Introduction to the Book of James
VBC Albuquerque · Jul 13, 2025
This teaching introduces the Book of James, written around 45-46 CE as the earliest New Testament epistle, addressed to scattered Jewish believers facing persecution. James contains numerous practical commands for believers to examine their faith through actions and deeds rather than words alone. The lesson emphasizes that genuine faith must be demonstrated through the quality of one's Christian life and concrete teachings that enable believers to examine themselves.
This teaching introduces the Book of James by clarifying a common misunderstanding about the chronological order of Scripture. Most readers assume books are written in the order they appear in the Bible, but in fact James is the earliest epistle written in the New Testament around 45-46 CE, although positioned twenty in canonical order. The lesson provides detailed historical events from 30 to 50 CE, from the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Day of Pentecost, the death of Stephen, persecution of the Jerusalem church, and the spread of the Gospel to other nations.
The context of James's writing is intimately connected to the severe persecution following the death of deacon Stephen in 33-34 CE. Jewish believers were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, then to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. One year before the letter was written, King Herod beheaded apostle James, John's brother. In this circumstance, believers needed concrete, practical teaching to maintain their faith and live authentically, rather than sophisticated doctrine. The author addresses the letter to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, aiming to help them bear witness to Christ through practical living.
The lesson uses real-life examples to illustrate the importance of action over mere words. When customers decide to purchase airline tickets, gold, a car, or land, they do not believe advertising videos but rely on the practical experience of those who have used those services. Similarly, believers may claim they trust God, but if there is no substance of a follower of Christ demonstrated through action, speech, attitude, and spiritual life, who can believe them? This is why James contains approximately 54 commands within 108 verses—one command per every two verses—more than any other epistle in the New Testament.
The primary purpose of James is to teach each believer to examine himself to be clear, specific, and concrete about his faith through things that must be done, should be done, and ought to be done. Genuine salvation must be tested and verified, not based on mere profession but on concrete action. As Jesus teaches in Matthew 7:26-27, whoever hears the word but does not do it is like a foolish person who built his house on sand; when rain falls, water flows, and wind blows, the house will collapse and be greatly damaged. Therefore, the commands in James are divided into three types: urgent actions to be done immediately, actions that occur repeatedly or are ongoing, and general commands for a group of people or the whole church, helping believers verify the authenticity of their faith.