What Is The Book Of James About? A Bible Study

What exactly is the Book of James about? What was the purpose of James writing it?

Who was James?

The Book of James is what many consider part of the “wisdom literature” because there is so much wisdom in this book. The author of this epistle (or letter) is James who most believe is the half-brother of Jesus Christ who only came to believe in Him after His death and resurrection. James is also called James the Just and even “Old Camel Knees” because he was a man of prayer and he spent so much time on his knees and they were very likely calloused so it is not surprising that there is a great deal about prayer in this book. James wrote this to encourage the church which at the time was experiencing the greatest of persecutions. They were losing their jobs, their families disowned them, their property was being confiscated, and many were being martyred. James wrote specifically “To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion” (James 1:1b). The Dispersion was where the Jews were being dispersed all around the Roman Empire and expelled from Rome and even put out of Jerusalem due to the severe persecution of the church, which as you might know, primarily consisted of Jews at the time of James’ writing.

The Wisdom of God

Just as Solomon could have asked for riches and wealth but instead asked for wisdom, James insists that we can ask God for wisdom too as he wrote “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5). There is no reason why God would not grant such a prayer request. He also wrote “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13) for “the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17).

The Prayers of the Saints

As much as James wrote about wisdom, he also wrote a lot about prayer that we should “ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6) and if anyone was sick “Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up” (James 5:14-15). Since God never changes, He is the same God who answered Elijah’s prayer and points to his example writing “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit” (James 5:16b-18).

Bridling the Tongue

Jesus once said that it wasn’t what went into the stomach that polluted a man (or woman) but what came out of the mouth that defiled him or her (Mark 7:14-23) so Jesus’ half-brother James also focuses on the tongue, writing that “the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things” (James 3:5a) and “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire” for example “the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell” (James 3:5b-6). Sadly, what James writes is true that “no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing” (James 3:8-10).

The Suffering of the Saints

Much of the reason that James wrote this book (letter) was to encourage the Christians who were going through severe persecution. James saw suffering as normal for the believer and wanted them (and us) to “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4). Those who suffer are actually blessed if they remain “steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12) and admonishes us “As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:10-11).

Conclusion

A pastor could spend a year going verse by verse in expository preaching in the Book of James because it contains so much wisdom; so much on how to pray in faith; so much on taming the tongue; and much on why God allows suffering. James also wrote extensively about the relationship between faith and works and that faith with no works isn’t the genuine thing because works necessarily accompany faith. That is why I think the Book of James is worth a good deal of study, for in it, you’ll find godly wisdom.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Blind Chance or Intelligent Design available on Amazon.