James Chapter 1, Part 1

James Chapter 1, Part 1 | I Don't Get The Bible by Yeshuans - YouTube

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All right, we are live. Mid yan. >> Perfect timing. Mid yan. Sean. >> Hey everyone. I don't get the Bible. I'm Delaney. >> I am Sean. >> And maybe a quick introduction. We just finished Hebrews. We're moving on to James today, not Romans, which you might have said in the last episode. Um, this is a exercise more or less at the very least for me and no one else in learning your perspective.

This is not you telling me what is exactly right. This is not you brainwashing me. >> I hope not. This is not like just for the future record of everything after some accusations >> cuz naysayers and goats love to see the worst in people and things. >> Yeah. And the goal as we increasingly come to realize is that it's learning the biblical record but like how it can incorporate into just this much larger thing that's life with other uh inputs and stuff like that.

So, just needed to clarify. James >> Haimey >> James in Spanish. >> Anything to say about James before I start reading? >> Yeah. Uh, this J there's two James in the apostles. >> Oh. >> And, uh, James the less and James the greater. >> Oh, wow. >> And I think James the less is the one who died. He was one of the first martyrs. >> Okay.

>> This is James they call the brother of Christ. Okay. >> Now, whether he was a stepbrother or if he was a real a cousin, >> okay, >> uncertain, but uh he is the one who wrote this epistle. Martin Luther did not like this book and did not want to include it in the apostolic record. >> Oh, gordy. Okay. >> You'll find out why in a minute.

All right. >> Well, maybe not today. >> James, a servant of God. Sorry, the brother of Christ is the greater James. >> I can't remember. I always mix them up. It's one of those. Was it the lesser or was it the greater? >> For posterity's sake. >> And they say the lesser and greater because of their height. >> Oh, >> one was little.

>> Wow. How sad. James the greater, James lesser. Two distinct apostles. They're both apostles. Uh >> differentiated um by tradition likely by age, height, or prominence rather than biblical rank. James the greater was an inner circle apostle martyed early while James the less is more obscure figure often linked to the church leadership >> doesn't say anything about being a brother of Christ >> um James the greater it says part of Jesus's inner circle at key events >> well that's Peter James and John so that was the greater who was involved in that

so the lesser is the one who wrote this but I always thought whoever wrote this was the broad >> oh no it's James the lesser sometimes times called the brother or cousin of Jesus. Oh, >> okay. >> Um, James the Greater is brother of John the Apostle. >> Yeah, James and John. >> Oh, what the heck? >> They they were very kind of nepotistic.

>> Yeah. Speaking of like it's just people that get it and people that don't. And genetics play a part of that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. >> It seems >> he called brothers. There's like two or three pairs of them. >> Wow. Okay. >> And they were mostly from Galilee, so they all knew each other. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Um, >> most of them.

>> Okay. So, James, a servant of God, the Lord, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad. Greeting >> um my brethren. So, that's not to a certain church. Is not to Sorry, guys. Sorry. >> I wish you would get those out of the way before we tape. Um, the interesting thing is the 12 tribes.

It's quite possible that's speaking to literal Jews and or those adopted in, but I don't think he would say 12 tribes if it was speaking of the Gentiles who are adopted in by faith. >> Okay? >> So, it sounds like this is to the 12 tribes. And just let me make it very simple. There are 12 tribes, 700 approximately BC.

The 10 tribes were in the northern kingdom and two of the tribes, Judah and Benjamin were in the southern. >> Okay. >> Jerusalem was down here. >> Okay. >> Okay. These guys in 700 something were taken into captivity by the Assyrians. >> Okay. >> When they were let out, they were dispersed and lost. >> Okay. >> Lost. Right.

these guys in the southern kingdom because they were in the closest proximity to Jerusalem uh called Judah primarily and then with Benjamin some of those lost tribes filtered in when they came out of Babylonian captivity and they joined them and that's how Israel became known as Jews. >> Oh >> yeah. Because those other lost 10 tribe people wandered in and joined them because they didn't have a land.

They had come out of Assyrian captivity. >> Okay. >> So, Jews under Judah and uh Benjamin too. So, the question becomes, were they really lost? I don't think so. And I think there were many different tribe members that knew who they came from in Jerusalem when James wrote and that's why he says to the 12 tribes. >> Okay.

Does that make sense? It's kind of you have to say it over and over to yourself to remember it. >> Yeah. Um, I don't understand why what the point you're making about why James is writing to the 12 like why would James write to the 12 tribe? That implies something. >> Yeah. It implies that the 10 weren't lost. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Is that debatable? Like who thinks they are lost? Oh, the Mormons think the 10 tribes are living under the possib They don't think this, but possibly under the solar uh the the ice caps and are going to come out and be found in the last

days. >> Oh, >> yeah. There's a whole bunch of craziness when it comes to the lost 10 tribes. >> Who what do people say about him addressing the 12 tribes? Then >> I think they could just say, well, I don't know what they say, but I would imagine they just say, well, he's writing to anybody who was a Jew and if you were part of one of the 12 tribes, you were a member of the nation of Israel.

>> Okay, so 12 tribes in the New Testament is a euphemism for Jews. >> Yeah. >> Like that's how they would say. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Do Christians debate that? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> 12 10 tribes. Where are they? Some say they were gone. There was none left. Others say they were all over the place. >> What do Jews themselves think? >> You know, I don't know.

I think they think that they're I think they differ, too. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Well, that's interesting. >> Yeah. >> Um, and what were Jews called before Judah was involved? The nation of Israel. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Jacob's 12 sons, he was renamed Israel, and they were the 12 tribes of Israel. >> Okay.

And they all had been given different land in the promised land of Canaan. >> Okay? >> And they and they all lived in those different little lands in that one country. But when the 10 were taken into captivity, they lost their land. And so they went in and joined up with Judah down below. >> Okay. I I really I'm starting to read the Old Testament myself outside of this, so you don't have to explain so much to me, but >> it's huge.

>> It is huge. And also, but one question is um so that was like a political or something thing that they got taken by the Assyrians. >> So >> God turned them over to captivity to the Assyrians to the north and the Babylonians to the south because they all worshiped pagan idols. >> Okay.

It makes me wonder, do you ever read that as just so for my information, do do you read the events that happen in the Old Testament as literally orchestrated by God or like used by God? >> Used. >> Okay. >> Some things he orchestrates, some things are punishments. He was much more involved with them. >> Okay. >> Oneonone. Yeah. >> And is that is that clear which one? It's like >> not totally.

>> Okay. >> Yeah. It's opinion. >> Okay. Okay. So, my brethren. So, so, so James is writing to Jews. Yeah. More or less. >> And when he calls them my brethren, that kind of reinforces the idea. >> Okay. >> Kind of like the writer of Hebrews wrote to the Jews. >> Yeah. And uh so I thought Paul was the only one that appealed to Jews because he was a Jew before.

They were all technically Jews before, right? >> They're all Jews until the Gentiles came in about 10 years after Christ ascended. So for 10 years, it was only going to the Jews. Yeah. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Oh, I don't think I knew that. >> The ones who made up Christianity for the first 10 years. Yeah. >> They were all defectors from Judaism.

>> That's a big point in Christianity's history. >> Yeah. That's so like, wow, that's really interesting. Um, >> okay. But why so why is Paul so pronounced then? He just was like a big Christian hater for so long compared to the others. >> He was a persecutor. He wasn't one of the original 12, >> right? >> And so when he was called by Christ on the road to Damascus, >> Uhhuh.

>> and was blinded and he got his sight back and then he was trained by Christ. He was called to go to the gentile nation prophesied to get the mystery that God had saved the world. But he was not the one who took it to them first. Peter did. >> Peter brought the gospel to the Jews to the Gentiles first. >> He opened the Gentiles. Okay.

Okay. That I was going to ask that. Is Paul the only one that talks to Gentiles? Um, in terms of those who write for the most part, I'm not sure about what happens in Titus, but Paul is primarily the one who's talking to, but even Paul when he went to a city, he went to the synagogue of the Jews first, >> okay? >> And then went to the Gentiles.

So even he did. >> Uh, but in terms of the specific letters, Peter's letters were to the body of Jewish believers primarily. uh >> not even even though pe and so why do you say Peter was first to go to Gentiles >> because before uh he left the uh before Christ left >> he said Peter who told you I'm the son of the living God >> and Peter said uh Peter claimed he's the son of the living God and Peter said flesh and blood hasn't revealed this to you but my father he says upon this >> Peter I will build my church >> and I will give you the keys to the

kingdom and what you do on earth. And so the Catholics take that as Peter being the pope. But James the greater I believe was the one who was over Jerusalem, not Peter proving that the Catholics are wrong on that. >> Okay. Yeah. But why? So that just that story is the reason that Peter was the one going to Gentiles. Okay.

