The book of James is probably the only book of the New Testament to be written as an intensely practical handbook. It seems too many to function almost like a manual for living the Christian Life
Author
The author of this epistle identifies himself as James and calls himself a servant (1:1) and a teacher (Jas. 3:1). From the text we know whoever he was he was apparently very well known. There are three prominent men named James in the New Testament.
Firstly, is James, the son of Zebedee, who was the older brother of the apostle John (Mt.10:2). He was not only an apostle he was in the inner circle of Jesus’ followers (Mt. 17:1). His martyrdom recorded in Acts 12: 2 in 44 AD makes it highly unlikely that he wrote this letter.
Secondly James, the son of Alphaeus, was the brother of Matthew (Mt. 10:3). He, too, was an apostle with the nickname of James the Less (Mk. 15:40). This James is comparatively obscure. Thus, itis doubtful that he is the authoritative figure behind this epistle.
Then there is James the son of Joseph who was the half-brother of Jesus Christ (Matt. 13:55). At first, he did not believe (John. 7:5), but after the Lord appeared to him (1 Cor. 15:7), he became a believer (Acts 1:14) and would go on to become one of the main leaders of the church at Jerusalem (Acts 12:7, 15:3, 21:18; Gal. 2:12-19).
Many believe James, the half-brother of Christ, best fits the evidence as the author of the epistle: The reasons for this are four-fold.
1) There is no title given to him, indicating that his situation was already well known to readers.
2) It was written to scattered Jewish Christians. James, the half-brother of Jesus, was the leader of the Jerusalem church. When those believers were scattered, he would have been the most likely one to write to any dispersed ex members.
3) Bible experts say that the vocabulary of this book resembles the vocabulary of James speech in Acts 15. 4.
4) Historians and church tradition frequently says that James, the half-brother of Jesus, was the author.
Recipients
The letter of James was possibly the first New Testament letter to be written. James was the most prominent leader in the Jerusalem church (Acts 12:17; Acts 15:13; Galatians 1:1819; Galatians 2:12). Although most of the Jews in the Jerusalem church still held to former beliefs and customs, James was not in bondage to the law. He constantly encouraged his fellow Jews to be more tolerant of others (Acts 15:13; Acts 15:19). The common people respected him for his sincere faith and called him James the Just.
The recipients were Jewish (James. 1:1) Christians (James. 2:1), but James new the letter was intended to be widely circulated not sent to those of a specific local church, but to any Jewish Christians in general. This is why the book is addressed to the twelve tribes, which are scattered abroad. This is probably a reference to the Jewish Christians who were scattered abroad because of the persecution in Acts 8:4 (Acts 9:2, 11:19). From the book itself, it is obvious that these Jewish Christians were still meeting in synagogues. The word assembly used in Jas. 2:2 is the Greek word synagogue and had elders (Jas. 5:14).
Message
The subject is trials. James begins with that subject (James. 1:2) and ends with it (James. 5:13). The message is the proper way to respond to trials is to trust God and learn from them by being swift to hear, that is, heed the Word, be slow to speak, and slow to anger. (James 1:19)
Structure
Many have suggested that the literary structure follows a series of sermons. It can be summarized in James 1:19.
I. 1:1-18 Introduction – Putting Life's trials and difficulties in context
II. 1:19-2:26 Putting belief into practice
III. 3:1-5:6 Worldly ambition and Christian faith
IV. 5:7-20 The need for patience and prayer
Purpose
Jews who became Christians had the advantages of a longestablished belief in God and a moral outlook moulded by the law of Moses. But these advantages could also become a hindrance to some. Some Christians were so devoted to the Mosaic law that they became coldly legalistic and their Christianity lacked vitality. Others went in the opposite direction, because of a lax attitude to moral sin. Some thought that because they had been released from the law's restrictions, they thought they were free to do whatever they wanted. As a result, their behaviour became immoral. James dealt with these problems by giving clear teaching on the nature of Christian faith. Faith is not obedience to a set of rules, nor is it just intellectual belief. It is something that is living, and it expresses itself in right behaviour and actions. It does not give people the right to do as they like but directs them towards a greater love for God and for others. It enables Christians to live positively for God in an ungodly society, whilst at the same time not accepting ungodly standards of that society. This applies not to Jewish Christians only, but to all God's people, always.
Summary:
James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ, wrote to Jewish Christians outside Palestine who were going through various trials to exhort them to respond properly. If amid a trial, you trust God and are swift to obey, slow to speak, and slow to get angry, you will obtain maximum maturity.