The book of James

Who is James?

James is the half-brother of Jesus, a biological son of Mary and Joseph. This is noted in Mark 6:3 and it appears he might have been the eldest among the other siblings. Early church historians like Eusebius and Hegesippus affirm that James was a key leader in the Jerusalem church and that he was indeed Jesus' half-brother. James was known for his devout life, even earning the title "James the Just." Although, at some point, his family didn’t believe in Jesus’ ministry (John 7:5), even thinking He had gone mad (Mark 3:21), there was a clear turnaround later. James eventually becomes a leader in the Jerusalem church. He’s so prominent that his opinion is considered vital at the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15:13.


Why is James writing?

From the opening line in James, we can deduce a lot. It reads, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings”. We see here that he’s writing to Jewish believers scattered away from Jerusalem. They were likely dispersed due to persecution (Acts 8:1), famine (Acts 11:28), or simply Jewish business expansion—since, you know, the hustle was real even back then. 


As they were scattered, the gospel spread with them, Gentiles started coming to faith, and we see apostles like Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark moving around those regions to strengthen the new believers (Acts 14:21-22). This wasn’t a small matter, and the issues that arose from Jews and Gentiles now living out their faith together needed to be addressed. James, being a respected elder, writes this letter to provide guidance, offering clarity on growing pains that were being reported from these scattered communities.


What does he address?

James tackles issues Jewish Christians were facing—trials, faith, wisdom, and how to practically live out their faith in the midst of Gentile believers. His focus on practical Christianity makes it clear that faith isn’t just something to believe in; it’s something to live out. As we read James, we’ll find answers on how to be inclusive as the Church continues to grow and expand beyond the borders of our expectations.




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