Who Is the Author of the Book of James?

The sermon opens by identifying four biblical figures named James: James the brother of John (son of Zebedee), James the son of Alphaeus, James the father of Judas (not Iscariot), and James the brother of Jesus Christ. To determine who authored the Book of James, the sermon establishes three criteria: authority (the writer must be trusted by the church), timing (the letter cannot have been written before 44 AD when James the brother of John was beheaded by Herod), and literary style (the language and vocabulary of the letter). By these standards, only James the brother of Jesus Christ emerges as the most suitable author of the epistle of James.

The sermon presents in detail the contrast between Jesus and His brothers in the household at Nazareth. While His brothers faced ordinary temptations to sin, Jesus lived a life of complete sinlessness, never sinning in thought, word, attitude, or deed. This created tension in the family when parents compared their other children to Jesus, breeding jealousy and resentment in James and his brothers. They, including James, did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah; in fact, they thought He was mad, as recorded in Mark 3:21 and John 7:2-5.

The sermon emphasizes that the great change came with Jesus's resurrection. After the risen Christ appeared to James (1 Corinthians 15), James came to believe that Jesus was truly the Messiah who came to redeem humanity. Not only James but all of Jesus's brothers were present among the 120 disciples in the upper room awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:13-14). From that point forward, James became an important leader and a principal pillar of the Jerusalem church.

The sermon demonstrates James's leadership role through multiple events in Acts. When apostle Peter was miraculously released from prison, he instructed: "Tell this to James and the brothers" (Acts 12:17). When Paul visited Jerusalem on his third missionary journey, he met James at the church headquarters, where all the elders were also present (Acts 21:18). Most notably, in the Jerusalem Council (around 50 AD), James presided over the meeting, delivered the speech explaining the council's decision regarding Mosaic law, and personally proposed that a letter be written and sent to all the churches. The language and style of the council's letter bear similarities to the later epistle of James.

The sermon concludes by emphasizing James's faithfulness and righteousness. According to church tradition, James was martyred around 62 AD, being thrown from the temple's high place and then stoned and beaten to death by the people. This figure became known as "James the Righteous" because of his upright life. The sermon draws three main lessons: faithfulness unto death, humility, and righteousness in living truthfully with complete faith in Christ, particularly for pastors who should make God's Word and prayer the foundation of all ministry.