Letter of James

The Letter of James is one of the most significant, yetgenerally overlooked, New Testament books. Because Martin Luther, leader of the ProtestantReformation, disliked this letter for its emphasison good deeds, the book has come to be viewed as being inopposition to Paul's letters, which emphasizefaith in God. To correct these and othermisperceptions about James, Luke TimothyJohnson embarks on an unprecedented history of theinterpretation of this pivotal letter, highlighting thevast appreciation for James over the centuries. Johnson boldly identifies the first-century author asnone other than James, the brother of JesusChrist. While modern skepticism casts doubt on thisconclusion, early textual witnesses, as well as saintsand scholars throughout the centuries, corroborateJohnson's position. A thorough examination of theoriginal-language texts and an explanation of theliterary context of James help illuminate theoriginal meaning of the letter. Johnson's sensitivity to both the biblical text and the sensibilities of the modern reader, coupled with his convincing scholarly presentation, set this apart as one of the premier commentaries on James for present and future generations.