James Letter Figurative Language

An Analysis of James 5:7-8 Although often neglected by both scholars and Christians alike, James’ letter has much to offer as practical lessons about the grace of God and our faithful correspondence as the body of Christ. However, to listen to its message and live its wisdom, the epistle must be accorded the audience to voice out its message than its purported muting of Paul’s voice (Kruschwitz, et.al. p.8). James concludes the letter with several exhortations on truthfulness, confession, prayer, healing and most importantly on patience. The exhortations appeal to two principles first being that works done out of faith must profit others and secondly they must be done in total reliance on God. The author makes direct applications on practical living using figures of speech to explain his message.
Figures of Speech The epistle of James comprises questions and answers, figurative contrasting speakers, illustrations and dialogues and difficult statements as was common in the discourse. James uses figurative languages throughout his epistle to help him explain his teaching about the Christian life. For
In chapter five, he uses words to paint pictures of the countryside to emphasize the patience a farmer exercises while waiting for harvest time (Hartley, p.5-6). The author commences with a practical example to illustrate the frightening return of Jesus Christ. Practical patience is form of Christian reliance on God. Patience is as hard in the place of work as it is in the farm (Waiting for the Harvest, n.p). The author draws words from fishing and agriculture and employs them throughout the epistle. Owing to this reason, the epistle especially in chapter five is suggested by scholars to be read in the eve of harvest time in the open field. Most likely, figurative speeches was commonly used as a form of expression n that culture (Hartley,