Jensens survey of the old testament adam 569
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Testament world, of what is usually called
the Dispersion (Diaspora); or (2) Jewish
Christians scattered abroad for various
reasons?5 Read at least part of chapter 1 and
see why the rst view (Jews in general) is
unacceptable.
2 . Symbolic interpretation. These scattered
“twelve tribes” represent the Christian
church, God’s elect (cf. Gal. 3:7-9; 6:16;
Phil. 3:3), living in strange country (this
world), far from their land of citizenship
(heaven). (Cf. Gal. 4:26; Phil. 3:20; Heb.
12:22; 13:14; 1 Pet. 1:1, 17; 2:11.)
The contents of the epistle itself strongly
support the view that James’s readers were
Jewish Christians, wherever they were
located. This would be expected, if the
epistle was written at a very early date (see
Date below), for most Christians in the
earliest days were Jews (cf. Acts 1-7).
Indications in the epistle itself that
James’s readers were Jews include these
(read the verses):
1.
the
reference
to
“synagogue”
(“assembly,” KJV), not “church” (2:2)6
2. illustrations from the Old Testament
(e.g., 2:25; 5:11, 17)
3. the reference to Abraham as “our
father” (2:21)
4. the Old Testament name “Lord of
Sabaoth” (5:4)
5. no mention of what might be called
“pagan” vices, such as idolatry and
drunkenness.
C. DATE AND PLACE WRITTEN
The position of this survey guide is that
James was the earliest (or one of the
earliest) New Testament book to be written.
(See Chart 1, p. 20). The date of writing was
around A.D. 45-50.
Associate the writing of James with the
times of the book of Acts, with the help of
Chart 106.
CHART 106: THE WRITING OF JAMES IN
RELATION TO ACTS
The view of a later date places the writing
of James around A.D. 60, a year or so before
James’s death.7 Reasons for the early date
include:
1. Church order and discipline in the
epistle are very simple.
2. The Jerusalem Council of Acts 15 (A.D.
48 or 49) was still future: “The question of
the admission of the Gentiles (into the
church which in the earliest years was
Jewish) seems not yet to have come to the
fore.”8
3. The Judaic emphases on law, moral
