In the Bible, the book of James is surrounded by controversy. There are debates about its genre, its author, when it was written, and who the book was intended for. The book of James is said to be a letter, but James does not have the elements of a letter. The elements of a letter include a salutation, salutation, body, and conclusion. James only contains a greeting and a salutation but is missing the conclusion. Additionally, the body of a letter has a unified subject, but James does not. James's body has many topics and has a rhythm that flows like a sermon or a loose arrangement of essays collected in a single book. Another element that sparks some debate is James' greeting. James addresses his readers to the “twelve tribes scattered among the nations.” Some interpreters conclude that James is addressing Jewish believers living outside of Palestine who believed in Jesus Christ, while others suggest that James is referring to the Church as a whole. Not only does the greeting spark debate, but also the question of who wrote the book of James sparks different opinions among interpreters. James describes himself as “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1, NIV). Some scholars believe that James is the brother of Jesus who wrote the book between 46 and 62 CE. However, other scholars suggest that the name James was only a pseudonym and was written sometime between the late first and second centuries. Although the book contains various controversial details, some of them are not important to understanding James' message. James's author and the date it was written are relevant information for the passage if one is trying to decide whether the passage was written before another. . It is also worth considering whether ...... middle of paper ...... is not just a listener. James uses Jesus' teaching from Matthew to show his Jewish audience that loving and having faith in God alone will not maintain their righteousness toward God. They must also show their faith through their actions. Works CitedDarian R. Lockett, "James", OEBB (Need Volume), 412Lockett, "James", OEBB (Requires Volume), 412Lockett, "James", OEBB (Requires Volume), 412This will always be the translation NIV, unless otherwise noted.Lockett, "James", OEBB (requires volume), 411John Painter, "Letter of James", NIDB, (need volume), 191Lockett, "James", OEBB, (need volume), 411Phemius Perkins, 1st and 2nd Peter, James and Jude, (remaining information needed)Graham H. Twelftree, “Demon,” NIDB, (volume needed), 94Luke Timothy Johnson, “James 2:14-26,” NIB, (volume needed), 198Marion L. Soards, “Righteous in the NT,” NIDB, (Need volume), 817