Epistle of Straw, Structure of James, Voice of the End Times

The Epistle of James is a structure of 5 symmetric verse-pairs. The theme is the post-Reformation furtherance on Sola Fide which is humility before God in daily lives keeping His Word thereby showing works even in perseverance in trials and sufferings. The structured James is a quick step-by-step guide on justification by Sola Fide in daily lives (which fulfils spiritual  affirmation of salvation e.g., Rom 10:9) and hence also on sanctification. Apparently it is put aside as "Straw" for today for the Lord exhorts dispersed brethren to "Live daily lives by faith before He comes which is near" and be gathered instead of even not shudderng.

..

The paper (Revision 2) on the ancient structure and the post-Reformation furtherance of Sola Fide in daily lives is available for free download (pdf version) below. Please refer also to the summary sheet (above).

.

David Kam

19 Nov 2022 (Last edit 04 April 2025)

The theme of the Letter of James  (from the "new" ancient structure):

The theme of the Letter of James is "Live daily lives by the faith to be justified and gathered, for the coming of the Lord is near."

.

God exhorts brethren to live daily lives by faith in loving Him. Having faith, brethren will be humble before God in perseverance. So, not be in doubt nor driven and tossed by the wind but standfast in His laws and statutes, in trials, and against earthly and demonic wisdom until the coming of the Lord which is near.

.

The Lord exhorts His coming is near. By starting with the dispersed status of brethren (who may be under various trials in faith with joy), and corresponding the dispersed status with the close coming of the Lord, the Epistle induces the rhetoric of the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky sending forth His angels with a great trumpet to gather His elects from the four winds (Mat 24:31).

The structure of the Letter of James:

By its own key words and phrases, the Epistle of James proves itself today that it was inspired and organised in 5 similar verse-pairs (see summary sheet) along side a pair of corresponding verses about the coming of the Lord, one of which is verse 1:1 right at the beginning.

.

Sola Fide in daily lives is developed step-by-step from the basics of faith (humility and perseverance) to daily life scenarios, trials, and works following the organisation of verse-pairs.

.

(For prima facie evidence of the 5-pair structure, please see appendix 3 of the paper accessible below.)

Implication of the Letter of James having a structure today (for reference only):

The Word of God has come again from the Bible just as His Word on Salvation 500 years ago. In the "new" organisation, the scope (first) verse-pair provides for the context that Sola Fide (having or lacking) is reflected in daily lives. Turning back one among us straying from the truth saves his soul from death (Jas 5:20) when justification is not by faith alone (Jas 2:24).

.

Hence God exhorts brethren having Sola Fide in living their daily lives before He comes. Take heed dispersed brethren to His Voice on living daily lives by faith in being humble in perseverance in the end times. The Lord's angels are sent forth to gather His elects when He comes on the clouds in the sky which is near.

Likely implications of the theme of the Letter of James (for spiritual devotion):

(1) Having faith to be humble before God and brethren, the Church will be one going through various trials especially in the disturbing End Times.

(2) Regarding loving God and keeping His teachings, the Epistle is the Deuteronomy from God before we see the end of the age whereas in the case of Deuteronomy by Moses, before the Israelites entered the promised land.

(3) Brethren living daily lives by faith being humble showing works will be exalted. It is challenging especially in the End Times since justification is by works and not faith alone. God reminds brethren before the coming of the Lord that Sola Fide is that with works in daily lives.

(4) But the good news is the Lord is at the door. The dispersed brethren are about to be gathered. Their righteous acts will be the fine linen to clothe the bride in the marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:8).

(5) The one who perseveres till the end will be blessed.

(For a summary about the theme and structure of the Letter of James, please click the button at the top to download.)

The paper "Epistle of Straw (Structure of James | Voice of End Times)" focusing on the structure of five parallel pairs and the post-Reformation teachings on Sola Fide has been published for free access (PDF version) below. For spiritual development to endure in perseverance until the coming of the Lord, please check out the book "The Straw, the Voice of the End Times" in Amazon (Kindle), Google Books (PDF), and Lulu.com (eBook).