The letter of James delivers a clear message: faith in Jesus Christ must shape how we live. James calls individual believers and the church to live with integrity, ensuring that belief and knowledge are reflected in words and actions. Although the letter is sometimes perceived as disjointed pieces of advice, this commentary contends that James has a coherent message intended to prod the church toward greater faithfulness and to encourage people to follow Jesus in all of life. The intensely practical letter is not merely a checklist of rules to follow to be “good people.” Rather, it is rooted in God’s grace, goodness, and generosity and in the good news that we are made new through the word of truth.
