This is a masterly study of the letter of James, which will take its place among a number of recent studies that are effecting a major shift in the interpretation of this text. Against the rather prejudicial views of James that have long dominated the scholarly tradition, wc are re-discovering the integrity, coherence, and theological interest of this work, as well as both its deeply Jewish and authentically Christian character. All of these aspects are significantly illuminated by Dr. Cheung's study, which combines very close attention to the literary shape and features of the text with insightful study of its religious content. He has a close familiarity with all the Jewish, hellenistic and early Christian literature that is relevant for comparison with James, including for example the recently available Jewish wisdom texts from Qumran, which are so important for characterizing the kind of Jewish wisdom tradition to which James's teaching belongs. He is discriminating in the way he situates James in its literary and ideological context. Finally, he provides one of the fullest and most convincing accounts of the way the key themes of Torah, wisdom and perfection relate together and constitute the unity and coherence of this letter's teaching.