JAMES, EPISTLE OF

a short book of New Testament traditionally a igned to James, first bp. of Jerusalem, and bro. of the Lord. Though the argument is not very connected, there is distinct style and language throughout, which seem to indicate one author, though some think there has been a redactor. If work of J., it was probably written about 50 A.D. Despite its Jewish coloring, it has little of what would be expected of a Christian writing of so early a date, and is more akin to the writings of the early If. cent., at which period many critics put it. It is probably based on teaching of Jesus, Jewish wisdom, and Gk. philosophy; not mentioned by name before 09 rigen,