Just as the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament served as a book of advice to the Jewish people, so James, according to Earl F. Palmer, is a New Testament book of advice to Christians. And it contains a great wealth of instruction and admonition as relevant to Christians today as it was to its first-century audience. In The Book That James Wrote, Palmer offers a user-friendly guide to James that is ideal for pastors and parishioners, for personal or small-group study. In the opening chapters, Palmer interestingly sets the historical scene behind the book of James, discussing the book's authorship, date, and the political and religious atmosphere of the city of Jerusalem and its first church. He also examines the book of James itself, its structure, its major themes, and its remarkable similarity to the book of Proverbs. In the main body of the book Palmer first provides a verse-by-verse commentary on James before focusing more deeply on such pastoral-theological themes as the nature of God and the meaning of faith, wisdom, temptation, hope and patience. A study guide at the back of the book suggests further readings and questions for reflection.
