James

What makes James special?

James begins like a letter that is written to Christians scattered throughout the Roman Empire (1.1), but it really is more like a short book of instructions on how God's people should live and treat others. The advice in the book is clear and to the point: If you are poor, don't despair! Don't give up when your faith is being tested. Don't get angry quickly. Don't favor the rich over the poor. Help others, and control your tongue and your desires. Rely on God's wisdom. Resist the devil. Don't brag about what you are going to do. If you are rich, use your money to help the poor. Be patient and kind, and pray for those who need God's help.

Why was James written?

For the writer of James, faith means action! This letter says that the faith of a person who does not do kind deeds is as good as dead. The writer challenges God's people to obey “the most important law in the Scriptures”—to love others as much they love themselves (2.8).

What's the story behind the scene?

This letter is written to “the twelve tribes scattered all over the world” (1.1). This does not refer to the people of Israel but to Christians, who viewed themselves as heirs of the Jewish tradition. The author of the book calls himself James, which in Greek is Iakobos, a form of the Hebrew name “Jacob.”

Church tradition has said that the book was written by James, the brother of Jesus. It is filled with teachings that are similar to the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels. However, the general language and style of the letter suggest that the writer was also familiar with the terms used by the broader Greek culture of the first century. This means that the writer probably lived many years after James the brother of Jesus (Mark 6.3) or James the disciple (Matt 4.21).

How is James constructed?

After a brief greeting, the letter offers advice about living as God's people. The letter can be outlined in the following way: