NICNT: The Epistle of James, by James B. Adamson (Classic 1976 Version) / January 01, 1976

For more information, see this NICNT article and this review by Brian W. Davidson.

Please note: This volume is not included in the current NT set because there is a newer version of the commentary on James available.

The author of the Epistle of James, a letter distinguished for its passionate commitment to Jewish Christianity, has been dubbed “the Amos of the new covenant.”  As a guide to Christian behavior, the letter deals with themes of universal importance, including the nature of God and man, the evils of lust and pride, the virtues of faith and hope, and the fruits of faith and love.

According to James B. Adamson, in contrast to many scholars, James was a master writer whose knowledge and choice of Greek bestow on his epistle a sustained unity of style and content that bears a close affinity with the Synoptic gospels and the sayings of Jesus.  The substance and authoritative tone of this epistle follow in the tradition of Elijah and Moses, and the style and diction resemble some of the outstanding qualities of the Psalms and the prophets.

In this thorough exegesis of his own working translation, Adamson combats some prevalent notions and corrects misunderstandings of the nature of this unique epistle, which, he says, cannot really be understood apart from the whole context of the New Testament.

Dr. James B. Adamson, the author of this commentary, is a graduate of the Universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge. By the latter University he was awarded the Ph.D. degree in 1954 for a thesis entitled, “An Inductive Approach to the Epistle of James: Materials for a Fresh Study.” He has put these materials to good use in this commentary.