>> And so Peter, he went to a place called um jeez, he went to Cornelius's town. I can't even remember the name. Yeah. And while he was up on a roof eating, uh sitting in the sun, >> uh a net was dropped down full of creatures that were unclean according to the law. And God said from heaven, "Rise and eat." >> And Peter said, "No way.

>> I'm not eating those things." And he said, "What I've said is okay. Don't you mess with Peter was amazing." >> Wow. >> You got to love Peter. >> Wow. And >> well, it kind of makes sense because it's like >> totally for tempted. Yeah. But like you want to resist temptation or something, but like God wouldn't tempt you.

No, >> I don't know. >> But anyway, so he goes to a guy named Cornelius who was a gentile. And Cornelius and his whole family were received the Holy Spirit, fell on them like it did at Pentecost. And Peter went back to the to the apostles in Jerusalem and told them the story and they said, "We agree.

We we agree that you that you baptized them into this body that has been all Jews up until this point. >> Okay. So, Cornelius's family was the first >> first. >> Where is that recorded? >> Uh, Acts chapter 10. >> Oh, that's why. Okay. Acts I need to do a >> It's a good one. >> a revisit of with new eyes. Okay. So my brethren, count it all joy when you fall into diverse is it diverse d okay diverse temptations knowing that this uh knowing this that the trying of your faith works patience.

But let patience have her perfect work that you may be perfect and entire wanting nothing. the I just have to say really fast, every single book it feels like starts with this like encouragement because clearly they need encouragement for something like >> I Christians just don't address that like >> they're being killed, they're being martyed, they're being they're their their faith in Christ is totally tested.

>> And when it says diverse temptations or does it say tribulations? >> Temptations. Yeah, it means trials. >> It means trials to leave their faith in Christ and go back to the law in Judaism. >> Like trials are temptations because it's like I can't do this anymore. Okay. >> Let patients have her perfect work.

Why is her atalicized her perfect? >> It's not in the original. They added they made patients a woman, a female. >> Wow. >> I think it's fitting. Perhaps if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally, and a braiseth not, and it shall be given him. >> So this is the verse Joseph Smith went out to the >> gu the grove with, having read James 15, and said, "Okay.

" And he went and he asked God, and God appeared to him, of course, as a man. >> Yeah. So that's the this is the Joseph Smith story. >> Yeah, I've heard that verse so much and I don't know why. Does that make sense? The Mormon church said it a lot. >> Know this too that it doesn't say if any of you lack u understanding. >> It says if any of you lack wisdom.

>> So what do how do I go about this is the question. Not what church is true. >> You know he went and asked a question that you're not going to get an answer for because there was no true church. >> Yeah. And so God said,"None of them are true." And he said, "Okay, I'll start a new one." >> Wow. >> Yeah. >> But that I uh that in that day and age, you go to God, I need wisdom, knowledge applied.

How do I go about this? And he would if you go in and you don't >> doubt, he will give it to you. >> Yeah. Like a direct um proof that you can go to God directly. Like >> Yeah. all pastors in Utah who say you can't like >> you know >> if you lack wisdom go to your pastor. >> Yeah. Truly. >> Um but let him ask in faith nothing wavering. >> For he that waverth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. Wow, >> that's kind of scary. >> Gnarly, huh? >> A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, but the rich and that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass, he shall pass away.

Um, that makes so much sense, especially with things of God, because that it's like the challenge to not be doubled with him. It's it's idolatry or whatever it like >> double anything like that. >> And it's really hard. It's really hard to just only cling to something that you don't know for sure. Like that's >> it's faith. Yeah. Tough.

>> Yeah. Um, >> but the rich >> James has a problem with the rich. >> Okay, >> you're that's going to unfold itself. And it's pretty cool when he says, >> "A double man is let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he's exalted, but the rich and that he's made low because it's the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it witherth the grass and the flower thereof fallth. and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth. He's talking about all the rich man fade away. >> Yeah. He's talking about the the rich in that area who thought their money made them great. He's saying you're like the you're like the grass.

The the the fire is going to come and destroy you and your riches. The man of low esteem. >> Be grateful because you are not part of that group. that um one note is that I think I've made a habit of not putting stock in the next life >> because I can't count on it being true. >> I know. But it's odd because and you've always talked about that like that's where the drive for you is is the next life and it's challenged me because >> you know but um >> this is like talking about that but the thing that's confusing is that when they're talking about like the

temporariness of their state to me it's referring to the end times. It's not referring to like the next life necessarily. It's like hold on, you'll get your treasure even though it will be in the next life for them. >> Yeah. >> Do you know what I'm saying? >> Their reward actually was going to come when he arrived.

