New Testament
James
About the book of James
James is a practical letter about living out faith: staying steady in trials, asking our Father for wisdom, controlling the tongue, caring for the poor and praying for one another. Its best-known line is that faith without works is dead.
Book at a glance
- Chapter 1: Trials, wisdom and doing the word
- Chapter 2: Mercy, not favoritism; faith that acts
- Chapter 3: The tongue and wisdom from above
- Chapter 4: Humility and drawing near to our Father
- Chapter 5: Patience and the prayer of faith
Key verses
If any of you lacks wisdom, ask our Father, who gives freely to all without criticizing, and it will be given you.
James 1:5
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 1:22
Questions about James
- Who wrote the book of James?
- James wrote it, traditionally understood to be James the brother of Jesus, who led the church in Jerusalem. The letter names him only as a servant of our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- When was James written?
- It is one of the earliest New Testament letters, most often dated to the 40s or 60s AD, and addressed to Jewish believers scattered among the nations.
- What is the book of James about?
- Each of its five chapters takes up a test of real faith: trials and wisdom in chapter 1, mercy over favoritism and faith with works in chapter 2, the tongue and wisdom from above in chapter 3, humility in chapter 4, and patience and prayer in chapter 5.
- How many chapters are in James?
- James has 5 chapters. Each one can be read free in the Father's Heart Bible with audio.
- What is a key verse in James?
- James 1:5: "If any of you lacks wisdom, ask our Father, who gives freely to all without criticizing, and it will be given you."