There are several persons named James in the New Testament — two apostles, the “brother of the Lord,” the bishop of Jerusalem, “James the Just.” It is not clear if we are talking about two people who had different roles at different times or five people. Which, if any, of these Jameses authored the “Epistle of James” is unknown. In any case, the epistolary James must have been from Missouri — he was a real “show me” type of guy. Be doers of the word and not hearers only. Let me see your faith in action, says James. Let me see you providing care for orphans and widows in their affliction. Let me see you keeping yourself unstained by the world. Anything else is just talk.
