James 1 (KJV) - Bible Truth Library

• The fundamental principles of the position... are as follows: 1. the law in its spirituality and perfection, as stated and summed up by Christ; 2. a life imparted, which has the moral principles of the law, itself a divine life; 3. the revelation of the Father’s name. All this was true when the Lord was on the earth and was the ground on which (however poorly they understood it) He then placed His disciples. He told them that they were to be witnesses of it, as of all He had said, after His death, distinguishing this testimony from that of the Holy Spirit. It is this which James teaches here, with the addition of that which the Lord had also said—that He would come again. It is the doctrine of Christ with regard to walk in the midst of Israel, according to the light and the truths which He had introduced; and—seeing that He was still absent—an exhortation to perseverance and patience in that walk, waiting for the moment when, by judgment on those who oppressed them, He would vindicate the principles on which they walked. (“JAMES” by J.N. Darby)

• The Epistle of James is not addressed to the assembly and does not take the ground of apostolic authority over the persons to whom it is sent. It is a practical exhortation which still recognizes the twelve tribes and the connection of the Christian Jews with them, as Jonah addressed the Gentiles, although the Jewish people had their place before God. (“JAMES” by J.N. Darby)

• It is probably right to assume that this is the James who took a leading place among the Jewish believers at Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; Gal. 2:12). He would thus be specially fitted to address an epistle to the twelve tribes of the dispersion. (“Introduction: James 1” by H. Smith)

• We hear of "many thousands of Jews" which believed and were "all zealous of the law" and who, apparently, had not even given up the sacrifices and offerings and Jewish customs (Acts 2:46; 3:1; 6:7; 15:5; 21:20). (“Introduction: James 1” by H. Smith)

• True Christians find themselves in the midst of a vast profession which, like the twelve tribes, is not heathen but professes to own the true God. For this reason the epistle that met the first phase of Christianity has a very special application to its last phase. (“Introduction: James 1” by H. Smith)

• In chapter 1 there is set before us the practical Christian life. In chapter 2 the practical life is presented as the proof of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. In chapters 3 and 4 seven different evils are passed before us which characterize the vast profession and into which the true Christian can easily fall but for the grace of the Spirit of God. In chapter 5 the Apostle contrasts the condition of the professing mass with that of God's suffering people, and presents the coming of the Lord in relation to both classes. (“Introduction: James 1” by H. Smith)

• The James who wrote it was not the brother of John. He was slain by Herod in very early years, as recorded in Acts 12:2. The author of the Epistle was the James spoken of in Acts 15:13, and 21:18. Paul calls him, “James, the Lord’s brother,” (Gal. 1:19) in Galatians 1:19, and he acknowledges him, as one of the “pillars” of the Church in Jerusalem in Gal. 2:9. (“James: Introduction” by F.B. Hole)

• Although the Gospel began at Jerusalem and there won its earliest triumphs, the Christians of that city were slower than others in entering into the true character of the faith they had embraced. They clung with very great tenacity to the law of Moses and to the whole order of religion which they had received through him, as is evidenced by such passages as Acts 15, and 21:20-25....The history of those years, revealing the transition, is given to us in the Acts, which begins with the incorporation of the church in Jerusalem, consisting exclusively of Jews, and ends with the sentence of blindness finally pronounced upon the Jews as a people and the Gospel specially sent to the Gentiles. James writes from the standpoint that was usual amongst Jewish Christians in the middle of that period. (“James 1” by F.B. Hole)

J. N. Darby Translation

James, bondman of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the dispersion, greeting.

W. Kelly Translation

James, bondman of God and of [the] Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that [are] ina the dispersion, greeting.

WK Translation Notes

If we are to adhere to the letter, it is "in," not "of," the dispersion.