James is written to the believing remnant of Israel, which can be seen by examining various passages. The following passages reflect that this book is referencing scripture pertaining to Israel, and that the book is being directed to the remnant.
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
The believing Jews who received Jesus as Christ, Son of God, who believed on his name (John 20:31) by the preaching of Jesus and the twelve, were scattered abroad in Acts 8:1 (Leviticus 26:33).
1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
The remnant of Israel was promised to reign with Christ over the nations when Christ comes to establish his kingdom on earth (Exodus 19:5-6 Isaiah 61:6 Isaiah 60:3).
To enter the promised kingdom, Israel, among other requirements of the covenant (Exodus 19:5-6), had to exhibit patience as James urges (Luke 21:19 Luke 8:15 Hebrews 6:12 Hebrews 10:36 Revelation 14:12).
1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
The book of Revelation deals with Israel in the tribulation period, the coming of Christ to establish his kingdom, and the new heavens and earth. The book is written to the seven churches in Asia, which are comprised of the believing remnant of Israel. Revelation 1:4-6 identifies the recipients as the remnant, as being those who are washed from sin, and made kings and priests, as written to Israel in Exodus 19:5-6.
Revelation 2:10 promises the crown of life, that James writes of, to the faithful remnant.
1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
John 1:11-13 speaks of the remnant of Israel that received Jesus as Messiah, Son of God, and were born of the will of God, as James says as well of the remnant.
Jeremiah 2:3 speaks of Israel being the firstfruits, as does James.
1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Israel would be blessed, as James says, by walking in the law of the Lord according to Psalm 119:1-3.
2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
James reminds the brethren that the poor will be heirs of the kingdom as does Jesus in Matthew 5:3. Jesus said the poor in spirit would have the kingdom of heaven, which is the kingdom on earth (Luke 12:32).
2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
James put the brethren under the law as commanded in Leviticus 19:18, just as Jesus, as minister to the Jews upheld in Matthew 22:39.
2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
James would convince the remnant of sin if they violated Leviticus 19:15 by having respect for persons.
2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
The remnant was to be merciful, as is God (Micah 7:18), and so be blessed in the kingdom on earth, as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:7.
2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Abraham believed in the Lord in Genesis 15:6 and this was accounted unto him for righteousness (Romans 4:3 Galatians 3:6). God made covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17:1-14. Abraham and his children were commanded to keep the way of the Lord in Genesis 18:19. Under the covenant, Abraham, after he was circumcised, obeyed God, and was justified in Genesis 22:18 when he offered up Isaac, and was called the friend of God (James 2:23 Isaiah 41:8).
4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
James was reminding the remnant that for the Lord to hear them, they had to be righteous according to Psalm 34:15, which Peter restated in 1 Peter 3:12.
4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
James was applying to the brethren what Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-34, to seek first the kingdom of God (the promised kingdom on earth), and take no thought for tomorrow.
5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
5:2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
5:3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
James was admonishing the brethren to heed the preaching of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-21, and lay up treasure in the coming promised kingdom. As admonished in Zephaniah 1:18, wealth would not deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath, neither in the last days of the coming kingdom (Isaiah 2:2).
5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
The remnant of Israel was being commanded to be patient unto the coming of the Lord; to heed the precept given to them of his coming unto them as the rain, found in Hosea 6:3, and therefore to keep his commandments (Leviticus 26:2-4).
5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
James was admonishing the remnant to be patient according to the scriptures (Psalm 40:1 Psalm 130:5 Micah 7:7 Hebrews 10:36-37), and continue to abide in Christ as obedient children (1 Peter 1:14-15), so as to not be ashamed at his coming (1 John 2:28).
5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
James was encouraging the remnant to endure until the end to enter the kingdom on earth, as Jesus promised in Matthew 10:22.
5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
James is instructing the brethren of the remnant; the twelve apostles were given power to anoint and heal the sick in Mark 6:13. This is not a practice given to the church, the body of Christ.
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
The believing Jews who received Jesus as Christ, Son of God, who believed on his name (John 20:31) by the preaching of Jesus and the twelve, were scattered abroad in Acts 8:1 (Leviticus 26:33).
1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
The remnant of Israel was promised to reign with Christ over the nations when Christ comes to establish his kingdom on earth (Exodus 19:5-6 Isaiah 61:6 Isaiah 60:3).
To enter the promised kingdom, Israel, among other requirements of the covenant (Exodus 19:5-6), had to exhibit patience as James urges (Luke 21:19 Luke 8:15 Hebrews 6:12 Hebrews 10:36 Revelation 14:12).
1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
The book of Revelation deals with Israel in the tribulation period, the coming of Christ to establish his kingdom, and the new heavens and earth. The book is written to the seven churches in Asia, which are comprised of the believing remnant of Israel. Revelation 1:4-6 identifies the recipients as the remnant, as being those who are washed from sin, and made kings and priests, as written to Israel in Exodus 19:5-6.
Revelation 2:10 promises the crown of life, that James writes of, to the faithful remnant.
1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
John 1:11-13 speaks of the remnant of Israel that received Jesus as Messiah, Son of God, and were born of the will of God, as James says as well of the remnant.
Jeremiah 2:3 speaks of Israel being the firstfruits, as does James.
1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Israel would be blessed, as James says, by walking in the law of the Lord according to Psalm 119:1-3.
2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
James reminds the brethren that the poor will be heirs of the kingdom as does Jesus in Matthew 5:3. Jesus said the poor in spirit would have the kingdom of heaven, which is the kingdom on earth (Luke 12:32).
2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
James put the brethren under the law as commanded in Leviticus 19:18, just as Jesus, as minister to the Jews upheld in Matthew 22:39.
2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
James would convince the remnant of sin if they violated Leviticus 19:15 by having respect for persons.
2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
The remnant was to be merciful, as is God (Micah 7:18), and so be blessed in the kingdom on earth, as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:7.
2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Abraham believed in the Lord in Genesis 15:6 and this was accounted unto him for righteousness (Romans 4:3 Galatians 3:6). God made covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17:1-14. Abraham and his children were commanded to keep the way of the Lord in Genesis 18:19. Under the covenant, Abraham, after he was circumcised, obeyed God, and was justified in Genesis 22:18 when he offered up Isaac, and was called the friend of God (James 2:23 Isaiah 41:8).
4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
James was reminding the remnant that for the Lord to hear them, they had to be righteous according to Psalm 34:15, which Peter restated in 1 Peter 3:12.
4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
James was applying to the brethren what Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-34, to seek first the kingdom of God (the promised kingdom on earth), and take no thought for tomorrow.
5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
5:2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
5:3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
James was admonishing the brethren to heed the preaching of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-21, and lay up treasure in the coming promised kingdom. As admonished in Zephaniah 1:18, wealth would not deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath, neither in the last days of the coming kingdom (Isaiah 2:2).
5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
The remnant of Israel was being commanded to be patient unto the coming of the Lord; to heed the precept given to them of his coming unto them as the rain, found in Hosea 6:3, and therefore to keep his commandments (Leviticus 26:2-4).
5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
James was admonishing the remnant to be patient according to the scriptures (Psalm 40:1 Psalm 130:5 Micah 7:7 Hebrews 10:36-37), and continue to abide in Christ as obedient children (1 Peter 1:14-15), so as to not be ashamed at his coming (1 John 2:28).
5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
James was encouraging the remnant to endure until the end to enter the kingdom on earth, as Jesus promised in Matthew 10:22.
5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
James is instructing the brethren of the remnant; the twelve apostles were given power to anoint and heal the sick in Mark 6:13. This is not a practice given to the church, the body of Christ.
