James - Chapter 1

While the author did not specifically identify himself as to which “James” he was, he is widely thought to be James the half-brother of Jesus. The events described in James take place in the city of Jerusalem, and was likely composed around 62 A.D. Its key themes involve the loving wisdom of Jesus, how real faith is inseparable from actions, and the need for perseverance and patience in the face of difficulty. The book of James can be divided into two parts. Chapter 1 introduces Jesus and the wisdom he offers, and chapters 2-5 contain twelve teachings and an encouragement for perseverance in prayer.