James

About this book

James is a brisk, practical letter written to Jewish believers scattered outside Palestine. It reads like wisdom literature in a Christian voice, and its rhythm often recalls Proverbs and the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. James insists that real faith shows itself in how people live. He speaks about facing trials with steadiness, asking God for wisdom, and hearing the word and then doing it. He challenges favoritism toward the rich, warns about the damage the tongue can do, and calls out envy, arrogance and the pull of worldly friendship. His famous argument that faith without works is dead has sometimes been set against Paul's teaching on justification by faith, yet most Christians read the two as addressing different problems: Paul is answering those who trust in works to earn favor, while James is answering those who claim faith but show no fruit. The letter closes with patience in suffering, honest confession and the power of prayer offered by the righteous.

Author

James, traditionally the brother of Jesus and a leader of the church in Jerusalem.

Date

Debated: perhaps the mid-40s AD, making it one of the earliest New Testament writings, or later in the first century.

Audience

Jewish Christians living in the dispersion, described as the twelve tribes scattered abroad.

Themes

Outline

1. 1:1–1:18Greeting, trials, wisdom and temptation
2. 1:19–1:27Hearing the word and doing it
3. 2:1–2:13No favoritism toward the rich
4. 2:14–2:26Faith and works
5. 3:1–3:12The power of the tongue
6. 3:13–4:12Two kinds of wisdom, and submitting to God
7. 4:13–5:6Boasting about tomorrow and warnings to the rich
8. 5:7–5:20Patience, prayer and restoring one another

Key verses