who wrote the book of james in the bible

In language and themes that sound similar to Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, James rails against the hypocritical believer who says one thing but does another.įor James, faith was no abstract proposition but had effects in the real world. In other words, if those who call themselves God’s people truly belong to Him, their lives will produce deeds or fruit.

Throughout the book, James contended that faith produces authentic deeds. In the opening of his letter, James called himself a bond-servant of God, an appropriate name given the practical, servant-oriented emphasis of the book. For James, a faith that does not produce real life change is a faith that is worthless (James 2:17). In the mind of this early church leader, Christians evidence their faith by walking in certain ways and not others. He makes no excuses for those who do not measure up. The pages of James are filled with direct commands to pursue a life of holiness. Its consistent focus on practical action in the life of faith is reminiscent of the Wisdom Literature in the Old Testament, encouraging God’s people to act like God’s people. The book of James looks a bit like the Old Testament book of Proverbs dressed up in New Testament clothes. In fact, it was likely the first New Testament book written. But James made no mention of Gentile Christians at all, making an early date for the letter most likely. Such a significant event as the Jerusalem Council warranted comment from James, as he was writing to a Jewish Christian audience.

This council met in AD 49, meaning James likely wrote his letter in AD 45–48. At that council, James, along with Peter and Paul, affirmed the decision to take the gospel message to the Gentiles. Where are we?Īs one of the chief leaders in the church at Jerusalem, James wrote from that city prior to the meeting of the Jerusalem Council, which Luke recorded in Acts 15. James made the deciding speech at the Jerusalem Council (15:13–22), and Paul called James one of the pillars of the church (Galatians 2:9). Peter singled him out among the other Christians there following Peter’s miraculous release from prison (Acts 12:17). After witnessing the Lord’s resurrected body, James became one of the leaders of the church at Jerusalem. James was not a follower of Jesus during the Savior’s time on earth (Mark 3:21–35 John 7:5) but eventually became an apostle in the vein of Paul, as one who had seen and believed the Lord post-resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7 Galatians 1:19). While James did not specifically identify himself as to which “James” he was (James 1:1), the author is widely thought to be James the half-brother of Jesus.

Who wrote the book of james in the bible