Another answer from our community:
Modern scholars have shown that the letter was actually written much later than apostolic times, to combat 'heretical' (gnostic) ideas within the early church. Martin Luther rejected the Epistle of James as apostolic, calling it worthless and an "epistle of straw".
So, the epistle appears to have been written late in the first century or early in the second century, by an anonymous author.
No one knows the exact date. It is believed written between A.D.48-62. James was stoned to death in A.D.62 so a date prior to that is obvious. James was at the Jerusalem council in about A.D.49. James, the brother of Jesus, became the leader of the church in Jerusalem and was apparently an unbeliever during the ministry of Jesus, however, after a post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to him he believed and is numbered with believers in Acts 1:14.
We can not really say when the Epistle of James was written. Tradition holds that it was written by James the brother of Jesus, in which case it must have been written before his death in the early sixties. However, only the most conservative scholars continue to accept that James the brother of Jesus was its author. The Catholic Encyclopedia suggests a date around 47 CE, whereas some liberal scholars assign a date of between 85 and 130 to the Epistle of James.
Even if we do not know the author of this book, the internal evidence does point to an earlier date for the epistle: there are no bishops or deacons mentioned; the obvious Jewish tone of the letter, combined with no mention at all of the later conflict between Christians and Jews; the absence of developed Christian phraseology; and the lack of elaborated Christian doctrine.
The Letter of James seems not to have been read or even noticed by authors in the centrist tradition before Origen in the third century. It sounds like a treatise written against the Pauline notion that the Christian faith opposed the "works of the law", in which case it would certainly have been written well after the time of Paul.
Whether this letter is genuinely by James, the brother of Jesus (as some conservative scholars maintain) or only written in his name, the writer would have designated himself as Jesus' brother. However, James 1:1 only describes James as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although there are many echoes of Gospel sayings in this epistle, there is not even a general reference to Jesus as a teacher to be found.
Had this letter been written by James, the brother of Jesus (as some maintain) or by the apostle James, the writer would have designated himself as such in the epistle. However, James 1:1 only describes James as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although there are many echoes of Gospel sayings in this epistle, there is not even a general reference to Jesus as a teacher to be found. Martin Luther rejected the Epistle of James as apostolic, calling it worthless and an "epistle of straw". The epistle deals with moral issues, rather than Christian doctrine or the needs of the Christian Church. It could have been an early proto-Christian letter or, alternatively, a much later work intended to combat 'heretical' (gnostic) ideas within the early church.
Epistles to the Thessalonians written from Corinth. Epistles to the Corinthians. Epistle to the Galations. Epistle to the Romans written from Corinth. Epistle to the Philippians. Epitle to the Colossians. Epistle to Philemon. Epistle to the Hebrews. Epistle to Titus.
There is a book of James in the bible.
The thirteen epistles that are almost certainly written by Paul, in order, are: Epistle to the Romans First Epistle to the Corinthians Second Epistle to the Corinthians Epistle to the Galatians Epistle to the Ephesians Epistle to the Philippians Epistle to the Colossians First Epistle to the Thessalonians Second Epistle to the Thessalonians First Epistle to Timothy Second Epistle to Timothy Epistle to Titus Epistle to Philemon although some theologians doubt that some letters (eg Ephesians) are written by him as the style of writing is different from the others. The fourteenth letter, the Epistle to the Hebrews - is unlikely to have been written by Paul. He doesn't claim to have written it nor is the style of writing his. Pauline authorship is rejected by modern scholarship and even in the early church its authorship was debated.
James wrote only the book bearing his name, as the beginning of the letter indicates: James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
Henry Krabbendam has written: 'The Epistle of James'
Something written as a letter, such as the Epistle of James written to the Saints at Jerusalem.
James Muilenburg has written: 'Specimens of Biblical literature' -- subject(s): Bible as literature 'The literary relations of the Epistle of Barnabas and the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles' -- subject(s): Didache, Epistle of Barnabas
James Kenneth Solari has written: 'The problem of metanoia in the Epistle to the Hebrews' -- subject(s): Bible, Criticism, interpretation
Had this letter been written by James, the brother of Jesus (as some maintain) or by the apostle James, the writer would have designated himself as such in the epistle. However, James 1:1 only describes James as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although there are many echoes of Gospel sayings in this epistle, there is not even a general reference to Jesus as a teacher to be found. Martin Luther rejected the Epistle of James as apostolic, calling it worthless and an "epistle of straw". The epistle deals with moral issues, rather than Christian doctrine or the needs of the Christian Church. It could have been an early proto-Christian letter or, alternatively, a much later work intended to combat 'heretical' (gnostic) ideas within the early church.
Epistles to the Thessalonians written from Corinth. Epistles to the Corinthians. Epistle to the Galations. Epistle to the Romans written from Corinth. Epistle to the Philippians. Epitle to the Colossians. Epistle to Philemon. Epistle to the Hebrews. Epistle to Titus.
Thomas Manton has written: 'An exposition on the epistle of James' -- subject(s): Bible 'A fifth volume of sermons'
Edwin T. Winkler has written: 'Commentary on the epistle of James' -- subject(s): Commentaries, Bible
There is a book of James in the bible.
James Foote Holcomb has written: 'In the heart of India' -- subject(s): Missions, History 'The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians' -- subject(s): Commentaries, Bible
The Epistle of James
Darian R. Lockett has written: 'Purity and worldview in the Epistle of James' -- subject(s): Bible, Criticism, interpretation, Language, style