Many identify James as the half-brother of Jesus and the main leader of the Jerusalem church after the birth of the church. (James is the English form of Jacob.) James1:22 echoes Matthew 7:20-24. James 5:12 echoes Matthew 5:34-37. However, the Western church did not accept James formally until the 5th century. The Syrian church accepted it in A.D. 412.The first recorded reference to James in Palestine was in the 3rd century. It poses the question as to why these area churches did not accept James right away if he was the Lord’s brother. Then again, we see the independence of early Christians such as Paul who declared that he did not get his gospel from James or Peter but as a revelation from the Lord that included the Gentiles! (Galatians 1:11-17) James was disputed for 300 years but distance often prevented scholarly debate and examination among those with copies of biblical texts. Martin Luther is famous for saying, “James was an epistle of straw.” However, he had his own controversies, and many thought his theology to be sometimes built with straw! The outcome of acceptance was verified at the councils of Hippo in 393 and Carthage in 397 and 419. Acceptance by the early church is a key factor recommending James to us today. James perceived his calling as being to the “circumcised,” that is, the Jews. (Gal. 2:9) James identifies them as “tribes of the dispersion.” Historians have two different accounts of his death. Flavious Josephus, a first century historian said James died by stoning at order of the high priest Ananus. Eusebius (3rd century) quoted Hegesippus in saying that James was thrown from the Temple tower. Either way, the church remembered James as a martyr. Writing Style James has 60 imperatives in 108 verses