James and His General Epistle

"James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad, greetings." (James 1:1, NASV)

Turning from Ezekiel, we will pursue for awhile some themes from the general epistle of James. Who was the person who wrote to the "twelve tribes dispersed abroad," exhorting them to live out their Christian profession in a practical way?

Most Bible scholars agree that the author of this terse and practical letter was none other than the half-brother of the Lord Jesus, James, who became pastor of the Jerusalem church. When Jesus taught and ministered before His death, burial and resurrection, his half brothers, including James, did not believe in His claims to be Messiah nor support Him. After Christ's resurrection, James was converted. He was among those in the upper room praying and awaiting the Holy Spirit. He became the leader of the church of Jerusalem. Paul after his conversion, went to Jerusalem seeking out the apostles. Paul states in Galatians 1:19 that he saw "James, the Lord's brother" while there. James is one of the earliest of the New Testament books written, believed to have been composed prior to the Jerusalem Conference when the church decided that Gentile converts would not have to go through the process of Jewish circumcision. The letter, then, could have a composition date as early as 45 A. D. and certainly by 50 A. D. Although addressed to "the twelve dispersed tribes," some translations have James's salutation and address read thus: "From James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To all of God's people who are scattered everywhere in the world." (NCV). Certainly the letter is for us today as well.

There is no doubt from his salutation that James is completely aligned with the purposes of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. "I am a bondservant" he says. This means he had absolutely surrendered himself to God, to follow him under whatever circumstances. We learn from Christian history that James was martyred about 66 A.D. A high priest, Anaus, brought James before the Sanhedrin and he was condemned to die by stoning. It is said that, like Stephen, he died praying for those who stoned him and for his fellow Jews who were rejecting Jesus. But before his martyrdom, he had penned the words of his epistle which is a manual of practical Christianity similar to the Sermon on the Mount. It instructs in the nature of genuine salvation, warns against false belief and immoral conduct, and encourages Christians to follow God's wisdom and morality. Just prior to severe persecution, the letter was distributed when Christians needed encouragement and sound instruction. And the letter of James is as pertinent and relevant today as in the first century.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Friday, October 8, 2010