The New Atheism
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 54, No. 1 – Fall 2011
Managing Editor: Malcolm B. Yarnell III
By Dan G. McCartney. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009. 335+ xx pages. Hardcover, $39.99.
Dan McCartney contributes to the Baker Exegetical series with his commentary on James. The Baker series targets a wide audience, from the pastor seeking clear expositions, to the scholar seeking depth and precision (ix). McCartney’s work accomplishes and surpasses these goals. Students and pastors will find the text direct and to the point, yet without any “dumbing down” of the material. At the same time, scholars will appreciate the extensive, up-to-date works cited as well as McCartney’s thorough interaction with the most pressing issues of interpretation and text criticism.
In dealing with the text, McCartney recognizes the merits of some structural approaches but places greater value on central themes. These themes are recognized by length of discussion, structure within smaller textual units, and the interrelatedness of identified themes (62–63). Using this method, McCartney proposes that genuine faith is the controlling theme of James and that each issue is rooted in this idea. Thus, James 1 should be understood as an overview of the life of faith, and James 2 as a discourse about counterfeit faith. James 3 warns about the tongue’s ability to portray genuine faith, while the strife in chapter 4 reveals a lack of faith. The merchants and landlords in 4:13–5:6 are “paradigms of unbelief” and “foils in contrast to the life of faith” (223). Finally, believers are encouraged to look in faith to God (5:7–18). McCartney’s focused interpretation centered on faith makes his commentary an important contribution to the study of James. He convincingly writes, “The Epistle of James is properly seen as the epistle of genuine faith, not the epistle of works” (271).
Beyond his insight into the importance of themes, McCartney effectively demonstrates the relationship and cohesion of smaller text units. For example, exegetes often struggle to explain why the command against oaths (5:12) is sandwiched between the discussion about patience (5:7–10) and prayer (5:13–18). McCartney points out that people of faith resolve their problems by turning to God in prayer, rather than by impatiently making oaths. This is merely one example of how McCartney views James as a logical whole and finds connection between the various parts.
Yet, despite McCartney’s ability to identify structure in James, it was here that I found the commentary’s most glaring weakness. McCartney, following the suggestion of Bauckham, argues that proverbial statements are crucial and may even be a key to the structure of James (65). These statements (labeled apophthegms) are identified as short, memorable wisdom sayings in the third person indicative. Only seven verses in James, however, adhere to these parameters. In response, McCartney alters the definition to include verses which lack brevity and catchiness, yet still seem proverbial, and verses with verbs in the imperative. There are several problems with such an approach. First, a rule with so many exceptions seems to be of questionable value. One wonders if the text is being forced to fit a mold. Furthermore, there are inconsistencies in the rule’s application. Three out of the seven verses which fit the original definition are not used to mark transitions in McCartney’s outline, but occur in the middle of a discourse. Subjectivity and the interpreter’s need for a logical outline appear to reign in this paradigm. After all, verses considered pithy and proverbial by McCartney—verses such as “human wrath does not work God’s justice” (1:20) or “friendship with the world is enmity with God” (4:4)—may strike other readers simply as matter-of-fact speech. McCartney would have done well, before relying so heavily on the role of proverbs in James, to develop a stronger definition and grounds for using this methodology.
This critique should not cause readers to avoid McCartney’s commentary. The book’s strengths far outweigh its weakness. McCartney deals skillfully with the text, avoiding unnecessary digression so as to keep the argument and thought flow in focus (e.g., 162). This is particularly evident in chapter two, the highly debated section on faith and works. McCartney devotes a section of the introduction as well as an excursus to the issue of James/Paul and faith/works so that his exegesis of chapter two can focus on the text. Elsewhere, McCartney acknowledges where adequate discussion has been achieved by other writers and refers readers accordingly (e.g., 157n8). McCartney shows his willingness to think independently by arriving at sometimes unpopular conclusions (171–72n39). He is careful in arriving at his conclusions, and does so only after presenting all sides of the issue (e.g., 214). Readers wanting a better understanding of the structure and message of James will do well to make use of McCartney’s excellent commentary.
