James 1:1

This is the first in a series of posts illustrating all of the Letter of James.

To the Tribes (2010) (9" x 12")

collage on paper



James addresses this letter to the "twelve tribes in the Dispersion (or diaspora)."  If taken literally, this would mean that he is writing exclusively to Jewish Christians. However, most commentators take this address to mean the Christian community (both Jewish and gentile) at large. This meaning is consistent with usage elsewhere in the NT epistles employing terms formerly designating the Jews as God's chosen people, but now enlarged to include gentile believers.