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Let’s Study...<br />
James<br />
• James is the 59 th book of the Bible and the 20 th book of the<br />
New Testament.<br />
• Author. James is an “epistle” or letter, believed to have been<br />
written by James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ. (Mary was<br />
their mother, but Jesus was conceived supernaturally by the<br />
Holy Spirit, not by Joseph, Mary’s husband).<br />
• Time of writing. James was likely written around 45 AD. This<br />
makes James the first New Testament book to have been written,<br />
even though it is the 20 th book in the traditional order.<br />
• Historical context. James wrote this letter to a group of Jewish<br />
Christians who were experiencing suffering, poverty, and oppression.<br />
These were likely some of the first believers who had<br />
been driven away from Jerusalem by their fellow Jews because<br />
of their faith in Jesus. The good news of Jesus had not yet spread<br />
to non-Jewish people this early in the story of the Church<br />
• Summary. James begins the letter by talking about the suffering<br />
his readers were enduring, telling them to ask God for wisdom.<br />
Then, he launches into one of the most practical series of teachings<br />
in the New Testament. James is very concerned with the<br />
importance of living out one’s faith in a real way. We must not<br />
only hear the word of God, but do it.<br />
Here are just a few of the many topics James talks about in this<br />
letter: controlling our speech, favoritism or discrimination,<br />
wisdom, pride and humility, wealth, speaking the truth, and<br />
effective prayer.<br />
• Themes. The theme of the book of James is genuine faith, or<br />
faith that works. James repeatedly emphasizes that true faith<br />
18 | <strong>Loaves</strong> & <strong>Fishes</strong> • Issue <strong>27</strong>
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