James 1:1 (ESV)
Greeting
1 James,
a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
Verse 1 tells us that the author is James, and this is the brother of Jesus. It is a book written to remind us (Christians) how to live. It is a book of action that is often misunderstood. After the death,
resurrection, and ascension of Jesus into heaven, Christianity quickly becomes illegal and the Christians are on the run. The “Dispersion” is this period where (Christian) Jews are scattered throughout the Mediterranean world. This
is a time of persecution and being on the run.
I pray: O Lord, we are moving back into a time of persecution. Help us to stand our ground and to
share Jesus all the more. Protect us and guide us. Amen.