Who wrote James?

[Receiver]

Which James mentioned previously wrote this epistle, or perhaps it some someone else?

Why is it addressed only to Israelites?

 

[throughfierytrial]

James is referring to the body of believers...just as does Revelation...when he says "the twelve tribes of Israel" or simply "Israel".
The Bible wasn't written for the Jews only, it is for us who believe and are His "chosen ones" as were Israel and Israel was both real and figurative.
Throughfireytrial

 

[hedrick]

Which James mentioned previously wrote this epistle, or perhaps it some someone else?

Why is it addressed only to Israelites?

The usual assumption is that it was written by James, the brother of Jesus. Or at least that it was attributed to him. The author appears to speak as one who is a recognized authority, and no other James is known that would fit.

James is known as the leader of the Jerusalem Church, and also of Jewish Christians. That explains the orientation of the letter.

Whether it was actually written by James or it is a matter of some dispute, as with all the letters other than about 7 of Paul's letters. The arguments are, unfortunately, subjective. We just don't have any real objective evidence on these matters. That's particularly true of James, which was accepted into the canon fairly late. While I'll go with critical scholars in assuming it wasn't written by James, I don't think the arguments are overwhelming. Indeed the Word commentary on James thinks it is based on an actual letter by James, which was updated and given a more literary Greek style by an editor. Certainly not an unlikely thing during a period when a lot of writing was by scribes.

 

[PrincetonGuy]

The usual assumption is that it was written by James, the brother of Jesus. Or at least that it was attributed to him. The author appears to speak as one who is a recognized authority, and no other James is known that would fit.

James is known as the leader of the Jerusalem Church, and also of Jewish Christians. That explains the orientation of the letter.

Whether it was actually written by James or it is a matter of some dispute, as with all the letters other than about 7 of Paul's letters. The arguments are, unfortunately, subjective. We just don't have any real objective evidence on these matters. That's particularly true of James, which was accepted into the canon fairly late. While I'll go with critical scholars in assuming it wasn't written by James, I don't think the arguments are overwhelming. Indeed the Word commentary on James thinks it is based on an actual letter by James, which was updated and given a more literary Greek style by an editor. Certainly not an unlikely thing during a period when a lot of writing was by scribes.

Upon considering both the internal and external evidence, I agree with Ralph P. Marin (WBC) that the Epistle of James was written by the half brother of Jesus, but that someone with more education than James likely had helped James with the final draft. Peter Davids, the author of the commentary on James (1982) in the New International Greek Testament Commentary series, is of the same opinion and provides his readers with an excellent summary and analysis of the evidence for that and other views. However, James Hardy Ropes, the author of the commentary on James (1916) in the International Critical Commentary series, is of the opinion that the epistle was written by an otherwise unknown man named James somewhere between 75 and 125 A.D. Peter Davids, in his commentary, argues very well against that view.

 

[Receiver]

The usual assumption is that it was written by James, the brother of Jesus. Or at least that it was attributed to him. The author appears to speak as one who is a recognized authority, and no other James is known that would fit.

James is known as the leader of the Jerusalem Church, and also of Jewish Christians. That explains the orientation of the letter.

Some would say that by writing to Israelites specifically he is preserving the old Jew / Gentile distinction that God had clearly shown in Acts 10 that he wanted broken down. But, James (the same James?) in Acts 15:13-21 clearly saw this point and argued for the inclusion of the gentiles.

He is writing to Israelites "scattered" so he would be writing to "mixed" congregations?

I believe he was writing to Christians rather than unsaved Israelites outside the faith, otherwise comments such as
"Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." (James 1:18)
make no sense.

My belief is that he was targeting Israelites because he had good vision of how the New Covenant is shown in the Old Testament, he is not favouring Israelites, he is helping their faith, we know that many false prophets were trying to take Christian Israelites back to old testament ways.

 

[Kazza Ah-O]

I'm afraid my answer if going to sound either flippant or overly simplistic. It's neither. It's just me and how I look at such things. Personally, I don't care who wrote it. I care more about the message it brings. I care more about what is in the book of James that is needful and therapeutic. To me, knowing who wrote it gives me nothing of benefit. Also, the more time and energy I spend on it's author, the less time and energy I am spending on what's written in it's chapters.

Is this asked purely out of curiosity or does knowing the answer somehow change how you think and feel about something?

 

[throughfierytrial]

Beautiful response, Kazza Ah-O...we are fully in agreement here.
ThroughfireyTrial

 

[branchofthevine]

well, it is a James that claims to have wrote it, and the people who are the most likely candidates are James the brother or John, and James the half-brother of Jesus, but considering that James the brother of John died kind of earlier on, and James the half-brother of Jesus became the leader of the Jerusalem Church, it is more likely the latter James wrote it.

Also, Jude writes his letter "Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James" (1), which means Jude was leaning on his connection to James as a basis for authority.

Also, our tradition has accepted James the half-brother of Christ as the author, so you can't really go wrong with saying that. (Also, that James was probably written around the same time as Galatians which is pretty early in the Christian movement helps that out a bit, as opposed to a later dating of the letter)

One thing about early Christians is that many Jewish Christians were still practicing Jews, as well as Christians at least until the destruction of the Temple. Christianity was seen as a part of Judaism for many years, and James, the head of the Jewish Church (basically) from what we know in acts, and other letters (of Paul mostly) was very concerned for the Jewish people. In James 1:1 he addresses "to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad" means most likely to the diaspora Jews, those who were exiled but never returned. They would have lived mostly more east towards Babylon and the old Persian Empire, and up through modern day Anatolia (see 1 Peter 1:1).


