The writer just gives his name as James, going on to call himself the servant or slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Other New Testament writers use this description of themselves which indicates their total commitment (Romans I: II, 2 Peter I: I, Jude v. I, Revelation I: I). The idea has an Old Testament origin; the prophets were the servants of God (e.g. Jeremiah 7 :25, Amos 3 :7) and the word is used of David (2 Samuel 7 :20) and Moses (Joshua I: I). Jesus understood his work in terms of that of the suffering servant of God. He said, of his disciples, 'No pupil is greater than his teacher, no slave is greater than his master' (Matthew 10:24, John 13:16).

James greets the twelve tribes of the dispersion, which may be taken to mean the new People of God, the Church. The dispersion was the term used to refer to the Jews living outside Palestine in other parts of the Roman empire.