What do you think?
Rate this book
The New International Commentary on the New Testament
The Letter of James (New International Commentary on the New Testament
Scot McKnight here explains the Letter of James both in its own context and as it may be seen in light of ancient Judaism, the Graeco-Roman world, and emerging earliest Christianity.
From beginning to end, the book is shaped for pastors, teachers, and scholars. McKnight is less interested in shedding new light on James than on providing a commentary for those who want to explain the letter and its significance to congregations and classes.
This commentary is accessible to a broad readership, at once full of insight and of good sense and wit that makes for good reading. The Letter of James is an especially helpful source for consultation as to what James is about.
From beginning to end, the book is shaped for pastors, teachers, and scholars. McKnight is less interested in shedding new light on James than on providing a commentary for those who want to explain the letter and its significance to congregations and classes.
This commentary is accessible to a broad readership, at once full of insight and of good sense and wit that makes for good reading. The Letter of James is an especially helpful source for consultation as to what James is about.
532 pages, Hardcover
First published February 21, 2011
48 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Scot McKnight
211 books545 followersScot McKnight is a recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. McKnight, author or editor of forty books, is the Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary in Lombard, IL. Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly speaks at local churches, conferences, colleges, and seminaries in the USA and abroad. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 16, 2017
Scot McKnight gives us this replacement volume in the venerable New International Commentary (NICNT) series. That series was aimed at pastors originally, but has since expanded its scope for scholarly types. Pastors can glean deeply from it, but it covers all the issues. Still like the earlier volumes is the fact that it has no untranslated Greek. A funny aside is how a major volume in another series by Eerdmans (James by Moo in the Pillar series) is written by McKnight’s dear friend. Both are well worth having.
In McKnight’s Introduction to James he shows a keen appreciation for the complexities of the letter even while confessing that some of those complexities were foisted on James by scholars. His charge of some scholars being “obsessed” with certain strange developments of study is undoubtably true. His discussion of “James in the Story” is at once interesting and clear. He does a fine job in explaining how James gets tangled with Paul, even though it may be more of our starting point than a true divergence. Still, I can’t agree with all his Paul-James controversy points.
His discussion of who James was carefully laid out the possibilities and reached conservative conclusions after wading deeply. His dating of James was early. His portrayal of themes in James was helpful and the section on structure was excellent as it shared so many opinions of other influential scholars before he arrived at his own.
The commentary section focuses to advantage on the text. I enjoyed it. Again, it might sound scholarly, but it will add to your understanding of this letter that perplexes many. You should check it out!
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.
In McKnight’s Introduction to James he shows a keen appreciation for the complexities of the letter even while confessing that some of those complexities were foisted on James by scholars. His charge of some scholars being “obsessed” with certain strange developments of study is undoubtably true. His discussion of “James in the Story” is at once interesting and clear. He does a fine job in explaining how James gets tangled with Paul, even though it may be more of our starting point than a true divergence. Still, I can’t agree with all his Paul-James controversy points.
His discussion of who James was carefully laid out the possibilities and reached conservative conclusions after wading deeply. His dating of James was early. His portrayal of themes in James was helpful and the section on structure was excellent as it shared so many opinions of other influential scholars before he arrived at his own.
The commentary section focuses to advantage on the text. I enjoyed it. Again, it might sound scholarly, but it will add to your understanding of this letter that perplexes many. You should check it out!
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.
June 22, 2020
This is one hefty commentary on James. McKnight leaves no stone unturned. I find McKnight both challenging and frustrating. There are times when he makes assumptions and then runs that assumption through the whole letter. He seems to engage in a good bit of mirror reading in this letter that I felt is not always justified. But McKnight makes you think and challenges orthodox positions.
July 28, 2024
Scot McKnight has written a thorough commentary, The Letter of James as part of The New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT) series. But of course such is what should be expected from an entry into the NICNT; they are known for being quite scholarly and thorough.
Within the commentary, McKnight provides an introduction regarding the text in its context, and provides framework explanation for each section. A translation of the text is provided within each section, and plenty of commentary is given on the text in its context and often in terms of its general understanding and application.
McKnight did very well at making sure the reader is aware of just how challenging it is to provide much coherence in terms of an overall framework of James while also making it clear the letter is not pure chaos and does have themes and some forms of movement within it. But this does not mean he bats 1.000 at it; sometimes his attempts at associations within the text seem particularly strained.
