James - An Expositional Commentary by D Edmond Hiebert.
This book is a welcome treatment of what many consider as a prickly topic. If a Christian is saved by grace alone, how important are his good deeds afterwards? Does a profession of faith mean more than verbal affirmation? For centuries, the Epistle of James has made Christians uncomfortable with its emphasis on right living as well as right believing. The Apostle James represented a tradition of strict and consistent commitment to a proper lifestyle that was unfamiliar to most Gentile believers in the early Church.
Later Christian leaders, such as Martin Luther, believed that James stressed adherence to God’s law over acceptance of his grace. Therefore, they never credited James with the same authority as other New Testament writings. Unfortunately, such a view springs from misunderstanding. As in his other commentaries, D. Edmond Hiebert uses his knowledge of Greek to practical effect for pastors and lay-people alike. His expositional approach is well-suited for personal or public study. Dr. Heibert manages to write in a way that reflects James's practicality. He thoughtfully provides a bibliography for further reading.
