In his commentary on the Epistle of James, Jeffrey J. Meyers explodes the idea that James wrote a general epistle with a generalized message to everyone at all times. Instead, Meyers shows how James is addressing Jewish Christian disciples who were tempted to imitate the world in bringing about change through destructive means.

By calling attention to the Hebrew Scriptures and the Beatitudes, Meyers contends that James is cautioning Christian leaders against the seductive lure of revolutionary zealotry to bring about the righteousness of God in the face of intense suffering and persecution. The epistle is, Meyers says, ancient wisdom for today's Christian dissidents.