A number of writers say that this epistle, the Epistle of James, was the only letter that was written strictly to the Jewish Christian. The author is James, the half-brother of the Lord.
This James is also known as “James the Just” and he should not be confused with James the Apostle or James the Less.
The Epistle of James was one of the first New Testament’s letters that was written. Some writers say that First and Second Thessalonians may have been written around the same time, and maybe Galatians. The dates of James and the other letters are dated roughly from A.D. 49-51.
This James, the Lord’s brother, became a leading person in the Church at Jerusalem. A number of people claim that Peter was the first leader in the Church at Rome, but James preceded Peter by some years. The Church at Rome actually started with a plurality of leaders, elders, and it was not until the idea of one bishop, which started in Asia Minor, got to Rome in the second century that one leading elder or bishop began to emerge over the centuries.
Also, the first Church was not started at Rome; the first Church started at Jerusalem.
The class on James will be a verse-by-verse exegetical class. We will meet seven times and each day will include two 50-minute sessions. The classes will meet on Mondays beginning on May first except for Memorial Day. That class will meet on Tuesday the day after Memorial Day.
