Can you imagine the ABSURDITY of addressing unsaved Jews (the whole nation of Israel) within the New Testament, while teaching them Christian truths? The unsaved had already rejected Christ and the Gospel so why would they obey Christian directives? But both James and Peter are addressing HEBREW CHRISTIANS. Those who were within the Church. Peter calls them strangers (or sojourners, παρεπιδήμοις, parepidēmois = someone passing through) since after the persecution of Hebrew Christians in Jerusalem and Judea, they were in fact scattered throughout the Roman empire: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, This is the same group addressed by James.
ALL THE EPISTLES ARE WRITTEN TO THE CHILDREN OF GOD -- CHRISTIANS -- AND IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER THEY ARE ADDRESSED TO HEBREW CHRISTIANS EXCLUSIVELY OR BOTH GROUPS (INCLUDING GENTILES). As we know, in the Body of Christ that distinction is null and void.
1st The thread is about the book of James. Peter's epistle is another topic. Briefly, the strangers Peter is referring to are believing Jews. They had fled Jerusalem for their lives. Because of anti Christ law zealots like Saul. They were now STRANGERS in the lands of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia & Bithynia. Forcing gentiles into the verse is unscriptural & fits only because Nehemiah6 says so.
The NT Body of Christ consists of BOTH Jew & gentile. When James is written (in the 40's) their was no NT body of Christ. Gentiles don't have any accepted/sanctioned relationship with God until the Council At Jerusalem, early 50's.
2ndly Scripture is clear James 1:1 is written to the 12 Tribes/JEWS ONLY. That doesn't mean the book isn't God breathed/IT IS! That doesn't mean NT Body of Christ believers can't glean many truths from it/THEY CAN! It does mean it's written to a Church/Assembly/Congregation void of gentiles & therefore NOT written to the NT (BOTH/Jew & Gentile) Body of Christ!
ekklésia can be translated: CHURCH-ASSEMBLY-CONGREGATION
Acts 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
(MY NOTE: This WILDERNESS Church/Assembly/Congregation has NO gentiles & NO part with the Holy Spirit indwelt NT Body of Christ believer)
Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
(MY NOTE: Although this Church/Assembly/Congregation has NT Holy Spirit indwelt believers. NO gentiles are a part/present YET! And forcing them into this Church/Assembly/Congregation is unscriptural!)
Acts8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
(MY NOTE: Forcing gentiles into the church at Jerusalem is FAR FETCHED! It's several YEARS after Acts 2 Pentecost (the beginning of the Church at Jerusalem) Peter & other Jewish believers go to Cornelius house (Acts 10). Here gentiles are introduced to God the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44). The believing Jews present are ASTONISHED that gentiles received Christ's eternal life giving Holy Spirit. It's 14 YEARS later! At the Gal 2:3 event where Titus (a Greek) is circumcised & enters the Temple. That lead to the Acts 21:28-3 event. Where Jews drag Paul outside & begin to BEAT him to DEATH. For allowing a gentile into the Temple Acts 22:20-21. This notion/YOUR CLAIM that gentiles were running freely around the Church at Jerusalem is FAR FETCHED! The Church/Assembly/Congregation at Jerusalem was ALL Jewish believers & therefore NOT the NT (Jew & Gentile) Body of Christ!
Additional context:
Jews (to include the Lord himself Matt 15:26) often referred to Gentiles as unclean "dogs". (See Matt 7:6; Lk 16:21)
Gentiles were considered bastards outside of covenant seals, so ungodly, simply being in their presence could make a Jew ceremonially unclean. (See Jn 18:28 below)
Eph 2:
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
(MY NOTE: Gentiles were Pre Acts 10 to include Acts 2 Pentecost. """Strangers from the covenants of promise""" """having no hope""" without God in the world:
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
(MY NOTE: The Temple area had 4 courts: The Court of the Gentiles, everyone was allowed here. The Court of the Women, other Israelites were allowed there but, women weren't allowed beyond. The Court of Israel, men 20yrs & up only. The Court of the Priests, Priests only)
The middle WALL of PARTITION Paul is referring to was a wall of stone balusters. That separated/divided the outer temple Courtyard of the Gentiles (considered ungodly/impure) from the rest of the temple. Warnings were posted in Latin & Greek. Any foreign uncircumcised person caught crossing into another courtyard was punishable by DEATH. Not a fine or Jail time DEATH!)
John 18:28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
(MY NOTE: The Jews wouldn't even walk into the Roman/gentile judgment hall, lest they should be defiled/become unclean. They wouldn't enter because they wanted to eat the passover meal on the next day. There was a 7 day ritual cleansing period that had to be honored once deemed unclean.
Acts 10:28 happens many years after Acts 2 Pentecost. Peter has a vision & argues, 3 TIMES, with the Lord about things clean & unclean. The Lord tells Peter, if I say it's clean IT'S CLEAN, now go with these gentiles I'm sending to you!
Acts 10:28 Peter said unto them, Ye know how that it is an ""unlawful"" thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean
(MY NOTE: Peter tells Cornelius/a gentile. IT'S AGAINST MOSAIC LAW for a Jew to keep company with a gentile. And Nehemiah6 claims James a Mosaic law adherent Jew is writing to gentiles!)
Finally for the repent & be WATER baptized promoters:
Baptism-Spiritual-Circumcision
Matt 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
(MY NOTE: John the Baptist made clear that Christ would baptize with the Holy Spirit)
1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
(NOTE: By ONE SPIRIT/HOLY SPIRIT. ALL believers (Jew/Gentile) are baptized into ONE BODY/JESUS. Only Christ baptizes with/in the Holy Spirit. NO H2O used!)
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision """made without hands""", in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
(MY NOTE: The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION. ""Preformed by Christ alone"" without hands & NO H2O!)
Deut 30:6 (A) the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart,
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
(MY NOTE: Praise Jesus the only one that knows the true heart & the only One that can Spiritually circumcise/baptize!)
