The Book of James, to whom is it written?

Well apart from James 5:14 there is no mention of the "church" (Grk ekklesia).

But this could be "assembly" as in Acts 19:39.

Another passage might be:​

KJV James 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?​

The NKJV has
NKJ James 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?​

The KJV translators apparently interpret "the spirit" - lowercase "s" - as the human spirit while the NKJV interprets "the Spirit" - uppercase "S" - as the Spirit of God heakening back to "I am a jealous God" (and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God).​

If the sense here is the Holy Spirit yearning and being grieved then we have James speaking of the indwelling Spirit (although the indwelling Spirit was not entirely unknown on an individual basis under the Law, pre-Pentecost).​

So, perhaps it is possible.​

In any event:​

KJV 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:​

Of course we also have:​

KJV 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.​

HankD​

 

James was written to Jewish Christians...

"to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad (Lit...in the Dispersion)..."

who were scattered (diaspora) to different parts of the Empire probably due to the stoning of Stephen.

"and on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles" -Acts 8:1

New Testament scholar Craig Blomberg states...

"Given the uniformly Jewish tenor of the letter there is no reason not to take the reference to "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations" in 1:1 entirely literally and to understand James's audience to be largely poor and exploited Jewish Christian day-laborers, probably in Syria, in an unspecified number of local congregations." -"From Pentecost to Patmos" pg390.

As usual I tend to agree with Blomberg's understanding.

 

==The letter is written to Christians who Peter believes are saved. Please notice that he refers to them as "my brethren" in several locations and in 2:1 he states,

"My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism"

 

Yes, Brother Bob, I definitely believe it is to the literal 12 tribes scattered abroad written by the Apostle James. I suppose it would be helpful to determine what baptism they had received as a way to determine what degree of knowledge they had (wisdom being another thing altogether).

In the Book of Acts we have

Acts 18

24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.​

Perhaps in a similar manner James is instructing the hearers in the "way of God more perfectly" or at least (humanly speaking) questioning their "faith" by observing their actions (testing the spirits if you will) and leaving the conclusion up to themselves per the individual.

When my children were at home and I was not pleased with something they did, I would often ask this rhetorical question

"Is this how a Christian should behave?".

I believe this is the general intent of the Book of James.

It is my belief that they were Jewish believers in Jesus Christ.
But babes, carnal and not well instructed in the doctrine of grace and faith.

They had not yet "overcome" such things as the priviledged classes of Judaism (priest, Levite, Pharisee, Saducee) as opposed to the priesthood of all believers, our Liberty in Christ, as opposed to the mosaic Law, etc among many other dogmatic conlicts of law and grace, the Old Covenant vs the New.

KJV Luke 5:36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.​

HankD

 

==They were scattered abroad.

==Since the readers of Peter's letter are assumed to be Christians, and since God will save people from "every" tribe and nation, I assume these Jewish Christians were from the twelve tribes.

 

Besides referring to the elders of the church in chapter 5, in 1:3 James tells the brethren "that the trying of your faith worketh patience," and in 2:1 he refers to "the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ" in addressing them."

In Acts 21, we learn that James was concerned when he heard that Paul was teaching Jewish believers abroad to forsake their Jewish culture:
17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. 19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. 22 What is it therefore?...

 

I agree with all of this post.

James was not wrote to Jews, but to Jewish believers. What helps to understand James more then anything is the time which it was wrote. Next to Peter who was the early Jewish Christian leader was James. James is called "james the just" and "the bishop of Jerusalem" by post-apostolic writers. James, Peter, and John were the leaders of the new sect. Yes in the beginning Christians we just viewed as a sect of Judaism.

I just got called by my wife So I need to cut this short...

I believe James the Just wrote the book arond 46ad-59ad. This was before the council of Jerusalem forn in Acts. At the council of Jerusalem, is where Paul and Peter decide if the Gentlies need to follow Jewish Law. James had input with this as will. The book of James was the 1st book wrote in the NT. This came before the council of Jerusalem when the new sect was mainly Jews. Paul then comes and says...we are to go to all the world. James is killed around 69ad in Jerusalem...by Jews.

Much more to say...I'll try to address it tonight. But Pauls writings come after James...and they do not disagree with each other.



In Christ...James

 

==Blomberg was simply cited for his statement. As for "Bible studies" disagreeing with Blomberg, I have no idea what that means. Bible studies can be good or bad depending upon the person leading them.

==While that is certainly true I am not sure that has anything to do with who he was writing to.

==Considering the fact that James clearly states he is writing to people who are Christians (Jms 2:1, etc) I am not sure why you are asking that question.

 

What Bible version is this?

 

==There is a whole context, chapter, to his remarks that I cannot copy. He makes a good argument that that is where/who these Jewish Christians were. This is the reason I gave the reference note. He is not adding or taking away "at will" his remarks are based on historical/Biblical evidence.

 

==Well since we know every person in the tribes did not believe in Christ he must be talking to those among the twelve tribes who did become believers in Christ. These are Jewish Christians in the dispersioin.

Really I am not sure that I am following your argument...

==James is telling these who have faith in Jesus not to do so with favoritism. Don't just look at the wording of verse one, look also at the following verses.