Why is the book of James so full of the law?
The book of James is full of the law because it was written to the twelve tribes, predominantly Jews, as one of the earliest New Testament epistles. It was written before Paul's revelation of the Gospel of Grace, so it remains legal in character and addresses a Jewish audience still under the law.
Les explains that James opens by addressing "the twelve tribes," showing he is writing to Jews, not Gentiles. He notes James is probably the earliest New Testament epistle, still predominantly legal and containing much of the law, because it was written before Paul received the revelation of the Gospel of Grace. When a verse in James seems difficult from our position in grace, Les advises going back to chapter one, verse one to see the Jewish context. He does not say to discard James, since it contains good tidbits and some principles, like the tongue as a fire, apply to any age. But the book must be understood as written to Jews in particular.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
More Questions
Who was the book of James written to according to James 1:1?
The book of James is written to the twelve tribes—Jews, not Gentiles—as shown in James 1:1, and knowing that makes all the difference for interpreting difficult statements in James.