The Epistle of James: Linguistic Exegesis of an Early Christian Letter (McMaster Linguistic Exegesis of the New Testament)

The Epistle of James is a collection of essays that applies to the book of James linguistic methods of analysis that are based on the same theoretical framework namely Systemic-Functional Linguistics. This volume is unique in that it provides a theoretically consistent and unified approach to a single New Testament book which makes the whole volume useful for researchers and students of James. Each essay makes its own creative use of this linguistic perspective to engage important critical questions and to pave new ground for Jacobean scholarship based on linguistic analysis. Various topics in this volume include the textual structure and cohesion of the letter intertextuality rhetorical strategies ideological struggle interpersonal relations and other topics related to the letters social context and language use. James has emerged from an unlit corner in the library of early Christian scholarship onto the front table and this series of studies using systemic-functional linguistics wrapped up in classic historical exegesis penetrates deeply into this letter with force and insight. For a long time this study will prove itself useful to anyone serious about studying James. --Scot McKnight Julius R. Mantey Chair of New Testament Northern Seminary This collection of essays tackles some of the difficult syntactic and structural aspects of James at both macro and micro levels through the use of modern linguistic analyses. Those working in linguistic approaches to the New Testament as well as scholars who study the Letter of James in general will want to consult this book. --Alicia J. Batten Professor of Religious Studies and Theological Studies Conrad Grebel University College/University of Waterloo We will always have room for new commentaries to address fresh applicational concerns that arise in our constantly changing cultures. But what I appreciate about the new LENT series--and its inaugural volume on James--is that it attempts to make advances on the meaning concerns in commentary writing . . . this series proposes to fill a gap in the production of NT commentaries that will be welcomed for its attempts. --Douglas S. Huffman Associate Dean Division of Biblical and Theological Studies Professor of New Testament Biola University James D. Dvorak is Professor of Greek and New Testament at Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City Oklahoma. Zachary K. Dawson is a PhD candidate in New Testament at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton Ontario.