What makes James unique?

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 as 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 twelve tribes of Israel were named for the sons of Jacob, the grandson of Abraham (Genesis 25:19-49:28). When Babylon defeated the Israelite people living in Judah in the sixth century B.C., many of them were scattered to countries outside their homeland. In addressing the letter to first- century followers of Christ who were now scattered in various areas outside of Palestine, or in the Dispersion (Greek: diaspora), the author was able to help them identify with their heritage. The reference to those who were "scattered" may indicate that the letter was written later in the first century (see 1 Peter 1:1).

The author of the book calls himself James, which in Greek is Iakobos, a form of the Hebrew name "Jacob." According to some early church traditions, the writer of James was thought to be James, the brother of Jesus and the leader of the Jerusalem church (Mark 6:3; Acts 15:13; 1 Corinthians 15:7; Galatians 1:19). 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. The instructional speech is characteristic of Greco-Roman ethical teaching. This means that the writer probably lived many years after James, the brother of Jesus, or James the disciple (Matthew 4:21).

The letter does not refer to the life of Jesus, his crucifixion, or his resurrection, and never discusses salvation. In fact, the name "Jesus" appears only twice (1:1; 2:1). The absence of any mention of a relationship between the author and Jesus supports the claim by those who say that the letter could not have been written by James, the brother of Jesus. In the ancient world, pseudonymous writing, such as writing in the name of an apostle, was not unknown and was regarded as a sign of reverence for the attributed author's authority and not considered deception.

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:

Ask for God's wisdom and patience (1:1-18)

The introduction to James follows typical Greek letter-writing style, which puts the writer's name first, then names the person or persons the letter is written to, and ends with a word of greeting. The writer encourages the readers to seek God's wisdom and remain faithful, even as they face testing and temptation.

Show that your faith is alive (1:19-2:26)

The writer encourages God's people to turn away from doing evil and to obey God's perfect law, which includes helping the needy, orphans, and widows. The people of God are not to give special attention to the rich, but are to love the poor and all others as much as they love themselves. In this way they will show that their faith is not dead, but is alive.

Watch what you say, and be wise (3:1-5:6)

Followers are warned to be careful to choose their words wisely, and not brag or say mean things about others. They are also reminded to follow God's wisdom and to make sure that riches don't pull them away from living as God wants them to live.

Be patient, kind, and prayerful (5:7-20)

Christians are told to be patient until the Lord returns, to avoid swearing or making oaths, and to pray for others, especially for sinners who have gone the wrong way.