Sovereign Grace Bible Church

The letter of James, written by James the Lord's brother and a prominent leader in the early Jerusalem church, is a practical, pastoral exhortation addressed to Jewish Christians scattered among the nations, emphasizing a life of faith expressed through righteous actions. Rooted in Jewish tradition and deeply familiar with the Mosaic Law, James confronts the danger of a faith that claims belief without corresponding behavior, particularly in the context of social injustice and the misuse of wealth. His writing reflects a wisdom-literature style, marked by abrupt transitions and a high frequency of imperatives, aiming to cultivate godly living rather than offering systematic theology. The letter was likely composed before the Jerusalem Council (circa 48 AD), possibly in response to early distortions of Paul's teaching on justification by faith, and it seeks to maintain unity between believing and unbelieving Jews by affirming continued respect for the Law. James' own martyrdom in 62 AD underscores the cost of