He came with reward and blessings. So that you're what you're saying is true for them. >> Wow. Yeah. I didn't even think of that. Like it's not even an afterlife thing. It's that they're being saved from the destruction, >> right? But there are a lot of passages that talk about walking with the expectation of the promises of God.

You read about happening. It's it's part of faith. It's to encourage you that I trust that what he says will be. I hasn't seen. Ear hasn't heard. The glories that await them that love him. >> Yeah. >> These are expectations that you in hope trust God will be true. In faith, you believe he will come through with that.

But don't you think it's like relevant to this life? Like the things that you sew to are rewarded to you here. You have peace and you have, you know, like >> it's not material, but that the whole thing isn't material. Like the things you are the things that you are gaining as a believer in this life are going to be the same things you have in that life.

Right. To different extent >> to a different extent maybe but you do get it here. >> You do get it. And that's that's why when people say, "Well, why should I even believe?" >> Because you do get what's called a uh it's like a deposit >> of what's to come. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I So, and that's what it's kind of like the point of life.

>> Yeah. to me like the point of a of believing has gone to me and to that >> because we can't we don't know. I know faith is about what we don't know, but we don't know about the afterlife. >> Yeah. And so I don't think it's about knowing. I think it's just about trusting that it's going to be something that will be a benefit for those who walk by faith here.

I don't know the you know, everyone loves to postulate, well, we're going to be playing harps or this. We don't know. There's so there's a lot of stuff about hell right now. >> Like people giving their things about hell, like the reason it is loving or the reason it isn't loving. And I'm seeing so much of it. I don't know why >> cuz everyone's afraid now that they're headed there.

>> Yeah. It's like end times in hell are really big. And whatever. And by the way, huge surge of kids going to the Catholic church in New York. Like this Catholic thing that we're feeling is very real. >> So that could be a whole another discussion. But um >> we should do that on heart. >> We should we really should actually take a detour from Mormonism for a second.

Um, but before we move on, like I'm realizing the like there's actually a the Yeshuan perspective takes the Bible super literally. That's what it does. Like it's like literal like when he's like, "Hold on for like the rewards coming." There's like a literal reward of being saved from a war. Like would you say >> I would say that for them when we when we apply it to the audience but to us I take it more spiritually and principally.

>> That's the thing. It's like that divide is very clear with the Yeshuan perspective like it has no application to us materially and it only had application to them materially. >> Exactly. >> Is that correct? only with again there's always a caveat because if they died before Christ returned they would go to hell >> and so there was a >> but that's like a literal it was like a I almost want to say it's like material like the afterlife hell was like a thing that was literally where they were going and like literally

ended like it it is >> I don't know it's almost like a material real to me that they went to hell. >> I see it like that. >> Like it was like a thing like the holding tank. >> Yeah. >> But um that helps because without the end times having happened for most Christians, they go in so many different directions right now and it's either like super literal for them or metaphorical and it's confusing because it's like neither works.

And so that's why there's the mismash mish mash of >> what's applicable and what isn't. Okay, >> thank you for >> of course >> indulging. >> Um, blessed is the man that endures temptation for when he is tried. He shall receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those that love him. >> There's one of the promises who endures temptation and that again that word is trial test.

when he is read, he shall receive the crown of life. Which again, like that could that that's to those Jews like is that a thing in that day like or like a literal part of the end times? >> The crown of life. >> Yeah. >> It's symbolic because it's given in the heavenly realm. So therefore, it's not material.

So, >> but is it like is it is it given in the heavenly realm? >> Yeah, because they will receive. Okay, >> that's a future tense. They will get that crown of life. And then John says in Revelation, the elders who had the had crowns, this is where the band gets its name, casting crowns >> that when they see the lamb, they take their crowns off and throw them at his feet.

>> So, all this imagery is coming together in the writings of these writers and in Revelation. So it is a future thing. Again, the apostles were going to judge the 12 tribes. So they could have been sitting on 12 thrones wearing crowns. >> So there's a lot of stuff dealing with Judaism and and and that there.

>> Okay. Um >> people today talk about getting a crown. I don't know. >> I don't know. That that is what's confusing I'm finding too about this language is the shalls are sometimes about a material thing that will happen and sometimes about a heavenly thing. >> That's right. >> And so discernment's needed when you're reading the through line of scripture in order to rightly get it.

>> Okay. Let no man say when he is tempted. >> Okay. This is good. Listen. >> Okay. We're running long. Should we go into the next? We'll start it up next week. >> Okay. All right. Thanks everybody.