The author is listed in 1:1 and is the first word of the letter: James. However, which James is it? There are several men named James in the New Testament. James the son of Zebedee and brother of John, James the son of Alpheus and James the brother of Jesus. James the son of Zebedee is thought to have died too early to write the letter. There is no tradition assigning authorship to James the son of Alpheus. This leaves the most likely candidate to be James the brother of the Lord. Indeed, the earliest tradition assigned authorship to him. Moreover, the style and teaching in James is strikingly similar to Jesus’, indicating someone who was intimately familiar with Him. Jacobean authorship was not challenged until the 19th century, and today some liberal scholars still argue the letter was pseudonymously written in the first or early second century. However, their arguments rest on assumptions, such as that the letters “good Greek” meant James could not have written it, being a Galilean Jew. This argument has lost persuasiveness lately though, due to new research showing how widespread Greek was spoken in Galilee. Also, James may have used an amanuensis who was trained in Greek. They also point to the letter’s “reliance” on Pauline theology and late attestation. That the letter relies on Paul for its theology is not convincing, since many have seen the two Apostles in opposition. The late acceptance of James is a bigger issue. The letter was not universally accepted until A.D. 397. This does not mean it had no acceptance though. Powerful church figures such as Gregory of Nazianzus, Athanasius and Augustine accepted it. It was also adopted in the East before the council of 397 that officially accepted it. There is also evidence that early figures such as the Shepherd of Hermas (who may have known James) alluded to James, while not directly quoting it. While late acceptance certainly does not help the argument for Jacobean authorship, it does not overturn it. 

There is nothing in James that indicates when it was written. However, based on some external evidence, the date of the letter can be assigned with a fair degree of certainty. Most scholars fall within a range of A.D. 44 to 62. James became the leader of the Jerusalem church in 44, and Josephus assigns the martyrdom of James in 62. Giving time for Christianity to become firmly established outside of the Holy Land, James was probably written between 46 and 52.

The message of James is how to deal with external and internal trials and temptations, and living out the Christian faith. Some (Luther, for example) have seen James to be promoting salvation through works. However, a careful study of James’ argument reveals he is saying a genuine, saving faith is proven by works. He also addresses social justice, not condemning wealth, but urging the wealthy to be generous and that Christians show no partiality based on economic status.

Since the audience is general, there is no specific occasion in the letter. However, it may be surmised from the message that Jewish Christians everywhere were experiencing trials. In most of the places where the Gospel was preached and large numbers of Jews believed, conflict followed. In some places, prominent Jewish leaders felt threatened by “the Way.” In many places, converts to faith in Jesus were put out of the synagogue and shunned from the Jewish community, resulting in the loss of economic opportunity. Internally, people always seem to find ways to disagree over something. James addresses conflict resulting from partiality and favoritism, lack of self-control, and loose talk.

Because James addresses the faith versus works question, many have seen James dealing with a perversion of Paul’s message of salvation by faith and not works. Perhaps some were arguing that because salvation cannot be earned by works, works were not important. James chastises those who claim faith but ignore the needs of their brothers and sisters.

1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

1:19 “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

2:14-18 “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

5:13-16 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses[e] to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

General Outline

Greeting (1:1)
 

Dealing with Trials and Temptations (1:2-20)

1. Dealing With Trials (1:2-11)
2. Dealing With Temptations (1:12-18)

True Faith (1:19-5:20)

1. Characteristics of Maturity (1:19-21)
2. Put Faith to Work (1:22-27) 
3. Avoid Favoritism (2:1-13)
4. True Faith Is Shown By Works (2:14-26)
5. Tame Your Tongue (3:1-12)
6. True Wisdom (3:13-18)
7. The Danger of Pride and Worth of Humility (4:1-10)
8. Do Not Judge (4:11-12)
9. Do Not Forget God’s Will (4:13-17)
10. Do Not Mistreat Your Employees (5:1-6)
11. Be Patient (5:7-11)
12. Do Not Swear Oaths (5:12)
13. Serve Each Other’s Needs (5:13-20)