The Epistle of James the Son of Zebeddee (3)

From 2006 Conference on the Beginnings of the Apostolic Age...The speakers present fresh readings for New Testament books of Acts, Matthew, and James that draw a closer connection to the early Jewish context. James Jordan shows how the narrative of Acts closely parallel's the narrative of Luke. Peter Leithart furthered his thesis that Matthew is the first written Gospel, published shortly after Pentecost, for Jewish believers. Jeff Meyers expounded the implications of reading James as written by James the Son of Zebeddee to the Jewish Christians after the first major persecution of the church (the death of Stephen). Bill DeJong expounded the last chapters of 1 Samuel, how David must trust God to bring in the kingdom, and not give in to the temptation to take the kingdom for himself by killing Saul (or Saul-like Nabal). Richard Bledsoe spoke on how the new creation brought by Jesus means all relationships in the world can no longer be organized around the creation, but must now be organized around Himself for the glory of God.