Outlines of James

Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament 
James by Craig Blomberg and Mariam Kamell
I. Greetings (1.1)
II. Statement of the Three Key Themes  (1.2-11)
     A. Trials in the Christian Life (1.2-4)
     B. Wisdom (1.5-8)
     C. Riches and Poverty (1.27)  
III. Restatement of the Three Key Themes (1.12-27)
     A. Trials/Temptations in Relation to God (1.12-18)
     B. Wisdom in Areas of Speech and Obedience (1.19-26)
     C. The "Have-Nots" and the Responsibility of the "Haves" (1.27)
IV. The Three Themes Expanded  (2.1-5.18)
     A. Riches and Poverty (2.1-26)
          1) Favoritism Condemned (2.1-13)
          2) The Problem of Faith without Works (2.14-26) 
     B. Wisdom and Speech (3.1-4.12)
          1) The Power of the Tongue (3.1-12)
          2) Wisdom from Above and Wisdom from Below (3.13-18) 
          3) The Misuse of Speech in Quarrels and Slander (4.1-12)
      C. Trials and Temptations (4.13-5.18) 
          1) Planning apart from God's Will (4.13-17)
          2) Responding to Oppression (5.1-12)
          3) Anointing Prayer for Serious Illness (5.13-18)
V. Closing (5.19-20)   
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The Pillar New Testament Commentary
The Letter of James by Douglas Moo
I. Address and Greeting (1.1)
II. The pursuit of Spiritual Wholeness: The Opportunity Afforded by Trials (1.2-18)
III. The Evidence of Spiritual Wholeness:  Obedience to the Word (1.19-2.26)
IV. The Community Dimension of Spiritual Wholeness: Pue Speech and Peace, Part 1 (3.1-4.3)
V. Summons to Spiritual Wholeness (4.4-10)
VI. The Community Dimension of Spiritual Wholeness: Pure Speech and Peace, Part 2
VII.  The World View of Spiritual Wholeness: Undersaning Time and Eternity (4.13-5:11)
VIII. Concluding Exhortations (5.12-20)    
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The Bible Knowledge Commentary 

James by J Ronald Blue

Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). Vol. 2: The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (818–819). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
I.      Stand with Confidence (chap. 1)
      A.      Salutation and greeting (1:1)
      B.      Rejoice in diverse trials (1:2-12)
      C.      Resist in deadly temptation (1:13-18)
      D.      Rest in divine truth (1:19-27)
II.      Serve with Compassion (chap. 2)
      A.      Accept others (2:1-13)
      B.      Assist others (2:14-26)
III.      Speak with Care (chap. 3)
      A.      Control talk (3:1-12)
      B.      Cultivate thought (3:13-18)
IV.      Submit with Contrition (chap. 4)
      A.      Turn hatred into humility (4:1-6)
      B.      Turn judgment into justice (4:7-12)
      C.      Turn boasting into belief (4:13-17)
V.      Share with Concern (chap. 5)
      A.      Share in possessions (5:1-6)
      B.      Share in patience (5:7-12)
      C.      Share in prayer (5:13-20)
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The Bible Exposition Commentary  
Warren Wiersbe
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Heb 13:20). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Key theme: Spiritual maturity
Key verse: James 1:4
The Marks of the Mature Christian:
I.      HE IS PATIENT IN TESTING—chapter 1
      A.      Trials on the outside—1:1–12
      B.      Temptations on the inside—1:13–27
II.      HE PRACTICES THE TRUTH—chapter 2
      A.      Faith and love—2:1–13
      B.      Faith and works—2:14–26
III.      HE HAS POWER OVER HIS TONGUE—chapter 3
      A.      Exhortation—3:1–2
      B.      Illustrations—3:3–12
      C.      Application—3:13–18
IV.      HE IS A PEACEMAKER, NOT A TROUBLEMAKER—chapter 4
      A.      Three wars—4:1–3
      B.      Three enemies—4:4–7
      C.      Three admonitions—4:8–17
V.      HE IS PRAYERFUL IN TROUBLES—chapter 5
      A.      Economic troubles—5:1–9
      B.      Physical troubles—5:10–16
      C.      National troubles—5:17–18
      D.      Church troubles—5:19–20

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Notes on James 2 0 1 2 E d i t i o n

Dr. Thomas L. Constable

http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/james.pdf

I. Introduction 1:1

II. Trials and true religion 1:2-27

A. The value of trials 1:2-11

B. The options in trials 1:12-18

C. The proper response to trials 1:19-27

III. Partiality and vital faith ch. 2

A. The problem of favoritism 2:1-13

B. The importance of vital faith 2:14-26

IV. Speech and divine wisdom ch. 3

A. Controlling the tongue 3:1-12

B. Controlling the mind 3:13-18

V. Conflicts and humble submission ch. 4

A. Interpersonal and inner personal tensions 4:1-10

B. Self-exaltation 4:11-12

C. Self-reliance 4:13-17

VI. Money and patient endurance 5:1-18

A. Warnings for the rich 5:1-6

B. The proper attitude 5:7-12

C. The proper action 5:13-18

VII. The way back to living by faith 5:19-20

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Tyndale concise Bible commentary

