Writing as one of the earliest apostolic letters, James the brother of the Lord addresses Jewish believers scattered abroad as the "twelve tribes" of the dispersion, a people meeting trials of many kinds far from home. He opens by teaching them to count these trials joy, since the testing of faith produces patience, and he directs the one who lacks wisdom to ask it of God, who gives liberally, provided he asks in faith and not as a double-minded, wavering man. Turning from outward trial to inward temptation, James insists that God tempts no one; sin is conceived by a man's own desire, while every good and perfect gift descends from the Father of lights, who begat His people by the word of truth. He then calls them to be swift to hear and slow to speak, and, above all, doers of the word and not hearers only, defining pure religion as caring for orphans and widows and keeping oneself unspotted from the world. So the opening chapter sets the letter's whole aim, that genuine faith is proved not by hearing but by a life that endures and obeys.