James, the Apostle, wrote his epistle to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, which we assume refers to the church of God. He wrote this book around 60 to 62 AD, possibly as the leading apostle at the time, with Paul likely in prison. James aimed to correct the abuses of the doctrine of justification by faith, which were misinterpretations of Paul's teachings in Galatians and Romans. His epistle emphasizes the importance of faith accompanied by works, a theme that underscores the entire book. James agrees with Paul on justification by faith but focuses on the necessity of works as evidence of that faith after one's conversion and baptism.

James, the son of Zebedee, was one of the twelve disciples called by Jesus, as recorded in Mark 3:16-19. Alongside his brother John, they were given the surname Boanerges, meaning 'Sons of Thunder.' James is the English form of the Hebrew name Jacob, which means supplanter or holder of the heel. He is often mentioned with Peter and John, forming a close circle of disciples. James became known as James the Great or James the Greater, possibly due to being among the first named in the lists of apostles or being the first apostle martyred. He was a disciple and apostle of Christ for about 17 years before being killed by King Herod Agrippa I, as noted in Acts 12:2. James, along with Peter and John, was present at significant events such as the raising of Jairus' daughter, Jesus' transfiguration, and in the Garden of Gethsemane. The name 'Sons of Thunder' may relate to an incident where James and John suggested calling down fire on a Samaritan village that rejected Jesus, showing their zeal but also their misdirected fervor at that time.

Peter was a native of Bethsaida, as were his brother, Andrew, and Philip, and possibly also James and John, the sons of Zebedee. In Capernaum, Peter and Andrew owned a fishing business, perhaps in partnership with Zebedee and his sons. While Peter was engaged in this trade, Jesus called him, his brother, and the sons of Zebedee, telling them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Peter is also clearly the leader of the inner circle of disciples, a small group composed of himself, James, and John. These three alone see Jesus resurrect a young girl, witness His transfiguration, and accompany Him to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane just before His arrest.