Introduction

Authorship

There are three main choices:

Apostles

1. James, the son of Zebedee. Martyred AD 44 (see Acts 12:2)
2. James, the son of Alphaeus. Little is known about him.

Family

3. James of Jerusalem (“James the Just”). This one is favoured. He was Jesus’ kinsman (see Mark 6:3). Resurrection Witness (see 1 Cor 15:7). “Pillar of the Church” (see Gal 2:9). Tradition tells us that he was Bishop of Jerusalem and Martyred in AD 62 (Stoned, clubbed or thrown off the Temple)

Date

Here is a rough timeline:

~30 AD: Jesus’ Ministry
~40 AD
~50 AD: Council of Jeruaslem
~60 AD: Epistle of James
~70 AD: Jerusalem Temple Destroyed

Recipients

The letter is addressed to “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations”. There are three possible interpretations for this:

1. Exiled Hebrew Christians (The used in the text is diaspora)
2. Christians fleeing persecution
3. Universal Church scattered throughout the world

I prefer (3) as it encompasses (1) and (2) and makes it addressed to us too Either way, this letter is grouped in the Bible with the Catholic (universal) epistles.

Literary Forms

The document includes several different literary forms:

* Letter (The opening)
* Homily (The exhorations)
* Diatribe (The “conversational” parts)
* Wisdom (Proverbs and illustrations)
* Judgement Oracles (warnings)

Main Themes

The central themes of James include:

1. Practical aspects of religious life (speech, charity, behaviour etc) drawing on Jesus’ teaching from Matthew’s Gospel
2. The coming of the Lord

Introduction | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5