The letters of James, 1 and 2 Peter, and Jude are among the most neglected letters of the New Testament. Thus, methodological advances in NT study tend to arise among the Gospels or Pauline letters. But these letters are beginning to receive increased attention in the scholarly community. This is evidenced by the packed rooms at the recent SBL meeting in Philadelphia (Nov. 2005) where these letters were the focus of attention. This is the first of four volumes that incorporate revised research papers that were or will be presented in the new SBL consultation on "Methodological Reassessments of the Letters of James, Peter, and Jude" from 2005 through 2007. Each volume is a collection of essays that examine the impact of recent methodological developments in NT studies to the letters of James, 1 and 2 Peter, and Jude, including, for example, rhetorical, social-scientific, socio-rhetorical, ideological and hermeneutical methods, as they contribute to understanding these letters and their social contexts.;Each essay has a similar three-fold structure, making them perfect for use by students: a description of the methodological approach; the application of the methodological approach to the particular letter under consideration (the bulk of the essay); and a conclusion identifying how the methodological approach contributes to a fresh understanding the letter.