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by Addison Hodges Hart (Author)
The Letter of James is perhaps needed more than ever today. In this commentary, Hart argues that the epistle is indeed the work of James of Jerusalem, "the brother of the Lord," that it was an encyclical letter, and that its chief concern was to combat a distorted version of Paul's gospel. It is a work with a singular purpose: to bring the churches back to the most basic teachings of Jesus. In its defense of orthopraxy as the primary Christian standard, its denunciation of those with wealth who exploit or neglect the poor, its hard words for those who have taken on the mantel of "teacher" without first learning to restrain their tongues, and above all its exhortation to relearn the truth that "faith without works [of love] is dead," James could be talking to churches in our own time. This commentary presents James afresh, as a living guide with a perennial message for those who seek to follow Jesus. It is pastoral in intent, written for those who teach and preach, those who desire a more authentic discipleship, and those who practice lectio divina--the meditative reading of Scripture. (Includes the entire Greek text and the new English translation of the epistle by David Bentley Hart.)
Author Biography
Addison Hodges Hart is the author of six previous books on the topics of Scripture, spirituality, interfaith dialogue, and doctrine. His two most recent books are Strangers and Pilgrims Once More: Being Disciples of Jesus in a Post-Christendom World (2014) and The Woman, the Hour, and the Garden: A Study of Imagery in the Gospel of John (2016). He is a former university chaplain and priest, now residing in Norway with his wife.
