WHO WAS JAMES?
James wrote the letter which we now call the book of James. In his day, people used to put their name at the very beginning of their letter - not like today, when we sign our name at the end.

James calls himself a "bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." By putting these two names together James shows us that God and Jesus are equal. James was a bondservant to God, therefore he was also a bondservant to Jesus.

When Paul went to Jerusalem, he was met by James, Peter and John, who welcomed him, and encouraged him to preach and teach. Paul calls these three men as "pillars" in the church. Because Jesus was God's Son through Mary, but not through Joseph his legal father, James was technically only a half-brother of Jesus.

James was a very practical man, a sorts of 'nuts and bolts' Christian, with plenty of sensible, practical advice. His letter contains some down-to-earth thoughts about:

In modern terms James might have said "You have to walk the talk."
Sadly, James was killed for being a Christian about 62 AD, in Jerusalem.

James was a Jewish
Christian. He is called "the Lord's
brother" in Galatians 1:1. Jesus had at least four brothers, and several sisters: Mark 6:3.
Can you imagine what it might have been like to grow up with an older brother who was perfect? Let alone God Himself!
All little children are naughty, but Jesus never was. All older children are 'difficult' at times but Jesus was a perfect teenager.
James lived with Jesus - yet he was convinced that Jesus was the Lord.