Book of James Summary

James reads less like a letter and more like a collection of wisdom for everyday life. In 108 verses it gives roughly 60 commands, more per word than any other New Testament book, and it is often called the Proverbs of the New Testament. Its writer, the brother of Jesus who led the church in Jerusalem, does not set out to explain the gospel. He writes to people who already believe it and asks whether their lives show it. Real faith, he says, holds up under trials, does what God's word says, treats the poor with honor, keeps the tongue in check, chooses humility over ambition, and keeps praying. Faith that never acts is dead. It draws heavily on the Sermon on the Mount and on Proverbs.

James at a glance

Who wrote James, and why?

The writer calls himself simply James (1:1). Of the several men with this name, only one was well known enough to sign with it alone: James the brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3; Galatians 1:19). During Jesus' ministry his brothers did not believe in him (John 7:5). After the resurrection Jesus appeared to James (1 Corinthians 15:7), and James soon became the leader of the church in Jerusalem. Paul calls him one of the pillars of that church (Galatians 2:9), and James gave the deciding word at the council that welcomed Gentile believers (Acts 15:13-21). The Jewish historian Josephus reports that the high priest had him stoned around AD 62.

Some scholars doubt that a Galilean craftsman's son could write the polished Greek of this book, and suggest a later writer used his name or that a skilled helper put his teaching into Greek. Most traditional scholars accept James as the author. Many date it to the mid-40s, since it never mentions the Gentile debates settled around AD 49; others date it closer to his death.

The letter is addressed to the twelve tribes scattered abroad (1:1). This probably means Jewish believers living outside the land of Israel, perhaps some who had scattered after persecution in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1; Acts 11:19). Many were poor, and some were being exploited and dragged into court by the rich (2:6; 5:4). There were also quarrels and careless speech. James calls them back to a whole, consistent life. He uses the word "perfect," meaning complete or mature, several times (1:4; 1:17; 1:25; 3:2).

How James is structured

Chapter 1 introduces nearly every theme, and the later chapters return to each one in more depth.

1:1-18: trials, wisdom and God's good gifts

James begins with a surprising command: consider it a reason for joy when you face all kinds of trials, because testing your faith produces endurance, and endurance makes you mature and complete, lacking nothing (1:2-4). Anyone who lacks wisdom should ask God, who gives generously without scolding. But the request must come with trust, not doubt. A doubter is like a wave driven by the wind, divided in his loyalty and unsteady in all he does (1:5-8).

Wealth fades like a wildflower in the sun (1:9-11). Those who endure testing will receive the crown of life God promised (1:12). But no one should say God is tempting them to sin. Temptation comes from a person's own desires, which give birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings death (1:13-15). God gives only good gifts. He never changes, and he gave his people new birth through the word of truth (1:17-18).

1:19-27: hear it and do it

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry, because human anger does not produce the right living God wants (1:19-20). Then James gives the line that sums up the book: do what the word says, or you fool yourselves (1:22). Someone who only listens is like a man who looks in a mirror, walks away and forgets what he looks like. But the one who looks closely into the law that sets people free and keeps doing it will be blessed (1:23-25). Religion that cannot control its tongue is worthless. Religion God accepts is caring for orphans and widows in their trouble and keeping oneself from being stained by the world (1:26-27).

2:1-13: no favorites

Believers in the glorious Lord Jesus must not show favoritism (2:1). James paints the scene: a man wearing gold rings and fine clothes walks into the meeting and is given a good seat, while a poor man in shabby clothes is told to stand or sit on the floor (2:2-4). God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of his kingdom, yet the church dishonors them. Meanwhile, it is the rich who oppress believers and drag them to court (2:5-7). Favoritism breaks the royal law to love your neighbor as yourself, and breaking one point makes a person guilty of all (2:8-10; Leviticus 19:18). So speak and act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom. Judgment will show no mercy to those who showed none, but mercy wins out over judgment (2:12-13).

2:14-26: faith that works

Here is the passage that made James famous. What good is it if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can that kind of faith save? If a brother or sister has no clothes or food and you wish them well but give them nothing, what good is that (2:14-16)? In the same way, faith on its own, with no actions, is dead (2:17). Faith can only be shown by what it does (2:18). Even demons believe in one God (2:19).

