The Letter of James (New International Commentary on the New Testament) [Hardcover]

Scot McKnight (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 21, 2011 | Series: 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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Scot McKnight has written a very readable, evangelical commentary on James. While covering the traditional bases and literature, he also includes a number of new readings of the data that make his work fresh and intriguing. This book will be viewed as a standard evangelical work that needs to be consulted in any future work on this letter.”
— Peter H. Davids
St. Stephen’s University

“A readable and carefully organized commentary packed full of concrete insights. McKnight brilliantly blends the best thoughts of earlier scholarship with innovative thinking, and he remains sensitive throughout to both ancient context and his modern audience.”
— Craig S. Keener
Palmer Theological Seminary

“Readers will find in Scot McKnight’s learned and well-written commentary rich insights acquired through many years of investigating the life, leadership, and theology of James the brother of Jesus. Again and again McKnight breaks new ground, correcting old misconceptions and throwing new light on important issues.”
— Craig A. Evans
Acadia Divinity College

About the Author

Scot McKnight is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University in Chicago, Illinois. He is the author of thirty books, including The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others, which won the Christianity Today book of the year for Christian Living.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 532 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (February 21, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080282627X
• ISBN-13: 978-0802826275
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.4 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #253,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Southern Illinois, came of age in Freeport, Illinois, attended college in Grand Rapids, MI, seminary at Trinity in Deerfield, IL.

Now a professor at North Park University.

Two children.

Kris, my wife, is a psychologist and the greatest woman on earth.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best April 20, 2011

By William Steck VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is one of the best commentaries on James, and likely the most lengthy. It gives a lot of background information and detail. McKnight holds the view that James wrote James and at an early date, so it's a pretty orthodox commentary.

He spends a lot of time on James chapter 2 and the supposed contradiction between Paul and James on justification by faith. His material in this section is a little different than the typical view and is well worth reading. I was really impressed with the background information that he brings up here and there throughout the commentary, probably more than I've seen in other works on James.

Moo (Pillar series) is probably more readable, but shorter. I'd like to give this commentary 4-1/2 stars, but they don't allow that here in the reviews. Mcknight's work on James almost merits a perfect 5, but there were some sections where after discussing all the options, he doesn't seem to mention which option he prefers and why.

If you are looking for a pretty exhaustive commentary on James, this might be your best bet. For those who don't want such a massive work, Moo is the better purchase.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Must have addition to any library July 26, 2011

By Jacob Sweeney

Format:Hardcover

James has proved a vexing New Testament book for many people. Martin Luther himself called it an "epistle of straw". Despite the Reformer's overreaction the church has recognized James' rich exploration of doctrine and righteous living. Any worthwhile commentary will follow James' example.

Scot McKnight is Karl A. Olssen professor of Religious Studies at North Park University in Chicago, IL. He is also a recent contributor to the well-known and respected New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT) with his new commentary on the Book of James. I have been helped through many other volumes in the NICNT and I believe McKnight's contribution to the series will fit well among many other excellent commentaries.

The most significant quality of McKnight's commentary is his consistent willingness to let James set the agenda in his epistle. He correctly identifies the source of many problems with James: Paul. He states it bluntly: "the more uncomfortable Christians are with James in a Luther-like way, the less they really understand Paul!" (3). He does not argue that James and Paul are at odds with one another. Instead, he believes - and sets out to prove - that James and Paul teach the same message, but they utilize a different vocabulary. This is a helpful word in the study of James' epistle.

In addition, it is obvious that McKnight has taken this subject seriously as nearly each page is a treasure trove of bibliographic resources. He has read widely and engaged thoughtfully with scholars and theologians of nearly every confession. But, I did not feel that this commentary was overly technical or difficult to understand. McKnight intended for his commentary to be of use to to pastors and students. I found it to be quite helpful....

The NICNT has long proven an excellent commentary series. Most of the contributors are able to walk the line of scholastic interaction and pastoral accessibility. Scot McKnight's contribution to the excellent NICNT continues this tradition.

NOTE: In accordance with the regulations of the Federal Trade Commission I would like to state that I have received the aforementioned title for the purpose of review. I was not required to furnish a positive review. Read more ›

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect May 2, 2013

By Daniel M Lacich

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Scott McKnight has become one of my favorite authors and commentators of scripture and the Christian life. His commentary on James is essential for a serious study of the text

5.0 out of 5 stars good March 29, 2013

By Adam Huschka

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

It's McKnight, what else needs to be said. I don't love this series, but I do love McKnight's approach and bent.

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical, Thorough and A Great Aid to Study for Pastors and Leaders March 8, 2013

By wagsfamily

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This excellent commentary on James is what I would expect from Scot McKnight.
His treatment blends scholarship with helps for the pastor and Bible teacher.
I can't think of any serious student of the Bible who won't benefit from this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great improvement over the previous edition! September 29, 2012

By David Aukerman

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

McKnight's commentary on James is tremendously worthwhile and is much more useful for me, as a pastor, than its predecessor in the NICNT series. This commentary contains great detail on the historical situation of James and the churches whom he addresses, plenty of application and challenge for the contemporary church, and a thorough (yet not too technical) understanding of the role of Greek vocabulary, grammar, and syntax in interpreting the book. If you are considering whether or not to update your NICNT library with this volume, my advice is to go for it.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A meaty commentary on the strawy epistle November 5, 2011

By Kevin

Format:Hardcover

Spending 400+ pages on the "junk mail of the New Testament" may seem like a ludicrous endeavor, but with the revival of attention James is getting it is more than appropriate. Scot McKnight employs his lively pen (keyboard?) to produce this lively and lenghty commentary on the regretfully forgettable letter of James, and it surely is a commentary worth purchasing. This is my first commentary on James, and I appreciate it for its exegetical, historical, bibliographical and theological rigor. Each page is packed with dense footnotes on the Greek text (transliteration is used in the main body), whether it is text critical notes or discussions on verbal aspect (he's sympathetic to Porter's system). Especially helpful and unique is that McKnight reproduces lengthy quotations of Philo, Old Testament and other early Jewish and G-R writings to connect James to his time period.

As with all of his books, McKnight writes clearly and with a light touch. So even when he's talking about the torturous syntax of 3:6 or analyzing the macro-structure of James, it is much more palatable than most other academic commentaries. From the start he makes it clear that he wrote this for pastors and teachers, and his love for James is infectous.