James
New Testament · translated from the Greek
Practical wisdom for a faith that is lived: enduring trials, hearing and doing the word, not showing favoritism, guarding the tongue, and a faith that shows itself in works.
How it is laid out
Key verses
- James 1:22 — Be doers of the word, and not hearers only
- James 2:17 — Faith, if it does not have works, is dead
- James 1:5 — If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God
- James 5:16 — The supplication of a righteous person is very powerful
Who wrote it
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus the Messiah (1:1). Tradition identifies him with James, the brother of the Lord (Galatians 1:19), who led the assembly in Jerusalem. Its authorship is debated.
When it was written
Debated: between AD 45 and 62 if James, the brother of the Lord, wrote it, or later.
For whom, and in what situation
"The twelve tribes that are in the dispersion" (1:1): believers facing trials, showing favoritism to the rich in their meetings (2:1-4) and fighting among themselves (4:1).
All the books
GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation