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The book of James provides some of the most valuable instruction in scripture,
encouraging the persecuted and materially disadvantaged, using illustrations to teach, even as Jesus had
also done. A clear warning is given to teachers concerning their added responsibility, though, as well
as admonition concerning friendship with the world (
James 3:1;
James 4:4
). The book is rife with inspiring and
beautiful writing. The writer is James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ (
Matthew 13:55;
Mark 6:3
), who
along with Jude had become one of Jesus' loyal followers, earlier having been an unbeliever (
John 7:1-9;
Acts 12:2,17;
James 1:1;
Jude 1
). We know that Jesus' brother gained much in the way of faith in Christ
(
Acts 12:2,17;
Galatians 1:19, 2:9,12
), and thus the writer was not one of the twelve apostles (
James 1:1;
Galatians 1:19
), although two of the twelve were named James (
Mark 3:16-18;
Luke 6:14-16;
Acts 1:13;
).