Which New Testament letter opens by addressing believers as “the twelve tribes in the Dispersion”?

The Letter of James opens by addressing believers as “the twelve tribes in the Dispersion.”

James 1:1 identifies the sender as James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, and addresses the letter to scattered communities. The phrase echoes Israel’s twelve-tribe identity while also describing believers living away from a central homeland. The letter then discusses trials, wisdom, favoritism, speech, wealth, patience, and practical faith.

The opening is distinctive among New Testament letters. First Peter addresses Christians in several Roman provinces, while Paul’s letters usually name a particular church or individual. James instead uses broad language for a dispersed audience, which has led to different interpretations of whether the recipients were Jewish Christians, Christians described with Israelite imagery, or both.

The author’s identity is also discussed by scholars because the New Testament mentions several men named James. The letter itself does not provide a detailed biography. Regardless of authorship debates, its opening wording is explicit and makes James the canonical answer.