James

Composition

The Epistle of James is one of twenty-seven books in the New Testament and one of twenty-one epistles. Epistles were letters written to Christian communities by early church leaders and typically addressed matters of faith. Traditionally, authorship of the work has been attributed to James, the brother or relative of Jesus and a significant leader of the early Christian Church. Depending on the denomination, modern Christians believe James was either the son of Joseph and Mary and the next youngest brother to Jesus, a cousin of Jesus, or the son of Joseph through a previous marriage.

After Jesus was crucified, James became a leading figure in the church, serving as the bishop of Jerusalem. James was often referred to as the James the Just because of his instance on adhering to Jewish law. According to Christian tradition, James was martyred by stoning sometime about the year 62 CE.

However, several factors cast doubt on James’ reputation as the author of the epistle. First, James was from a relatively poor family, but the letter was written in fluent Greek. Modern scholars believe it was unlikely James would have been educated enough in that language to write with such high quality. Some believe it was possible he dictated the letter to a scribe or commissioned a secretary to write it.

In the letter, James calls himself a “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Scholars believe that if he were the brother of Jesus, he would have referred to himself as such. The book makes no significant references to Jesus and uses the Old Testament character of Job as an example of pious suffering, ignoring Jesus and his more recent crucifixion.

James was also Jewish and held that early Christians should adhere to Jewish laws such as circumcision and dietary restrictions. This was a central issue of early Christianity as the apostle Paul converted many Gentiles to the faith. Some Christians argued that all new converts should follow Jewish law, while others said the Gentiles could become Christian by faith alone. However, the Gentile/Jewish issue and references to Jewish law do not appear anywhere in the epistle of James.

Yet another factor working against James’ authorship is that the book was not considered important by the early Christians. Scholars assume that if Jesus’ brother wrote the book, Christians would have more fully embraced it. Instead, it did not grow in popularity until the middle of the second century.

The date of the book’s writing is also debated, with theories ranging from the mid-40s into the second century. Those who believe that James personally wrote the book date its creation prior to 62. Even those who credit the work to an associate of James say its very Jewish nature means it could not have been written after the year 70. In that year, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Jewish holy temple—an event that altered the tenor of Judaism and deeply affected the Jewish people.

Many modern scholars believe that the epistle was written by an unknown author after the year 70, most likely between 90 and 100. The author may have credited James to take advantage of his reputation and add importance to the work.

Summary

The book opens with a short greeting addressed to the “twelve tribes scattered among the nations,” a reference to the twelve tribes of Israel. The author begins his message by stating those who face ridicule and persecution for their faith should rejoice in that fact, as these trials are but tests of that faith and create perseverance. He tells the followers of Jesus that they must believe in their faith, as those who fall into doubt are like ocean waves blown about by the wind. He says that the faithful should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Yet just listening to the word of God is not enough. People should follow through with actions that demonstrate their faith. The author later says that faith without deeds is dead.

In chapter 2, the author presents a parable to show that Christians should not show favoritism in their faith. Two men come to a church meeting; one is dressed in gold and fine clothes, while the other is dressed in filthy clothes. It is wrong to give the man in fine clothes a good seat, while the poor man is told to sit on the floor. Doing so lead to discrimination and judgment. It is the poor that God has chosen to inherit His kingdom, while the rich are exploiting the poor and blaspheming God.

Chapter 3 begins with an warning that Christians should be careful of what they say to others. Just as a large ship is steered by the rudder, a small part of the vessel, the tongue is one of the smallest parts of the body, but is capable of causing large problems. The tongue is capable of praising God, but it is also able to utter curses at other people. This is similar to a spring producing both fresh water and salt water, a condition that should never happen.

The author again states that wisdom, like faith, should be accompanied by deeds. Wisdom that comes from heaven is pure and inspired by humility and mercy. In contrast, earthly wisdom is selfish and full of ambition.

In chapter 4, the author says that fights and disagreements arise because people are too concerned with fulfilling their earthly needs. Becoming too attached to worldly pleasures means making an enemy of God. By humbling themselves before the Lord and purifying their hearts and minds, Christians will become closer to God.

The author also warns Christians not to slander or judge their fellow brothers and sisters in the faith. He advises Christians to refrain from boasting about their ambitions for the future. He says what happens in the future will occur according to the Lord’s will and that humans are “a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

The final chapter of James begins with a warning to the wealthy that their luxurious lives were built upon the oppression of the poor. As punishment, their wealth will be destroyed, their clothes devoured by moths, and their gold and silver corroded. The authors praises those who endure suffering, promising them that the Lord will soon reward them for their patience. He reminds them of the Old Testament’s Job who was burdened with horrific suffering and still kept his faith.

The author tells Christians they should not swear oaths, but rather respond with a simple “yes” or “no.” He also says that prayer offered up in faith can accomplish great things, such as healing the sick. The books ends with a reminder that if anyone strays from the faith, their fellow Christians should bring them back into the fold, saving them from a true death.

Themes

Scholars often see the epistle of James as a “Jewish” book because it embodies a more Jewish theological view than an early Christian one. The first Christians were Jewish and did not necessarily see themselves as starting a new religion, but rather as a movement within Judaism. This ideal can be seen in the opening greeting, when the author identifies his audience as the twelve tribes of Israel.

The epistle also embraces the Jewish ideal of showing righteousness through justice, good deeds, and ethical behavior. On several occasions the author mentions that Christian should focus on good works as faith is nothing without action. This concept seems to run counter to more Christian ideals championed by the apostle Paul. Paul was perhaps the most significant early church leader and helped spread Christianity throughout the Roman world. Paul wrote several of his own epistles in which he argued that faith and trust in Jesus Christ was enough to ensure salvation.

The epistle of James is different from the other New Testament epistles in that it is not a letter addressed to a specific congregation. It is also less about issues of faith, but is more a general guideline for practicing ethical behavior. The epistle is a type of writing known as exhortation, which urges readers to live their following a moral and righteous path. Exhortation writing was common in the Old Testament, especially the books of Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes.

Other common themes in James are the issues of discrimination and the treatment of the poor by the wealthy. The author points out that humans should not use worldly distinctions to push away other people. Only God can see what is in the heart, and only God can truly judge a person. Similarly, the author warns the wealthy not to treat the poor with disdain, as all worldly possessions are fleeting and earthly wealth means nothing in the eyes of God.

Bibliography

“James 1.” Bible Gateway, www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201&version=NIV. Accessed 27 Apr. 2022.

Kirby, Peter. “Epistle of James.” Early Christian Writings, 2022, www.earlychristianwritings.com/james.html. Accessed 27 Apr. 2022.

“James.” United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2022, bible.usccb.org/bible/james/0. Accessed 27 Apr. 2022.

Mason, Eric F., and Darian R. Lockett, eds. Reading the Epistle of James. SBL Press, 2019.

Salter, G. Connor. “What Is an Epistle? What Are the Epistles in the Bible?” Christianity.com, 21 Nov. 2019, www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-an-epistle-what-are-the-epistles-in-the-bible.html. Accessed 27 Apr. 2022.

“What Is the Book of James About? Here Are 10 Key Themes.” Bible Gateway, 14 Mar. 2019, www.biblegateway.com/blog/2019/03/what-is-the-book-of-james-about-here-are-10-key-themes/. Accessed 27 Apr. 2022.

“Who Wrote the Book of James?” Zondervan Academic, 6 Sept. 2017, zondervanacademic.com/blog/who-wrote-the-book-of-james. Accessed 27 Apr. 2022.