Topic(s): Bible Study

Todd Clippard

There is no consensus as to the identity of the epistle of James. Some, believing the epistle to be among the first written, attribute it to James, the son of Zebedee and the brother of John. If this be the case, the book would have to be an early production as this James was killed by Herod in Acts 12.

Others attribute the authorship to James the son of Alphaeus. Still others to James, the brother of Jesus. There are so many factors to be considered, I don't see how anyone could affirm with any degree of certainty the identity of the author.

Concerning James 1:19-27 -- I am not sure as to what you mean by my thoughts. If you mean, "Can the church collectively and from the church treasury help the fatherless and the widows?", then I say yes. There is nothing in the text to restrict the actions of verse 27 to the individual Christian.