The Epistle of James

Commonly referred to as "the Proverbs of the New Testament," the book of James practically and faithfully reminds Christians how to live. From perserverance to true faith to controlling one's tongue, submitting to God's will, and having patience, this book aids readers in living authentically and wisely for Christ. One fo the earliest of the New Testament writtings (A.D. 40-50), it is belived to have been written by Jesus' brother James. Many have claimed that James and the apostle Paul differed on the question of faith versus works, but in reality the spirtual fruit that James talks about—the picture of what faith looks like practically—demonstrates the true faith of which Paul worte. Their writings are complementary rather than contradictory.

(Text taken from the English Standard Version, Introduction to James. Copyright © 2001 Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers)