Data Analysis for the Dating of James
📜 Proposed Dates for the Epistle of James
A Comprehensive Historical & Scholarly Comparison
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| Scholar / Source | Proposed Date | Supporting Arguments | Critical Weaknesses | Academic Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Douglas Moo
Modern Evangelical Scholar
|
A.D. 45–48 | No mention of Jerusalem Council; Jewish-Christian context reflects early church development | Assumes silence implies chronology; argument from absence may be fallacious | Moo, The Letter of James, 2013 |
|
Richard Bauckham
Biblical Scholar
|
A.D. 45–50 | Pastoral tone reflects early leadership; avoids later ecclesial structure complications | Assumes dating by tone alone; lacks concrete historical evidence | Bauckham, Wisdom of James, 1999 |
|
Strange & Gould
Modern Scholarly Consensus
|
Mid 40s A.D. | No awareness of Gentile debates; fully Jewish ethical framework suggests pre-Pauline influence | Lacks manuscript trail evidence; heavily inferential reasoning | Strange & Gould, The Moral World of James, 2004 |
|
Origen
Church Father (c. 184–253)
|
Early Period | Links epistle directly to apostolic era as authentic scripture | Ambiguous on authorship vs. traditional use; lacks specific chronological framework | Origen in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, Book 6 |
|
Eusebius
Church Historian (c. 260–340)
|
Post-Acts 15 (Mid-50s) | Early tradition documenting canonical debate; historical documentation of reception | Ambiguity on identification of James; uncertain apostolic vs. family connection | Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History III.25 |
|
Martin Luther
Reformer (16th Century)
|
Rejected Authority | Raises legitimate theological tensions between grace and works doctrines | Dismissal rooted in theological bias rather than historical evidence | Luther, Preface to the New Testament, 1522 |
|
Late Pseudonymous View
Modern Critical Scholarship
|
A.D. 75–100 | Explains sophisticated Hellenistic Greek and later doctrinal formation patterns | Contradicted by early reception evidence and content simplicity; overstates linguistic complexity | Ehrman, Forged, 2011 |
📖 Works Cited
Moo, Douglas J. The Letter of James: A Call to Wholistic Christianity, 2013.
Bauckham, Richard. James: Wisdom of James, Disciple of Jesus the Sage, 1999.
Strange & Gould. The Moral World of James, 2004.
Eusebius. Ecclesiastical History, Book III & VI.
Origen, in Eusebius’ History.
Luther, Martin. Preface to the New Testament, 1522.
Ehrman, Bart. Forged: Writing in the Name of God, 2011.