Verse 1 A servant, &c. It is to be observed that James does not style himself an apostle. This circumstance has been adduced as an argument to show that the author of the Epistle was not one of the twelve; it cannot, however, be considered an argument of very great weight.--The twelve tribes. There were but two tribes of the children of Israel now remaining. Ten had been carried into captivity, whence they never returned. The Jews were, however, accustomed to retain the original phraseology in designating their nation. For another example of this usage, see Acts 26:7. Though this expression would seem to include the Jews generally, yet the Epistle is evidently intended for those only who had embraced Christianity.--Scattered abroad; from Jerusalem. This letter may have been addressed to the disciples who were scattered abroad after the death of Stephen, (Acts 8:1,) and before the preaching of the gospel was extended to the Gentiles. This supposition is confirmed by the fact that no allusion is made in the Epistle to Gentile converts, or to any of those questions which agitated the church every where, after Gentile converts came in.