90 Andrew M. Bowden clearly marked by the transition from the verbless-salutation to the first imperative ἡγήσασθε (1,2). James’ prescript is quite simple compared to some of Paul’s11. Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to ignore it, since subtle additions in the prescript often provide hints into aspects of the letter and often foreshadow the communicative situation of the letter12. James’ prescript offers several insights about the author and recipients. Regarding the author,13 James identifies himself as θεοῦ καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοῦλος. Such a title establishes the prophetic tone from the Epistle’s first verse, since James “presents himself as standing in the prophetic line … [because] the prophets who enforced this covenant were referred to as ‘servant of God/the Lord’”14. As Jobes explains, the use of this title “may be a convention that would have invoked the prophetic tradition as a contextual background for construing the author’s message”15. James will speak in some extremely strong words. The title “slave of God and of Jesus Christ”, therefore, not only establishes his prophetic authority for doing so, but prepares the reader for the remainder of the Epistle, which rings with the voices of the prophets16. Additionally, the prescript describes the letter’s recipients as the twelve tribes of the diaspora (ταῖς δώδεκα φυλαῖς ταῖς ἐν τῇ διασπορᾷ). The term διασπορά carried important connotations, and these were not always positive. Bauckham notes that the term implied, not just exile, but was used “more specifically with God’s scattering of his people as punishment for their sins”17. Similarly, Wachob notes how “dispersion” 11 Johnson notes that it is “remarkably simple” and calls it an “unadorned salutation” (The Letter of James: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary [AB 37A; New York 1995] 170). 12 See S.E. Adams, “Paul’s Letter Opening and Greek Epistolography: A Matter of Relationship”, in S. Porter and S. Adams (eds.), Paul and the Ancient Letter Form (PS 6; Leiden 2010) 39; P.L. Tite, “How to Begin, and Why? Diverse Functions of the Pauline Prescript within a Greco-Roman Context”, in S. Porter and S. Adams (eds.), Paul and the Ancient Letter Form (PS 6; Leiden 2010) 98. 13 For the purpose of this study the author of the Epistle will be referred to as “James” and “he”. Space constraints forbid an in depth analysis of the authorship. 14 K.H. Jobes, “The Minor Prophets in James, 1 & 2 Peter and Jude”, in M.J.J. Menkn and S. Moyise (eds.), The Minor Prophets in the New Testament (LNTS 377; Edinburgh 2009) 135. 15 Jobes, “Minor Prophets”, 135. Jobes notes that of the many ways James could have introduced himself, he chose this specific way and then included “language, themes, motifs and images from the Old Testament prophets.” 16 These will be pointed out throughout the course of the study. Students of James generally recognize the importance of wisdom material — especially Proverbs — in James, and James’ allusion to the love command of Leviticus 19 and his many allusions to Synoptic material. One of the results of this study, however, will be that James’ extended use of the LXX prophetic material has been largely overlooked. 17 Bauckham, James, 14.