The epistle of James is to the New Testament what the book of Proverbs is to the Old Testament, that is, it is the New Testament’s “wisdom literature.” The literary distinction between “law” and “wisdom” literature is this: law is what binds, prohibits, and punishes. Wisdom, in contrast, more generally tends to illuminate, guide, construct, and liberate. Typically then, law binds children and adolescents, while adults (and particularly parents) are guided by wisdom. In addition,