-
about that.
-
Did not James yet possible about that kind
-
of experience? When he's being tossed around even
-
as a fishermen by the waves and he's
-
just about ready to go down, and he's
-
like, Jesus wake up. Right? The possibly wake
-
up and what did the diseases do? Rebuke
-
Simpson Oh, y of what?
-
Little faith. Whoa, man. It seems like this
-
is made a personal experience,
-
comparing a little faith to being tossed to
-
and fro. Oh and then guess what. When
-
he talks about the tongue in James chapter
James 3 chapter mention
-
3. Look at the next verses. Look what
-
he says in James chapter 3, look at
James 3 chapter mention
-
the ships also. The ships
-
You know? He's always on the water before
-
Jesus comes, he's always checking up the ships
-
and the tossing into the sea,
-
although they are so great and are driven
-
by strong winds are still directed by very
-
small rudder, wherever the inclination of the pilot
-
desires.
-
So also the tongue is a small part
-
of the body. Yeah had it boasts great
-
things.
-
Oh, and what about fishing. Look at James
-
01:14. I wish Had time to get in
-
this more. But each 1 is tempted when
-
he is carried away
-
carried it away
-
or in carry way is x alcohol, which
-
is the mean means lured.
-
And ent, oh, ent is Del, which means
-
to catch by using bait.
-
He's using he's
-
showing pictures of temptation with bait and, you
-
know,
-
lure and
-
this guy's mind seems to be a little
-
bit influenced not just by the certain amount,
-
but at least a little bit a lot
-
by certain amount, but by fishing and the
-
sea. Okay? Could be a coincidence that this
-
carpenter just really loves you Allergies. I don't
-
know. You know? But it's just kinda interesting.
-
And by the way, the parallels
-
By the way,
-
when... And now I go back for a
-
moment to the sermon of the mountain.
-
Saturated, And I don't wanna go too deep
-
into that.
-
But when you think of the sermon them
-
out guys, this is important
-
is
-
no 1 pretty much virtually very few if
-
any scholars believe
-
that sermon the mount was written
-
before James the apostle died.
-
But guess when it was written.
-
Before the Apostle Paul died.
-
Okay? I personally believe there is a great
-
book out there called the Jesus Pap.
-
It's also known as a Mag manuscript. It's
-
a little part of Matthew. And the Jesus
-
think it was Carson feed that wrote this
-
a scholar that is a expert in pap,
-
you know, and paleo and and he took
-
a,
-
for instance, he looked at that little piece
-
of matthew.
-
The Jesus Pap and wrote a whole book
-
on it,
-
and which causes quite a standout there's has
-
been that there was a television documentary made
-
on his findings, you know? Not that it's
-
not disputed, but he took
-
he... The script, and he said, look at
-
the script, this was the script they were
-
using the middle of the first century.
-
Right?
-
And this is also very interesting. You know
-
what else He says? He takes a... What
-
was it? It was ep,
-
fluorescent microscope.
-
And he looks at the threads, the the
-
the the he looks at the Pap.
-
And he dates it to, like, the middle
-
or and to or and to a little
-
bit later in the first century.
-
We don't even need that. You know why?
-
Because the apostle paul in second Timothy
-
writes this. Listen to this, and you can
-
look at the scripture. First timothy chapter 5
-
verse 18. For the scripture says,
-
the scripture, that's the written word. You shall
-
not muzzle the ox quoted the old testament
-
while it's t.
-
And now he quotes Jesus from the new
-
testament. The labor is worthy of his what.
-
Wages.
-
He's calling Jesus, words
-
scripture, which is written word, and he's quoting
-
from luke 10 7 or Matthew 10:10.
-
And Luke was written after Matthew. Almost all
-
scholars agree with that. What's going on there?
-
Paul has the written word of God? He
-
has all the discourse. In fact, when you
-
read first and second thessalonians,
-
I believe person that Paul had matthew open
-
to him and the holy spirit led him
-
as he wrote from there. But did James
-
the apostle have that ability?
-
Probably not. But guess why he had. He
-
was what, an Eye witness of the sermon
-
the mount.
-
And Jesus out him what he was taught
-
to teach others Amen.
-
So what I'm saying is the author of
-
James
-
being an early book did not have, I
-
don't believe the gospel matthew yet.
-
Scholars don't believe that Matthew, the gospel is
-
written
-
when many scholars today put the book of
-
James.
-
But guess who was there and was a
-
witness to it. James the apostle. Are you
-
with me? So it makes sense that this
-
would be James the apostle.
-
In that regard. By the way, look at
-
the scripture Look what Jesus said in the
-
sermon mount, Matthew chapter 5 verse 34.
-
But I tell you, you shall not... Do
-
not swear an oath at all, either by
-
Heaven for his God's throne or by the
-
Earth for his his foot or by Jerusalem.
-
For it is a city of the Great
-
king. He goes on say, a little bit
-
further down.
-
All you need to say is simply yes
-
or no. Anything beyond this comes from the
-
evil 1. Look what James writes in James
-
05:12.
-
But above all my brother do not swear
-
either by heaven or by Earth
-
or with any other oath, but Your yes
-
is to be yes, and your no and
-
no so that you may not fall under
-
judgment. Sound familiar.
-
This change was radically impacted by disturbing them
-
out, guys.
-
And when it was written as early as
-
it was written, it wasn't written yet. James
-
his brother was nowhere to be seen and
-
I didn't believe in him when the sort
-
of not was given. James the apostle,
-
I believe was radically impacted by that
-
Sermon.
-
So you know who wrote for sure,
-
for sure. Absolutely sure. I'm convinced
-
without a shadow doubt. The book of James.
-
Not I'm not gonna... I'm not convinced be
-
honest shout out what was James the possible.
-
Although sure looks like him when you look
-
at him in this thing. I'm not convinced
-
as James
-
brother Jesus. Although there's some convincing things that
-
I might be think very well could be
-
him too.
-
I'm convinced and I have no doubt. It's
-
written the holy spirit name amen. The God
-
wrote it impacted the church radically. And that's
-
where I will stand. I'm dogma on that.
-
I'm not dogma. I'm script sc on that.
-
So I wanna encourage you guys by way
-
of
-
just
-
considering this.
-
I'm excited with you
-
to get into the book of James. Amen
-
And
-
I wanna encourage you to keep in mind,
-
when you look at the circumstances which you
-
studying now that James has written,
-
and now the church was not just per
-
believers or are other believers in other areas
-
of these provinces that were not as persecuted.
-
But you see how wonderful this book is
-
for all of us.
-
Whether you're dealing with persecution or whether you're
-
just dealing with trials in general. It's an
-
amazing book.
-
So I've seen that my time is gone.
-
We're gonna stand up and pass out the
-
cup in the bread. Amen.
-
It's something to think about Right? A lot
-
of things think about is exciting.
-
I wanna say to you guys, though.
-
If by way of application, because you get...
-
Guess what I want you listen carefully as
-
we're passing out the cup of the bread.
-
You guys.
-
There's gonna things that Gonna gotta really tick
-
you off. The more you love Jesus, the
-
more prone you're gonna be to become upset
-
over these things.