Where Did the Mailman Drop the Letter of James,

[JD731]

James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

 

[Scarlett O.]

I'm sure it was read in local Jerusalem synagogues and such and, like other books, passed around and on.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

Acts 8:1. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.'
Acts 11:19. 'Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Cyrene....'
It seems likely to me that James wrote to these people. Some commentators have surmised that the letter was originally written in Hebrew, but there is no evidence of this.

 

[JD731]

Acts 8:1. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.'
Acts 11:19. 'Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Cyrene....'
It seems likely to me that James wrote to these people. Some commentators have surmised that the letter was originally written in Hebrew, but there is no evidence of this.

Thank Martin, but 12 tribes?

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Thank Martin, but 12 tribes?

I suppose that there were some out of all twelve tribes who were 'scattered out of Jerusalem.
A reading of the letter suggests an early date. He would appear to have heard the preaching of the Lord Jesus, and there is no discernible (to me) influence from Peter, Paul or John's letters. Yet the letter is written in idiomatic, stylish Greek. It's quite hard to read in the original (for me, at any rate!)
But I'm interested to hear what you think.

 

[kyredneck]

Thank Martin, but 12 tribes?

Read, 'the circumcision':

Galatians Chapter 2

9​	and when they perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision;

James was an apostle to the Jews.

 

[atpollard]

Thank Martin, but 12 tribes?

I am less than 0.001% expert at any of this, but “to the 12 tribes” sounds like an idiom for “to all the decedents of Jacob”.

 

[Jerome]

διασπορά | Bill Mounce

John 7:35	Then the Jews said to one another, “Where is this man about to go that we will not find him? Surely he is not going to go to our people dispersed among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, is he?
James 1:1	James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion: Greetings.
1 Peter 1:1	Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who live as refugees of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Hallelujah!

 

[percho]

And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. Hosea 1:6
Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. Hosea 8:9
Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. Hos 1:9
And I will scatter you among the heathen, [Goy, Gentiles] and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. Lev 26:33 [Both houses, Judah and Israel}
I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men: Deut 32:26 Question? remembrance of who? Did Haman remember who some of them were? Who, how did he identify them? Did it have anything to do with the law? Did A Hitler remember who some of them were? How did he identify them? The law?
Hosea 8:12 I have written to him [Ephraim as representative of house of Israel] the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.

Who did men remember and who did they cease to remember?

IMHO the letter of James is written to both housed, those remembered as the people of God and those not remembered as the people of God.

James says of those being called from the twelve tribes, V18 a kind of firstfruits.
I believe the 144000 of Rev 14:1,3 from the twelve tribes are also called the firstfruits in V 4

Hosea 1:10,11 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.


Interesting whatever one draws from the Word of God.

 

[JD731]

Read, 'the circumcision':

Galatians Chapter 2

9​	and when they perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision;

James was an apostle to the Jews.

They went to the same place ,Asia Minor. James wrote his letter in AD 45, the first of the NT epistles The twelve tribes were "scattered" among the gentiles, but they remained distinctly Israelites nonetheless, even after they were converted. The believers among them represented the "remnant" of Israel. This is one of four major prophetic themes in scriptures and at once identifies what Paul means in his letter to the Galatians, which he wrote in AD 49, the first of his 13 letters to the gentiles, when he called them the "Israel of God."

Galatians 6:16
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

This Israel of God are those of the 12 tribes who are "new creatures" in Christ Jesus, having been born again by the gospel of Christ just like the gentiles, but as you have noted, distinctly the same church.

 

[JD731]

And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. Hosea 1:6
Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. Hosea 8:9
Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. Hos 1:9
And I will scatter you among the heathen, [Goy, Gentiles] and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. Lev 26:33 [Both houses, Judah and Israel}
I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men: Deut 32:26 Question? remembrance of who? Did Haman remember who some of them were? Who, how did he identify them? Did it have anything to do with the law? Did A Hitler remember who some of them were? How did he identify them? The law?
Hosea 8:12 I have written to him [Ephraim as representative of house of Israel] the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.

Who did men remember and who did they cease to remember?

IMHO the letter of James is written to both housed, those remembered as the people of God and those not remembered as the people of God.

James says of those being called from the twelve tribes, V18 a kind of firstfruits.
I believe the 144000 of Rev 14:1,3 from the twelve tribes are also called the firstfruits in V 4

Hosea 1:10,11 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.


Interesting whatever one draws from the Word of God.

Anyone, in my opinion, who would have understanding about the church of Jesus Christ would also need to take the approach that you are taking and keep these truths separated in the apostolic age. There remained a national identity for Judah during these years but in the foreknowledge of God they would not receive him and be converted. So God would work out his redemptive purposes for Israel through these 10 tribes that that were represented with all the tribes (Paul, for instance, a Benjamite, was born and raised in this region).

Look at the last verse in Hosea 1;
10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
11 Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

THEN represents a break. to be a son of God requires a new birth.\

Paul would say in Ephesians, a city in that area, that the church manifests the wisdom of God that takes the breath of angel and spiritual entities when they observe it. It takes my breath too.

Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world (aion = age = world) hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
NOTE: it would not surprise me if Paul is not thinking in terms of the second age of three ages, the one from the flood to the day of the Lord.

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

We must know that Israel is the tool in God's hand to bring salvation to the whole world.

Famous Quotes - Jesus Christ - salvation is of the Jews - Jn 5:24

 

[kyredneck]

The twelve tribes were "scattered" among the gentiles,

Yeah:

Acts Chapter 15

21​	For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

Acts Chapter 2

5​	Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.

Revelation Chapter 17

1​	And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters;

This Israel of God are those of the 12 tribes who are "new creatures"

Wrong. The "new creature" is 'The Israel of God', singular, "one new man", "one flock", where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

Galatians Chapter 6

15​	For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
16​	And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Philippians Chapter 3

3​	for we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh: