Patrick J. Hartin is an ordained priest of the Diocese of Spokane, Washington. He presently teaches courses in the New Testament and in Classical Civilizations at Gonzaga University. He is a contributor to Give Us This Day and the author of numerous books, published by Liturgical Press, including: A Spirituality of Perfection: Faith in Action in the Letter of James, James (Sacra Pagina series), James of Jerusalem: Heir to Jesus of Nazareth (Interfaces series), James, First Peter, Jude, Second Peter (New Collegeville Bible Commentary series), Apollos (Paul's Social Network series), and Exploring the Spirituality of the Gospels.

• CONTENTSEditor’s Preface viiAuthor’s Preface xiAbbreviations xiiiIntroduction1. Approaches to the Letter of James 12. Text and Canonicity 63. Genre and Purpose 104. Author and Date 16Evidence in the New Testament 16Evidence from Beyond the New Testament Writings 20Evidence from the Letter of James 21Conclusion: James of Jerusalem as Author 245. Addressees and Context of the Letter 256. Structure of the Letter 287. Theological Vision 29Faith 30God 31Christ 33Eschatology 34Prayer 36A Theology of Social Concern 378. Outline of the Letter of James 389. General Bibliography 39 Translation, Notes, Interpretation1. Greetings (1:1) 49Excursus 1: To the Twelve Tribes in the Dispersion (1:1) 532. Testing, Wisdom, and the Lowly (1:2-11) 56Excursus 2: James and the Heritage of Israel (Perfection and Purity [1:2-4]) 71Excursus 3: The Wisdom of James (The Gift of Wisdom [1:5-8]) 75Excursus 4: James and the Heritage of Jesus (James’s Use of the Jesus Traditions [1:9-11]) 813. Testing, Hearers and Doers of the Word (1:12-27) 88Excursus 5: The Perfect Law of Liberty (1:25) 1114. Do Not Show Favoritism (2:1-13) 116Excursus 6: Honor and Shame, Patronage and Grace (Cultural Scripts behind the Letter of James) 1405. Doers of the Word/Faith and Works (2:14-26) 149Excursus 7: Faith and Works in James and Paul 1636. The Tongue and Speech (3:1-12) 1727. Call to Friendship with God (3:13–4:10) 1908. Speaking Evil against Another (4:11-12) 2179. Judgment on the Rich Because of Friendship with the World (4:13–5:6) 22310. Call to Patient Endurance (5:7-11) 24011. Call to Avoid Taking Oaths (5:12) 25712. Prayer (5:13-18) 26413. The Great Commission (5:19-20) 282IndexesScriptural Index 291Index of Ancient Writings 309Author Index 316Supplementary Bibliography 320