Kazza Ah-O you say you just want to look at the text, but the text says James wrote it, so what argument do you use to say It's neither?

Some books authorship, and those extra-text things like where it was written or to whom it was written, or when it was written can be really helpful like the letter to the Ephesians, or Galatians, or Corinthians, or Romans as giving context and background to some of the things written in the letters. Certainly Biblical Scholarship isn't for everyone, but there are some things in the Bible that cannot be correctly understood without an understanding of the culture context in which the letter was written.

 

[Receiver]

...
Is this asked purely out of curiosity or does knowing the answer somehow change how you think and feel about something?

Who wrote it is curiosity, the other question is more important, have you ever thought about it?

 

[throughfierytrial]

"...there are some things in the Bible that cannot be correctly understood without an understanding of the culture context in which the letter was written."

I disagree with the above assertion which was made in a previous post. One can see it is incorrect when put to the test of comparing it with Scripture. Scriptures as the following:


For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.—Romans 15:4

…man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
—Deut. 8:3; Matthew 4:4 (The True purpose of the Word)

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. –II Peter 1:20-21

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness –II Timothy 3:16 (The TRUE Author is all that matters)

5 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. –Matthew11:24-26

12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. 13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully…
--II Corinthians 1:12-14

And so, in my view Scripture, in its timeless quality, can be understood best when disregarding history…history can have a way of miring the view and true beauty of Scriptures because human guess- work readily enters into the equation. AND…

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. –Hebrews 13:8

 

[Kazza Ah-O]

(Apologies as I am quite digitally challenged and haven't figured out how to quote more than one person in responding, so I shall do this rather rudimentary version.)

Branchofthevine said,"Kazza Ah-O you say you just want to look at the text, but the text says James wrote it, so what argument do you use to say It's neither?
Some books authorship, and those extra-text things like where it was written or to whom it was written, or when it was written can be really helpful like the letter to the Ephesians, or Galatians, or Corinthians, or Romans as giving context and background to some of the things written in the letters. Certainly Biblical Scholarship isn't for everyone, but there are some things in the Bible that cannot be correctly understood without an understanding of the culture context in which the letter was written."

My Response
First off, I never said it was neither. I said that it did not matter to me and that knowing the message of the book was more important. When I purchase meat at the butcher, I don't tear up strips of the price sticker and toss in with the stew. It tells me information, but ultimately gives no nourishment nor does it add anything tasty to the stew. If and when, knowing something about the author of this book, will enlighten and cause growth, then I fully trust and believe that the Lord will not only open it up to me, but give me the desire to see what I can see. For now, the meat is quite filling and I shall only look at the sticker for information and not growth.

Secondly, my opinion of the mysterious James is that I am impressed that he was so in tune with & sensitive to the leadings of the Holy Spirit, and so trusted of God to be used to write a book that imparts wisdom, instruction, correction, edification, et al. From that one name, I can pray that we all become as attentive to the Lord so as to be used mightily to HIS glory. Whoever this man was, right now, he is dancing around the throne having a grand ol' time worshiping our King. I'm sure that based on what is in the book of James, on what God breathed into him (for instance chaper 4), that this mysterious man in heaven cares not one whit whether or not he is ever known or celebrated. He did what he did to the glory of God. I can fully imagine his humbleness in realizing that God had used him to relay a message that would be for all eternity.

Lastly, I do agree with looking at what was culturally significant. My husband's passion is history. And we often talk about scripture in terms of what was going on at that particular time.....but in doing that, it gives me insight into how it applies to the here and now. I am not of the bloated opinion that each current generation outdoes the previous in some fashion. As the word says, "There is nothing new under the sun". We look at the shortcomings of the Israelites during their seemingly constant merry-go-round of coming to and then walking away from the Lord. And I see a warning meant for all believers. And an encouragement that struggles can be similar and overcome (obviously now through Jesus). Through their actions, I learn about me and I also learn about the heart of God. So in that respect, I do enjoy looking at all aspects of what it meant at the time. But not in exclusion to what it means for "such a time as this".

Receiver said,"Who wrote it is curiosity, the other question is more important, have you ever thought about it?

My Response
To be totally honest, I have never thought about the mysterious James until now. But if you refer to my middle ramblings above, it is where I sit on the matter. It does encourage me greatly that you see something in the Word of God and want to dig, dig, dig and dig some more. I do completely believe that God soooo enjoys when we do that, when with an earnest curiosity, seek to know the whys, whats, wheres, hows and every little jot and tittle of his word.....and thereby know him. I encourage you to sift diligently for the nuggets of gold. You will be rewarded. May I also encourage you to seek answers through the Holy Spirit. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with talking to others, reading, etc.....but ultimately, please rely on God to reveal all and not man. Bless you on your journey. I shall pray that your spade forever remains sharp and your bucket never gets a hole in the bottom.


I agree with throughfireytrial when they said "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness –II Timothy 3:16 (The TRUE Author is all that matters)" You made some beautiful points from scripture. Loved it!

 

[Receiver]

Spoke to a Pastor who reads a lot, he said he'd seen an article on this that suggested that there were small churches / groups / families of Israelites dotted around "off the beaten track" that we don't know about from the other letters. This would make sense as Acts 2v9-11 lists places that we don't hear much more about, we know there were Jewish communities remaining in Persia too. These people would still come up to Jerusalem so James would be an ideal person to keep in touch with them.