Introduction

Author

The author of this letter is commonly known as ‘James’ in English translations, but most people don’t realise that his English name should be Yacob (or Yacob if you wanted to be even closer to the original). This translation error can be traced all the way back to Yohan Wycliffe’s English translation from the Latin in the 1300’s as he didn’t have access to Greek New Testament manuscripts (although he did use Yacob in some parts of his New Testament when it referred to the son of Isaac). The confusion was probably due to changes in the way Latin was spoken over the centuries, and then translating the name from the historically-altered Latin instead of from the original Greek—see https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-versions-and-translations/james-or-Yacob-in-the-bible for more details.

Note from the first sentence in the letter that Yacob addressed the letter to the twelve tribes who originated from the twelve sons of his namesake.

This letter

This Letter from Yacob is Yacob’s collection of advice to those who believe there is a God in heaven. He wrote this to all people scattered all around the world. Yacob used examples in order to explain his advice, so that their behaviour would improve and also their daily work. He also taught on various topics like: faith, testing, suffering, showing, respect, good behaviour, watching what you say, true wisdom from God, and prayer.

He said that our faith is deficient if we don’t also demonstrate it by our actions.

This is still a very early look into the unfinished text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.