James

Overview

Who

Written by "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (1:1). Traditionally he is James the Lord's brother (Galatians 1:19), a leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13, Galatians 2:9).

Written to "The twelve tribes which are scattered abroad" (1:1), whom James calls "my brethren" (1:2, 2:1).

When

Traditional view: About AD 45-62, before James's death; many count it among the earliest New Testament writings.

Scholarly view: Many scholars think it was written in James's name later, about AD 70-100; others hold that the Lord's brother wrote it.

Where

Written to Not stated beyond "the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad" (1:1).

Written from Not stated. Traditionally Jerusalem.

Why

To call believers to "count it all joy" in trials (1:2-4, 1:12); to be "doers of the word, and not hearers only" (1:22); to show no "respect of persons" (2:1-9); to show faith by works (2:14-26); to bridle the tongue (3:1-12); to submit to God (4:7-10); and to be patient "unto the coming of the Lord" (5:7).

The readers faced "divers temptations" (1:2). Some favoured the rich in their assembly (2:2-4) while rich men oppressed them (2:6, 5:4-6), and there were "wars and fightings among you" (4:1).

Outline

1. 1:1 Greeting
2. 1:2-18 Trials and temptation
3. 1:19-27 Doers of the word
4. 2:1-13 No respect of persons
5. 2:14-26 Faith without works is dead
6. 3:1-12 Taming the tongue
7. 3:13-18 Wisdom from above
8. 4:1-17 Submit to God
9. 5:1-6 A warning to the rich
10. 5:7-20 Patience and prayer

Key themes

• "The trying of your faith worketh patience" (1:3).
• "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only" (1:22).
• "Faith, if it hath not works, is dead" (2:17).
• "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable" (3:17).
• "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (5:16).

From the letter's own text, compared with Acts and Galatians; authorship and dating views summarized from standard introductions.