Epistle of James facts for kids

An ancient copy of the Epistle (Minuscule 319).

The Epistle of James is a book found in the Christian Bible. It is the twentieth book in the New Testament. An epistle is like a long, formal letter.

Who Wrote It and Why?

The letter starts by saying it was written by James. Many people believe this was James, the brother of Jesus. He was an important leader in the early Church in Jerusalem and was killed around the year 62 AD.

The writer calls himself a "servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ". This suggests he was a respected leader in the Church. He wrote to "the twelve tribes in the Dispersion". This means Jewish Christians living outside Palestine, or all Christians living in places where Christianity was not common. The letter has a strong, clear tone, showing the writer was well-known and respected.

James wanted to make sure people understood Paul’s teachings about faith and actions. He was worried that some Christians were misunderstanding Paul's ideas. This suggests the letter was written later, after Paul's letters had become widely known, probably in the last few decades of the 1st century.

Some scholars today think that a Christian who knew a lot about both Greek culture and Judaism wrote this letter using James' name. They believe this person updated and shared James' early ideas. This might be why the letter wasn't fully accepted by all Churches until almost the end of the 4th century.

The author mainly used ideas from the Old Testament Wisdom books and the teachings of Jesus found in the Gospels. He didn't often quote them directly, but he used their ideas. He thought about old sayings in the light of Jesus' teachings and presented them in a new way.

Main Ideas in James' Letter

The Epistle of James is a series of strong suggestions and advice. Many of them are short and not always directly linked. The main point of the letter is that your faith must be shown in your daily life. If it's not, then it's not very useful.

The writer believes in Jesus' saving work. But he is especially interested in how Christians live their moral life. So, there isn't a real disagreement between Paul's and James' teachings. Paul talked about how you can't earn salvation by your own efforts. James talked about the good deeds like charity and justice that Christians should do.

James wrote in a friendly way about everyday problems that we still face. He wanted people to follow their faith and show love for others. These problems include:

• How people live together in a community life.
• Dealing with prejudice or discrimination.
• Caring for the poor, widows, and orphans.
• Handling jealousy and selfish ambition.
• Learning to control what you say (your tongue).
• Caring for the sick in the community.
• Issues of justice.
• Not speaking badly about each other.

He basically said: "Love others first, and that will prove your faith."

Wisdom from God

A big theme in the letter is the idea of true wisdom that comes from God. This is different from false wisdom. The moral teachings from God are not human ideas, but divine wisdom. People can only try to understand it better and put it into practice. This wisdom helps us see life clearly and guides our actions. Earthly wisdom, on the other hand, is a constant temptation. It makes people want to decide for themselves what is right or wrong, which often leads to bad behavior.

Helping Others

Another main idea is that God cares especially for those who are humble and not powerful. So, this letter is like a manifesto for social justice. The author praises the poor and warns the rich. It's very important to respect the dignity of every person, especially the poor, who are often looked down on by powerful people. This idea is similar to what the prophets in the Old Testament taught. It also connects to Christ, whose glory makes everyone special and important, and means there should be no favoritism.

Controlling Your Words

James also talks a lot about controlling your tongue (what you say). Teachers in the Church have a special responsibility here. Their words and writings can cause disagreements and divisions. People who have a strong influence on the public also have a similar responsibility.

What's Inside the Letter?

Here's a look at the different parts of the letter:

Starting the Letter

Jas 1:1-18: This part has many short pieces of advice. They are linked by words more than by ideas. They introduce topics that will be talked about later in the letter.

Being Fair and Acting on Faith

Jas 1:19-27: James says that we must listen to God's Word and remove anything that stops us from putting it into practice. Jas 2:1-13: This part explains the advice given earlier. It warns against showing favoritism and talks more about caring for the poor in the community.

Faith and Actions

Jas 2:14-26: This section is very important because it focuses on one main idea: faith without good deeds is dead. This means faith alone cannot save anyone for eternal life. This is the main message of the letter, giving the reason for all the practical advice. Some people thought this part disagreed with Paul's teaching about being made right with God by faith. Because of this, Martin Luther even wanted to remove this letter from the Bible.

Words and Wisdom

Jas 3:1-4:12: These two parts are very clear and well-developed. Problems with what we say and false wisdom can cause arguments in the community. James looks at why these problems happen and how to fix them. He finishes by talking about law and judgment.

Warnings About Riches

Jas 4:13-5:6: These two sections are similar. Each starts the same way and talks directly to the readers. The first warns against being too proud about business. The second strongly criticizes rich people who are unfair, much like the Old Testament prophets did. It's a helpful warning to Christians about the bad things that can happen to those who misuse their wealth.

The End of the Letter

Jas 5:7-20: The letter ends by telling people to wait patiently for the Lord's return. It then talks about three things: making promises (oaths), prayer, and helping sinners change their ways. In the middle of this, James mentions the anointing of the sick by Church leaders, which is one of the seven sacraments.

See also

In Spanish: Epístola de Santiago para niños