Hughes, R. B., & Laney, J. C. (2001). Tyndale concise Bible commentary. The Tyndale reference library (679). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
I.  GREETING (1:1)
II.  EXHORTATION: BE JOYFUL IN TRIALS (1:2–27)
      A.      The Purpose: Maturity (1:2–4)
      B.      Desire for Insight: Asking in Faith (1:5–11)
      C.      The Essential Insight: The Character of God (1:12–18)
      D.      The Practice of Maturity (1:19–27)
III.  EXHORTATION: BE IMPARTIAL (2:1–26)
      A.      Implications of Partiality (2:1–13)
      B.      The Practice of Impartiality (2:14–26)
IV.  EXHORTATION: BE MATURE IN SPEECH (3:1–4:12)
      A.      The Tongue as a Revealer of Maturity or Immaturity (3:1–12)
      B.      The Practice of Maturity (3:13–18)
      C.      The Source of Immaturity (4:1–12)
V.  CONDEMNATION: ATTITUDES AND END OF THE RICH (4:13–5:6)
      A.      Arrogance of the Will (4:13–17)
      B.      Judgment on the Rich (5:1–6)
VI.  EXHORTATIONS: MATURE ENDURANCE (5:7–20)
      A.      Patient Endurance (5:7–11)
      B.      Arrogant Oaths (5:12)
      C.      Sharing in Prayer (5:13–18)
      D.      The Essence of the Letter (5:19–20)

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New Bible Commentary

Peter H. Davids

New Bible commentary: 21st century edition. 1994 (D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer & G. J. Wenham, Ed.) (4th ed.). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.

1:1  Greeting

1:2–27  Opening words

1:2–11  First part: testing, prayer and wealth

1:12–27  Second part: testing, gifts, and listening and doing

2:1–26  Testing through generosity

2:1–13  Partiality and love

2:14–26  Generosity and faith

3:1–4:12  Testing through the tongue

3:1–12  The evil in the tongue

3:13–18  The antidote for the tongue

4:1–10  The source of evil and its cure

4:11–12  Concluding appeal

4:13–5:6  Testing through wealth

4:13–17  The test of the wealthy

5:1–6  Testing by the wealthy

5:7–20  Conclusion

5:7–11  Summary on patient endurance

5:12  Oaths

5:13–18   Prayer for health

5:19–20   Purpose statement

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A Devotional Commentary on the Book of James

by Paul G. Apple, Revised April 2008

http://bibleoutlines.com/library/pdf/james.pdf

I. Character of Faith

A. (1:1-12) Persevering under Trials Will

B. (1:13-18) Progress of Temptation

C. (1:19-27) Planting the Word Word

D. (2:1-13) Personal Favoritism Works

E. (2:14-26) Performance of Faith

II. Control of Faith

A. (3:1-12) Power of the Tongue Words

B. (3:13-18) Portrait of Pure Wisdom Wisdom

III. Conflicts of Faith

A. (4:1-12) Perversity of Pleasures Worldliness

B. (4:13-5:6) Pride of the Rich Wealth

IV. Consummation of Faith

A. (5:7-12) Patient Endurance Wait

B. (5:13-20) Prayer and Restoration Wholeness

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“Analysis of James”

James Van Dine

I. Salutation: James writes as a servant to dispersed Jewish Christians. 1:1

II. Prologue: Believers must respond to trials as God’s method of character

development. 1:2-20

A. Trials provide opportunity for the purifying of faith. 1:2-8

B. Trials remind one the frailty of human existence. 1:9-11

C. Trials hold the promise of eternal reward. 1:12-18

D. Trials must be encountered with proper behavior. 1:19-20

III. Body: Appropriate Christian conduct must be cultivated. 1:21–5:6

A. General Instruction: The innate word must be received and acted

upon. 1:21-27

B. Specific Application: Christian conduct must be consistently &

concretely cultivated. 2:1–5:6

1. Instruction on faith and works. 2:1-26

a. Faith with partiality is a perversion. 2:1-13

b. Faith without works is dead. 2:14-26

2. Instruction on dissension and harmony. 3:1-18

a. The tongue untamed is destructive. 3:1-12

b. Works of wisdom are constructive. 3:13-18

3. Instruction on pride and humility. 4:1-17

a. Pride promotes strife between believers. 4:1-6

b. Humility prompts the support of God. 4:7-10

c. Pride judges a brother. 4:11-12

d. Arrogant boasting is evil. 4:13-17

4. Instruction on wealth and fraud. 5:1-6

a. Wealth horded is corrupt. 5:1-3

b. Wages withheld are redressed by the Lord. 5:4-6

IV. Epilogue on the opportunities presented in difficulty. 5:7-20

A. Personal suffering presents opportunity to develop patient

endurance. 5:7-12

B. Personal difficulties present opportunity to experience God’s

deliverance. 5:13-20

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“James: Introduction, Outline, and Argument”

Study By: Daniel B. Wallace

I. Salutation (1:1)

II. Enduring Trials (1:2-18)

A. Summary/Main Theme: The Testing of Faith (1:2-6)

B. Specifics (1:9-18)

III. Applying the Word: Faith Within the Church (1:19–3:18)

A. Summary/Main Theme: The Obedience of Faith (1:19-27)

B. Specifics (2:1–3:18)

1. Partiality Vs. Obedience (2:1-13)

2. Passivity Vs. Obedience (2:14-26)

3. Speech and Obedience (3:1-12)

4. The Wisdom of Obedience (3:13-18)

IV. Witnessing to Divine Providence (4:1–5:20)

A. Summary/Main Theme: The Reward of Faith (4:1-10)

B. Specifics (4:11–5:20)

1. Avoiding Worldly Influences (4:11–5:6)

2. The Patience of Faith (5:7-12)

3. The Prayer of Faith (5:13-20)

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