The Epistle of James

The Epistle of James James is the first of a group of letters addressed to Christians in general, rather than to a particular church. It is an extremely practical letter about the Christian life. The letter was written early, but the exact date is unknown. We know little of how the letter came to be written, or whom it was sent to. We are not even sure who the author was. Of the various personages …

…is God's free gift, what does it matter how we live? In James' mind there is no question--it matters a great deal. Genuine faith in Christ always spills over into the rest of life. It affects our basic attitude to ourselves, to other people, and to life in general. There should be no discrepancy between belief and action. James reminds us of the need for genuinely Christian standards and values in every area of life.