Was James the author of an epistle of straw? Martin Luther thought so, but I have to say, however highly one might esteem Luther, I believe he misunderstood this epistle. As I hope to show, James lost his life, probably due to his writing what has been labeled an epistle of straw. If one’s enemies judge what one writes to be harmful to their cause, and they seek your life because of it, how could what you write be of little worth? Moreover, before we decide whether or not Luther’s evaluation of James was correct, let’s consider how Paul reacted to his enemies during his ministry, for understanding the events surrounding some of his epistles may be a window into the reason why James wrote his.
The book of Galatians was probably Paul’s first epistle. He wrote it to counter the lies that were told about him, labeling him a renegade who at one time was dependent upon but departed from the doctrine of the twelve apostles. Indeed, Paul wrote that epistle in an effort to show that those who troubled new believers were really false brethren and enemies of the faith. If Paul had a purpose for writing each of his epistles, as Galatians seems to show he did, shouldn’t we ask why the epistle of James was written? I believe, and I think it can be verified, that the epistle of James was written near the outbreak of the third and final persecution of the Messianic believers by first century Jews who were willing to do the bidding of Annas, the high priest, who had Jesus crucified about three decades earlier.
Annas had planned and waited for the opportunity to unleash his major and universal blow against the Church of God. Paul knew that the “man of sin” would hold off until he, Paul, was taken out of the way (2Thessalonians 2:7). He also told the church that the mystery of iniquity had, indeed, begun to shown itself within the church, but the coming of the Lord would not occur, until the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy, concerning a great falling away from the Messiah (Matthew 24:9-12; 2Thessalonians 2:1-3). Paul knew this time was nearly upon the church, because he told the elders of Ephesus that he was going to Jerusalem, but it wasn’t clear what would happen to him after he arrived (Acts 20:22-25). He predicted that soon enemies would enter the local churches and even some of the very elders with whom he spoke, would rise up to speak against the Gospel of Christ (Acts 20:28-30). Indeed, even before Paul arrived at Jerusalem, while he waited at Corinth for the sea to be safe for spring travel, he wrote to the Romans saying that the time of Jesus coming was nearer than what they (the apostles) had at first believed (Romans 13:11). Perhaps he realized the threat on his life was a precursor to his being taken out of the way!
This is the context surrounding the writing of the Epistle of James. So, what this epistle tells us is, James wrote sometime during the period of Paul’s imprisonment,[1] and he did so to counteract the effects of Annas’ desire to destroy the nascent church of God. Notice the opening of James’ epistle:
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting (James 1:1).
It was addressed to the twelve tribes—Jews—who had been scattered abroad. Why had they been scattered? Well, one reason could simply be, because they were of the Diaspora and had been scattered since the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. However, James is more likely referring to a more recent scattering of believers from Judea.[2] The final persecution by Annas had already begun, for Josephus tells us many of the priests in Judea had been deprived of their rightful share of the tithes. Not only so, but some of these priests died of want, due to the fact they were dependent upon the tithes given to them for their services at the Temple.[3] At least some of these low level priests would have been Messianic believers (cf. Acts 6:7).
So, we know the first century Jewish authorities violently opposed the works and preaching of the Apostles and believers in Jesus. In fact, two previous persecutions, initiated while one of Annas’ sons officiated the high priesthood, had scattered believers across the Roman Empire. What we find in the opening of this epistle is that James wrote sometime during the third persecution, and it seems he was writing to these very believers, whom he refers to as the twelve tribes scattered abroad (James 1:1). Soon afterward, James would be slain at the command of the high priest, Ananias, the fifth son of Annas to hold the office of high priest in the first century AD.[4] Thus, it seems very likely that this letter was not considered an epistle of straw by any of James’ enemies.
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[1] The seriousness of it seems to indicate the persecution was well underway, so Paul may have already departed for Rome to appear before Caesar.
[2] Believers were scattered abroad at the outbreak of the persecution that began with Stephen’s death (Acts 8:1), and once again over the persecution begun with the beheading of James the Apostle and brother of John (Acts 12:1, cp. verse-17). A third scattering would have begun over the persecution begun sometime near the stoning of James, called the brother of the Lord, see Josephus: Antiquities of the Jews 20.9.1 (197-203).
[3] Josephus: Antiquities 20.8.8 (179-181); 20.9.2 (204-207).
[4] Each time a persecution against Jesus’ disciples was begun, one of Annas’ sons or his son-in-law Caiaphas was officiating the high priesthood. Interestingly, none of Annas’ last four sons, nor his son-in-law, officiated the high priesthood without Jesus’ disciples being persecuted, whether or not the persecution was begun during their watch.
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