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This is a book about "works". Faith, without works, is dead, says the author of James. Verbal and mental faith is not enough. True faith will manifest itself in obedience and produce works and this will become a way of life for the Christian.
The book was originally called "Jakobos", the Greek name for the Hebrew name Jacob. The name translates to James in the English language.
At first reading, the book seems to disagree with Paul's letter to the Romans, but careful study will show that there is no disagreement. Paul had a good relationship with James and held James in high regard. It has been said that together, they gave the full dimension of faith. Paul wrote about "saving faith" from God's perspective. James wrote about faith from man's perspective. To Paul, it was a saving faith, to James, it was a serving faith. In reality, we cannot separate the two.
The book has the authority of the Prophets and the beauty of the Psalms. It was written to the 12 tribes of Israel who were scattered in the Middle East. It was written in good Greek diction but filled with Hebrew symbolism. Peter, another "dyed in the wool" Jew, wrote to the scattered Jews in the East. This book was not widely accepted until the fourth century.
There is some difference of opinion about who the author was of this book. Matthew Henry believes that it was James, the Son of Alphaeus. This belief is accepted by the Roman Catholics in order to substantiate their belief that Mary had no other children but Jesus. Matthew, in his Gospel, Chapter 7:53-58, refers to brothers and sisters of Jesus. We call them half- brothers and sisters because they do not have the same father. John, in his Gospel, relates that even his brothers and sisters did not believe in Him.
Though James was reared in the same home as Jesus, he apparently did not become a believer until after the resurrection of Jesus (Ist, Cor. 15:7). Josephus, a first century historian, records that James was martyred in Ad 62 by the Scribes and Pharisees in Jerusalem.
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