He does particularly well at deeply investigating James 4:13-17 to show how the modern facile reading misses James’ deeper critique of merchants and their extraction of wealth from communities. His supposition of James as having continual concerns of his Jewish Christian Disapora brethren as tempted to turn to violence on account of what they were experiencing is understandable and is quite plausible, but at times seems possibly overstated. At times it does seem we’re learning more about McKnight than James when it comes to how much mining gets done in some aspects of the text.
Yet none of that should cast aspersions on the overall quality and integrity of the commentary. A highly valuable resource when considering the Letter of James.
Within the commentary, McKnight provides an introduction regarding the text in its context, and provides framework explanation for each section. A translation of the text is provided within each section, and plenty of commentary is given on the text in its context and often in terms of its general understanding and application.
McKnight did very well at making sure the reader is aware of just how challenging it is to provide much coherence in terms of an overall framework of James while also making it clear the letter is not pure chaos and does have themes and some forms of movement within it. But this does not mean he bats 1.000 at it; sometimes his attempts at associations within the text seem particularly strained.
He does particularly well at deeply investigating James 4:13-17 to show how the modern facile reading misses James’ deeper critique of merchants and their extraction of wealth from communities. His supposition of James as having continual concerns of his Jewish Christian Disapora brethren as tempted to turn to violence on account of what they were experiencing is understandable and is quite plausible, but at times seems possibly overstated. At times it does seem we’re learning more about McKnight than James when it comes to how much mining gets done in some aspects of the text.
Yet none of that should cast aspersions on the overall quality and integrity of the commentary. A highly valuable resource when considering the Letter of James.
January 4, 2022
A very good, detailed commentary on the book of James that is half way between a PhD research book and a routine study of James’ concepts. Scot McKnight gives solid background on James, the events of the time and what James was trying to do by writing this letter. I really like that for each controversial concept or challenge to the language of the original text, McKnight spells out each option, gives other Scriptural and commentary references and makes a call (and gives you his percentage on how sure he is on the call). A great book used for an amazing Men’s Group that lasted over two years.
September 27, 2018
Thorough and thoughtful reading of James, bringing out his rootedness in the Wisdom tradition. As for authorship and date, he puts this early and believes there is sufficient evidence that this comes from James the Lord's Brother. I concur. Good scholarly resource.
May 15, 2020
McKnight does a great job of pulling together what appear to be James' random thoughts into a cohesive, flowing epistle to his Jewish Christian brethren.
August 11, 2023
A good start to the Bible... How to live a good Christian life.
December 27, 2024
McKnight always does and thorough and readable job.
October 2, 2023
A look at The Letter of James while consciously working to lessen the influence of other commentors and increase the influence of James' own words. Scot McKnight did a masterful job of just that. He gives the reader an opportunity to know the different approaches and biases of others, points to his own view, and then suggests you work a little harder to understand what you have just read. A valuable resource for an important letter. Several men and I used this commentary as the springboard for discussion and understanding over a period of more than two years - meeting twice monthly. Follow-up - here I sit a year and a half later. I have had time to reflect on Mr. McKnight's work and have some additional comments. First, Mr. McKnight's commentary is valuable and insightful as far as the historical and grammatical aspects of the Book of James is concerned. His comments helped my and my fellow students recognize some of the more important and difficult phrases and ideas in their proper context. One of the deacon's at my church has taken it upon himself to exegetically look at the same book. And I am very grateful for Mr. McKnight's work. Second, my friend, this deacon here unnamed, is taking a spiritual, exegetical approach to the Book of James - and it makes all the difference. His spiritual insights along with Mr. McKnight's comments have brought me closer to understanding the depths of faith that James explored - under the guidance of God the Holy Spirit. James, the half-brother of Jesus, the Christ, lived a life dedicated to the Jewish traditions, the Mosaic and Levitical law, and the inability of men and women to adhere to it. The coming of a Messiah - even his own half-brother - was quite a shock to him. He did not believe his half-brother, Jesus, was who he said he was - apparently until the resurrection. James witnessed all that Jesus, the Christ, experienced, endured and overcame. He then dedicated his life to encouraging fellow followers of Jesus to persevere even as they were persecuted for their faith. This commentary was a great help for me and my friends.
October 16, 2014
This is a helpful and detailed commentary of James even though I disagreed with a number of Professor McKnight's perspectives on the test. I was very thankful for his discussion of the "day of the Lord" in Chapter 5 as clearly referring to the destruction of Jerusalem.
September 18, 2013
Много подробно, ясно, практично, задълбочено и неспекулативно написана книга. Чудесно пособие за подготовка на изучавания върху посланието. Според мен една от най-добрите творби на МакНайт.
Read
August 3, 2012I used this book to study for teaching through the book of James
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews