How faith works in James 4:13-5:20 : an exegetical-theological interpretation

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research showed that most scholars now agree that one enters into salvation by grace through faith, but the saving faith inevitably produces works as well. But we can find still two problems. First, some debates still remain regarding the nature of the saving faith. Many agree on its essential components: notitia (knowledge), assensus (assent), and fiducia (trust). They emphasise wholehearted trust at the core of faith. Some others reject that fiducia (trust) is to be included in the definition of faith. Second, scholars rarely explain how that faith produces the works of faith in various specific situations. The aim of the proposed research is to answer two questions: (1) 'what is the nature of faith? and (2) 'how does it produce works in various specific situations? Toachieve the aim of this dissertation, this researcher has investigated Jas. 4:13-5:20 by means of atheological approach integrated with exegetical analysis based on the historical and cultural background of the text: (1) researching the historical issues on the Letter of James (e.g. the author, recipient, and date) and cultural backgrounds related to Jas. 4:13-5:20; (2) analysing a structure of Jas 4:13-5:20 and dividing sections by considering three dimensions: rhetorical devices, main themes (e.g. eschatology), and messages; (3) investigating the concept of faith in the whole Letter of James and analysing closely the exhortations in 4:13-5:20 section by section, focusing on how the living faith produces works in various contexts, by examining three related aspects: (1) thesituations of the recipients; (2) knowledge of truth; (3) exhortations as the work of faith.In Chapter 2, we researched the historical and cultural issues on James. Although the Letter of James was accepted slowly in canonization, the Letter was received as Scripture by the church. The information from various sources indicates that James, the brother of Jesus, was the leader of the early church. James, the brother of the Lord, wrote the Letter around AD 45-47 to the mainly Jewish Jesus followers who were living outside of Palestine among Gentiles, including Gentile Jesus followers. The research of historical context in Palestine and Rome between AD 33-66 indicates thatthe recipients were suffering from severe economic difficulties because of famine, banditry, and theexploitation by the wealthy.Moving to the world of the text in Chapter 3, firstly we argue that James was often understood as paraenesis or protreptic or wisdom, but recently it has been agreed that James is best understood as a homily in the form of an encyclical letter. To investigate Jas. 4:13-5:20 properly, we have built a structure of Jas. 4:13-5:20 by considering three dimensions: rhetorical devices, main themes (e.g. eschatology), and messages of sections: (1) 4:13-17; (2) 5:1-6; (3) 5:7-12; (4) 5:13-18; (5) 5:19-20.In Chapter 4's theological analysis, the investigation on the lexical meaning of the πιστ- word groupdemonstrates that the term faith (trust) can be translated with faithfulness or loyalty because theyare used closely as synonym. After close examinations of the key terms and the concept of faith in the whole Letter of James and analysing Jas. 4:13-5:20, section by section, we conclude that for James the nature of faith is the confidence in the message of truth and the right attitude of the wholehearted commitment to the word of Jesus and the will of God. The true faith then has a disposition or a direction to become mature in knowledge of the truth and in thinking, speaking, andacting. James argues that the faith as the confidence and the attitude of the wholehearted commitment to the word of Jesus and the will of God produces appropriate responses to the various situations according to the knowledge of the truth.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University