The Jewish Setting of the Epistle of James

摘要

Many older commentators understood the Epistle of James to address itself to Jews of the?diaspora, whether Christian or not. Although few modern scholars have seriously reckoned?with this possibility, much is to be said for the thesis. It makes sense for example of important?features of the epistle that otherwise would remain unclear, such as its dearth of explicit?Christology, its seeming lack of distinctive Christian sentiments, and its thoroughly Jewish?orientation. The author was a Jewish Christian still hoping for a Christian place within the?Jewish synagogue; he wished for irenic relations with those who did not confess Jesus to be the?Messiah. He was thus intentionally quiescent about much for apologetical purposes, a strategy?with clear parallels in other ancient Christian literature.Die Joodse agtergrond van die Jakobusbrief. Die Jakobusbrief is deur baie van die ouer?kommentaarskrywers gesien as 'n selfverklarende geskrif aan die Jode van die diaspora – hetsy?Christene of nie-Christene. Hoewel van die moderne navorsers heelhartig daarmee saamstem,?bestaan daar heelwat twyfel oor hierdie siening. Dit maak egter sin ten opsigte van sekere?belangrike beskrywings van die brief wat andersins onverklaarbaar sou wees soos die gebrek?aan uitdruklike Christologie, die skynbare gebrek aan kenmerkende Christelike sentimente?en die grondige Joodse ori?ntering daarvan. Die skrywer was 'n Joodse Christen wat steeds?gehoop het vir erkenning binne die Joodse sinagoge en versoenende verhoudings met diegene?wat nie vir Jesus as die Messias erken het nie, verlang het. Dus was hy met voorbedagde rade?baie stil oor baie dinge om apologetiese redes – 'n strategie wat duidelike parallelle met ander?antieke Christelike literatuur toon.