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New Testament · General Epistle · Book 59 of 66

Book of James

A practical letter on living faith: stand firm in trials, be doers of the word, control the tongue, and show your faith by what you do.

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5 Chapters

James 1–5

Author

James, the brother of Jesus

Written

c. A.D. 44 – 62 (debated)

Written To

Scattered Jewish believers

Summary
Title
Author
Date
Outline
Trials
Faith
Wisdom
Patience
Overview

Book of James Summary

James is a short, direct letter full of practical wisdom, and it is often compared to the Book of Proverbs and to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It was written to Jewish believers scattered among the nations (1:1) who faced trials and pressures, and it asks what real faith looks like in everyday life.

Chapter 1 teaches how to face trials with joy and wisdom and calls believers to be doers of the word, not merely hearers. Chapter 2 warns against favoritism toward the rich and insists that faith without deeds is dead, citing Abraham and Rahab. Chapters 3 and 4 deal with the power of the tongue, the difference between earthly and heavenly wisdom, and the quarrels and worldliness that come from selfish desires, and they call readers to humble submission to God.

Chapter 5 warns wealthy oppressors, urges patience until the Lord’s coming, and ends with teaching on prayer, confession and care for those who have wandered from the truth. The whole letter shows faith as something lived out in actions, speech and love for others.

About the Name

Title

The letter is named for its author. The traditional Greek title is Iakobou, “Of James.” “James” is the English form of Jacob, the name of Israel’s patriarch.

James is one of the General Epistles (James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John and Jude), so called because they are addressed to wide groups of believers rather than to a single church or person. This letter is addressed to “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (1:1).

Who Wrote It

Author Details

The author calls himself only “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:1). Several men in the New Testament are named James, but the letter has traditionally been ascribed to James the brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3), who did not believe during Jesus’ ministry (John 7:5) but saw Him risen (1 Corinthians 15:7) and became a leader of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13; Galatians 2:9). The Jewish historian Josephus reports that he was put to death about A.D. 62.

 

When It Was Written

Date of Writing

The date is debated. Many scholars favor an early date, about A.D. 44–49, before the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). They note that the letter shows no sign of the controversy over Gentile circumcision, and that it may be one of the earliest New Testament writings.

Others place it in the 50s or early 60s, shortly before James’s death, and see it as responding to misunderstandings of Paul’s teaching on faith. The place of writing is not stated, but James lived in Jerusalem.

Study Guide

James Outline

5 chapters in four parts. Tap any section to expand it, and tap a verse reference to read it at BibleGateway.

Read James at BibleGateway
Part I

Trials and Doing the Word

Chapter 1 · Joy in trials, hearing and doing

Read this passage · 1:1

  1. Consider it pure joy; testing produces perseverance · 1:2–4
  2. Ask God for wisdom, without doubting · 1:5–8

Read this passage · 1:9–11

  1. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial · 1:12
  2. Temptation comes from our own desires, not from God · 1:13–15
  3. Every good gift is from the Father of lights · 1:16–18
  1. Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger · 1:19–21
  2. Do not merely listen to the word; do what it says · 1:22–25
  3. Religion that God accepts as pure and faultless · 1:26–27
Part II

Faith That Acts

Chapter 2 · Favoritism and faith without deeds

  1. Do not show partiality to the rich · 2:1–7
  2. The royal law: love your neighbor as yourself · 2:8–13
  1. Faith without deeds is dead · 2:14–17
  2. Show me your faith by what you do · 2:18–19
  3. Abraham and Rahab were justified by what they did · 2:20–26
Part III

Wisdom, Words and Worldliness

3:1–4:12 · The tongue and humble submission to God

  1. Teachers will be judged more strictly · 3:1–2
  2. The bit, the rudder and the spark · 3:3–6
  3. No human being can tame the tongue · 3:7–12
  1. Earthly wisdom produces envy and disorder · 3:13–16
  2. Wisdom from above is pure, peace-loving and full of mercy · 3:17–18
  1. Quarrels come from the desires within you · 4:1–3
  2. Friendship with the world is enmity with God · 4:4–6
  3. Submit to God, resist the devil, and draw near to God · 4:7–10

Read this passage · 4:11–12

Part IV

Humility, Patience and Prayer

4:13–5:20 · Waiting for the Lord’s coming

Read this passage · 4:13–17

Read this passage · 5:1–6

  1. Be patient until the Lord’s coming · 5:7–9
  2. The examples of the prophets and Job · 5:10–11
  3. Let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No,” “No” · 5:12
  1. Pray in trouble, sing in gladness, and call the elders when sick · 5:13–15
  2. Confess your sins; the prayer of the righteous is powerful; Elijah · 5:16–18

Read this passage · 5:19–20

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