Peter Davids: The Epistle of James and the Community of the Poor

Peter H. Davids, The Epistle of James, NIGTC (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1982), 57.

James is concerned about the testing of faith in situations of economic deprivation. He sees the test made critical by the presence of the evil impulse, the temper within, who answers to the devil without. The setting is the dualistic conflict of Christ and the world/devil. The apocalyptic consummation is imminent. In order to stand, the community must remember they are the community of the poor and thus be charitable and impartial. They must remember true faith yields works of charity and peace. They must seek wisdom (the Spirit) who enables them to produce the necessary virtues and to stand in the test. And above all, they must patiently wait and pray with single-minded devotion to God.