The past thirty years have witnessed a dramatic increase in interest in the Letter of James. This book provides a detailed survey of the most important scholarly opinions being considered today, including theories of authorship. The author thoroughly examines essential themes found in James, such as a critique of wealth, testing and trials, exhortation to receive wisdom from above, and apocalyptic tendencies. The author also discusses the ongoing debate about whether the text had any connection with the Pauline tradition. This book sheds light, not only on the content, structure, and rhetoric of the letter itself, but also on the development and diversity of ancient Judaisms and Christianities. Book jacket.