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James: A Commentary
In this new authoritative volume of the New Testament Library series, Joel B. Green presents the writer of James as a sort of practical theologian, directly addressing the lived experiences of Jewish Christ followers beset by Roman social conventions and sensibilities contrary to the divine command to love God and love neighbor.
The book of James is nothing if not pragmatic. Its core arguments rest on urging its audience to take concrete action to develop faithful life patterns in a world that is often set against those who seek to follow Jesus Christ as Lord. Joel B. Green shows how the practical wisdom of James can continue to speak prophetically to a range of issues that plague our contemporary experience—the entrenched and growing gap between the wealthy and impoverished foremost among them. But readers who might be tempted to formulate a simple to-do list from James’s precepts are encouraged instead to enter into the world of the text as fully and as humanly as possible by asking questions How would the letter’s first audience (and then how might we) hear, and internalize, the writer’s words about perfection, moral purity, humans made in God’s likeness, and prayer for the sick and disabled? How might their lives (and then how might ours) be shaped by James’s central concern with the double love of love of God and love of neighbor?
A Commentary examines the Letter of James from a variety of angles—its social and cultural contexts, its relationship to Israel’s Scriptures and to the teaching of Jesus, the development of its message, and its significance theologically. As with other volumes in the New Testament Library series, this commentary strives to come to terms with the literary and historical aspects of its arguments, its appeals, its perspectives; its interpretation of Jesus’ message and Israel’s Scriptures; its grasp of contemporary Jewish and Greco-Roman thought. But it most deeply aims to show how James points readers toward envisaging the world as God does and acting accordingly—personally and communally.
The New Testament Library series offers authoritative commentary on every book and major aspect of the New Testament, providing fresh translations based on the best available ancient manuscripts, critical portrayals of the historical world in which the books were created, careful attention to their literary design, and a theologically perceptive exposition of the biblical text. The contributors are scholars of international standing. The editorial board consists of John T. Carroll, Union Presbyterian Seminary; Susan E. Hylen, Candler School of Theology, Emory University; and Emerson B. Powery, Messiah University.
The book of James is nothing if not pragmatic. Its core arguments rest on urging its audience to take concrete action to develop faithful life patterns in a world that is often set against those who seek to follow Jesus Christ as Lord. Joel B. Green shows how the practical wisdom of James can continue to speak prophetically to a range of issues that plague our contemporary experience—the entrenched and growing gap between the wealthy and impoverished foremost among them. But readers who might be tempted to formulate a simple to-do list from James’s precepts are encouraged instead to enter into the world of the text as fully and as humanly as possible by asking questions How would the letter’s first audience (and then how might we) hear, and internalize, the writer’s words about perfection, moral purity, humans made in God’s likeness, and prayer for the sick and disabled? How might their lives (and then how might ours) be shaped by James’s central concern with the double love of love of God and love of neighbor?
A Commentary examines the Letter of James from a variety of angles—its social and cultural contexts, its relationship to Israel’s Scriptures and to the teaching of Jesus, the development of its message, and its significance theologically. As with other volumes in the New Testament Library series, this commentary strives to come to terms with the literary and historical aspects of its arguments, its appeals, its perspectives; its interpretation of Jesus’ message and Israel’s Scriptures; its grasp of contemporary Jewish and Greco-Roman thought. But it most deeply aims to show how James points readers toward envisaging the world as God does and acting accordingly—personally and communally.
The New Testament Library series offers authoritative commentary on every book and major aspect of the New Testament, providing fresh translations based on the best available ancient manuscripts, critical portrayals of the historical world in which the books were created, careful attention to their literary design, and a theologically perceptive exposition of the biblical text. The contributors are scholars of international standing. The editorial board consists of John T. Carroll, Union Presbyterian Seminary; Susan E. Hylen, Candler School of Theology, Emory University; and Emerson B. Powery, Messiah University.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published March 4, 2025
About the author
Joel B. Green
108 books52 followersJoel B. Green (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is professor of New Testament interpretation and associate dean of the Center for Advanced Theological Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Prior to moving to Fuller, he taught at Asbury Theological Seminary for ten years. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Theological Interpretation and has authored or edited numerous books, including the Dictionary of Scripture and Ethics.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 19, 2025
Joel Green who has been connected to Luke for over 25 years in my mind on account of his popular commentary in another series here turns his attention to James. I’ve been hearing for some time that he also was preparing a major commentary on Acts, so this volume on James was a surprise for me. Apparently, his career has shifted to take on a lot of editorial work as well as he is now the main editor of the NICNT series. In any event, he seemed to enjoy James as he wrote this commentary. It’s as if key parts of James’ emphasis really resonated with him.
Perhaps another surprise is the length of this commentary. It barely comes in at 200 pages. That almost makes it comparable to a TNTC volume. I’ll confess that he makes good use of the pages he used, but clearly he felt no need to drone on and on. Taking it for what he clearly intended it to be, I will label it a success.
Yet another surprise about this commentary, that ultimately does it no harm, is the organization of the book. When you get to the end of the 15-page introduction, you will think to yourself, well, that was good; but where’s the rest of it? And just when you begin to think that he has cut it short, you will jump into the commentary proper and find that he has worked several other of the introductory issues into the text of the commentary.
For example, in explaining the first verse, he describes the authorship and audience of the book. He doesn’t argue for James, the Lord‘s brother, being the author, but he is ambivalent toward it. To his mind, more or less, it doesn’t matter either way. People would take it as if James wrote it according to his view. That seems bizarre to me, but at least we won’t have to hear him attack authorship the rest of the volume. My bias would be that he is more mediating in his theological position than I would be comfortable with, and I came with those expectations, but found that he did not really make those positions the focus of this work.
He covers structure in the commentary on 1:2-27. It made sense. From there, his commentary writing was a mature work. He even had helpful graphs at times. He would offer us an excursus at opportune times throughout the work. He perhaps came to James with his own bias, or at least his own pet subjects, but his professionalism kept him on track.
In an ultimate test of the work for me, I was up for studying a particular passage in James and really read slowly and carefully what he shared on that passage. To be honest, it was really helpful to me. It stretched my thinking and gave me new pathways of thought for interpretation. This volume would be a good secondary option for a commentary on the book of James.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Perhaps another surprise is the length of this commentary. It barely comes in at 200 pages. That almost makes it comparable to a TNTC volume. I’ll confess that he makes good use of the pages he used, but clearly he felt no need to drone on and on. Taking it for what he clearly intended it to be, I will label it a success.
Yet another surprise about this commentary, that ultimately does it no harm, is the organization of the book. When you get to the end of the 15-page introduction, you will think to yourself, well, that was good; but where’s the rest of it? And just when you begin to think that he has cut it short, you will jump into the commentary proper and find that he has worked several other of the introductory issues into the text of the commentary.
For example, in explaining the first verse, he describes the authorship and audience of the book. He doesn’t argue for James, the Lord‘s brother, being the author, but he is ambivalent toward it. To his mind, more or less, it doesn’t matter either way. People would take it as if James wrote it according to his view. That seems bizarre to me, but at least we won’t have to hear him attack authorship the rest of the volume. My bias would be that he is more mediating in his theological position than I would be comfortable with, and I came with those expectations, but found that he did not really make those positions the focus of this work.
He covers structure in the commentary on 1:2-27. It made sense. From there, his commentary writing was a mature work. He even had helpful graphs at times. He would offer us an excursus at opportune times throughout the work. He perhaps came to James with his own bias, or at least his own pet subjects, but his professionalism kept him on track.
In an ultimate test of the work for me, I was up for studying a particular passage in James and really read slowly and carefully what he shared on that passage. To be honest, it was really helpful to me. It stretched my thinking and gave me new pathways of thought for interpretation. This volume would be a good secondary option for a commentary on the book of James.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
November 25, 2025
Absolutely delightful in that the author begins each section with his own translation (with notes) of the text … forthright and with no punches pulled, the author also emphasizes James’ feeling of solidarity with his wide-spread community of brothers and sisters … refreshing …
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews