James

About James

James is a practical, punchy letter about living out real faith, written to Jewish believers scattered outside their homeland. It moves quickly through everyday topics like trials, temptation, the tongue, favoritism, money, and prayer, always pressing one point: genuine faith shows itself in action. It reads like the Bible's wisdom books brought into the life of the early church, echoing the teaching of Jesus himself.

Written by

Tradition holds that the author is James, the brother of Jesus and a leader of the Jerusalem church, though some scholars think the letter was written later in his name.

When

If James the brother of Jesus wrote it, it may date to the AD 40s or 50s, making it one of the earliest New Testament books; scholars who doubt that place it in the 80s or 90s.

Themes

• Faith that acts
• Wisdom from above
• Taming the tongue
• Endurance in trials
• Care for the poor

Key verses

• James 1:2-4My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
• James 1:22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
• James 2:17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.