The Letter of Saint James

From its beginning until today, the Letter of James has been a subject of fascination, inspiration, controversy, and unanswered questions. Its author identifies himself only as “James, servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Jas 1:1). A scholarly and traditional consensus further identifies him as James, brother of Jesus (cf. Gal 1:19). Yet James was not cited as Scripture until the early third century, and from that time until the present significant debate has continued, regarding both the true identity of the author and the status of the letter within the canon of Scripture, among both scholars and members of the Church. 

Despite these debates, James has had significant influence in the development of Christian and wider cultural traditions. Most notably, it has been widely understood as a counterbalance to the theology of the Pauline letters: as Paul highlights the unique role of faith in salvation, James reminds his audience of the essential role of action in the working out of that faith: “Faith without works is dead” (Jas 2:26). At the canonical level, James serves as an introduction to the seven Catholic Epistles (James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John, Jude): this letter collection, together with the Acts of the Apostles, in turn functions to balance the Pauline Letters. 

Even Martin Luther, who famously dismissed James as “an epistle of straw,” found its ethical teaching useful and often quoted from it. James’ demands to seek justice and care for the oppressed, his exhortations to endure suffering with joy and to seek God with singleness of heart, his holistic vision of healing: all these have inspired countless individuals and groups over the centuries, including artists and musicians, authors such as Dante, leaders such as the abbess Hildegard of Bingen, the abolitionist Frederic Douglass, and Bill Wilson, founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, as well as countless millions of ordinary, unsung readers and hearers. 

In addition to its focus on the history of the reception of James, this contribution also seeks to place James within its historical and cultural context, while at the same time paying close attention to the text, vocabulary, grammar, and literary style of the work itself. 

The translation in this volume, largely the product of the Editorial Committee, seeks to render James’ original Greek as closely as possible so that readers can gain insight into the Letter’s use of language. At the same time, the Latin and Syriac versions are fully displayed so that one can appreciate the specific interpretive approaches of these traditions. 

We hope that this contribution will help readers to gain a deeper appreciation of the theological and ethical vision of James itself, as well as its deep influence on Christian and wider cultures.