A word with the rich (Ja 5:1-6) - Part 1

Abstract

The rich are apostrophised by the author of the Letter of James for their disregard for and exploitation of the poor who, ironically, are the "elect" of God. A social scientific study of the apostrophe is undertaken with a view to approximating the challenge, which the author offers the rich in the face of his (the author's) perceived imminent Parousia and its accompanying judgement. The study provides insights for the examination of the implications of the challenge of the author of James to the rich, for Christians in Nigeria, in particular, and perhaps also for Christians in Africa, in general. This part examines the gulf between the rich and the poor in the Nigerian society as well as some existing works on the problem of wealth and poverty with regard to the Letter of James.