His examples are Abraham, who showed his trust when he offered Isaac on the altar, so that his faith and actions worked together and his faith was made complete, and Rahab, who sheltered the spies (2:21-25). Faith that never acts is as lifeless as a body without breath (2:26).

At first this seems to clash with Paul, who says people are made right with God by faith apart from works of the law (Romans 3:28). Both even quote the same verse about Abraham (2:23; Genesis 15:6). Martin Luther found James so hard to fit with Paul that he called it a letter of straw and placed it near the back of his German New Testament, though he did not remove it. Most Christian interpreters see the two writers answering different problems. Paul argues against people who thought they could earn God's favor by keeping the Law. James argues against people who thought bare belief was enough, with no change of life. Paul's "works" are religious rules; James's "works" are acts of love that come from real faith. Both agree that genuine faith shows itself in action (Galatians 5:6).

3:1-18: the tongue and true wisdom

Not many should become teachers, because they will be judged more strictly, and everyone stumbles in many ways (3:1-2). Anyone who never stumbles in speech is mature enough to control the whole body. Like a horse's bit, a ship's rudder or a spark in a forest, the tongue is small but powerful (3:3-5). The tongue is a fire that can stain a whole life (3:6). People have tamed all kinds of animals, but no one can tame the tongue (3:7-8). With it we praise God and curse people made in his image. That should not be (3:9-12).

True wisdom shows itself in a good life and humble deeds (3:13). Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition come from a wisdom that is earthly and even demonic, and they lead to disorder and every evil practice (3:14-16). The wisdom from above is pure, peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness (3:17-18).

4:1-12: quarrels and humility

Fights and quarrels come from desires at war inside people. They want what they do not have, so they fight. They do not have because they do not ask God, or they ask with wrong motives (4:1-3). Friendship with the world makes a person God's enemy (4:4). But God gives more grace. He opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble (4:6; Proverbs 3:34). So submit to God and stand against the devil, and he will run from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, purify your hearts, grieve over sin, and humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up (4:7-10). Do not slander or judge one another (4:11-12).

4:13 to 5:12: plans, riches and patience

James turns to traders who say they will go to a city, stay a year and make money. They do not even know what tomorrow will bring; life is like a mist that appears briefly and then vanishes. They should make plans knowing that everything depends on the Lord's will (4:13-15). Bragging about plans is evil, and anyone who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it sins (4:16-17).

Then comes a harsh warning to the oppressive rich. Their wealth has rotted, their clothes are moth-eaten and their gold has corroded. The wages they held back from the workers who mowed their fields cry out, and the Lord of armies has heard (5:1-4). Believers, by contrast, should be patient until the Lord comes, like a farmer waiting for the autumn and spring rains. They should not grumble against one another, for the Judge is standing at the door (5:7-9). Job is an example of endurance, and the Lord is full of mercy (5:10-11). Above all, they should not swear oaths; a simple yes or no should be enough (5:12; Matthew 5:37).

5:13-20: pray and restore

Anyone in trouble should pray, and anyone happy should sing praise (5:13). Anyone sick should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the Lord's name. The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up, and any sins he has committed will be forgiven (5:14-15). Christians apply this in different ways, from a church rite to simple prayer for healing. Believers should confess their sins to each other and pray for each other, because the prayer of a righteous person has great power (5:16). Elijah, called Elias in older English Bibles, was human like us, yet he prayed and the rain stopped for three and a half years, then prayed again and it rained (5:17-18; 1 Kings 17:1). It ends abruptly: whoever brings a wandering believer back from error saves that person from death and covers many sins (5:19-20).

James chapter by chapter

Click any chapter number to read it.

Main themes of James

Faith and action

Real faith shows itself in what it does (2:17-18).

Trials and endurance

Testing builds maturity (1:2-4; 5:11).

Wisdom

God gives it freely, and it shows in gentle, peaceful living (1:5; 3:17).

Speech

The tongue reveals the heart (1:26; 3:2-10).

Rich and poor

God honors the poor and warns the oppressive rich (2:5; 5:1-4).

Lessons from James

• Listen more, talk less. Anger does not do God's work (1:19-20).
• Do what you hear. Listening alone is self-deception (1:22).
• Treat everyone the same. God has no favorites (2:1-4).
• Hold plans loosely. Life is short and in God's hands (4:14-15).
• Pray for one another. Prayer has real power (5:16).

Frequently asked questions