James Verse by Verse

2019 Biblical Foundations Book Award Finalist in New Testament

James’s letter is famous for its practical wisdom and its heart for gospel transformation reflected in action.

James is like Proverbs in the New Testament - but written as a letter, reflecting the New Covenant of Christ. It advises believers facing cultural challenges in the diaspora how to approach practical issues like trials and suffering, the proper use of the tongue, and poverty and wealth from a worldview shaped by Christ. Stated simply, it teaches believers about living life in God’s world by God’s rules.

In James Verse by Verse, the late Grant R. Osborne invites readers to delve into this uniquely structured, immensely practical book. James is all about what early Christians called ＂the Way＂ and, as such, holds a unique place in the New Testament. This commentary will help modern readers embrace James as a distinctively Christian letter, full of wisdom for everyday life.

Grant R. Osborne (1942-2018) taught New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School for thirty-nine years. He authored numerous books, including The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, and commentaries on Revelation (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Romans (IVP New Testament Commentary), Matthew (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), and John, James, 1-2 Peter, and Jude (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary). He also taught at Winnipeg Theological Seminary and the University of Aberdeen, and pastored churches in Ohio and Illinois.