James, the Writer of the Epistle
One is tempted to quip, "Will the REAL James, please stand up!" We do have a challenge here. Let's establish some basics. Either the epistle was written by someone named James or the writer was giving the letter authority by claiming the name of James. Given the minimal emphasis on the name and its authority, it seems like a good possibility that someone by the name of James probably wrote the letter.
Which James was it? Acts accounts for the death of James the brother of John. James, the brother of Jesus speaks as the most prominent leader in Jerusalem. The epistle of James is full of Jewish teachings yet it is written in "clear and even somewhat elegant Koine Greek." Would Jesus' brother have written in almost perfect Greek? Was it dictated by James? Was it written in Aramaic and then translated later by a Greek writer? A variety of scenarios are possible but it is quite feasible, and even likely, that James, the brother of Jesus was responsible for the letter.
From our close look at the various men named James, the narrative of Jesus' last days takes shape with only close female relatives and friends being named at his crucifixion and burial. Moreover, there appears to be more involvement of Jesus' siblings than we may have thought. James, Judas/Jude and Solome may have been his siblings and the children of Mary as well as spiritual companions. James took on prominent leadership in Jerusalem and Jude followed and wrote a letter of his own.
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]By J. Ann Craig and Elizabeth M. Magill[/FONT]