A Spirituality of Perfection: Faith in Action in the Letter of James

by Patrick J. Hartin

Book Overview

2000 Catholic Press Association Award Winner

Throughout this century the Epistle of James has been viewed consistently as a disjointed set of instructions. In A Spirituality of Perfection Patrick Hartin differs from this approach by showing that the call for perfection" provides a unifying meaning for the epistle. Examining the concept of perfection against the background of the Graeco-Roman world, the Old Testament, and the Septuagint,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0814658954
• ISBN13: 9780814658956
• Release Date: July 1999
• Publisher: Liturgical Press
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Useful Writing on James

Hartin's book does a good job of showing that one can view the book of James in a connected manner, that it is not entirely a connection of disconnected sayings. For Hartin, the unifying theme in James is that of perfection. He examines the biblical ideas of perfection and combines then with Hellenistic ideas of perfection, applying each to the book of James. His treatment of James is useful in providing a unique viewpoint on the work. He also includes a discussion about modern ideas of perfection. The common view of perfection today, Hartin argues, is very different than that in the time of James. His ideas about how the focus on perfection in James can be applied in our world are worth considering.