Before Alcoholics Anonymous had a name, a Big Book, or Twelve Steps, its first members had a Bible — and one book of it above all. The tie between the Book of James and A.A. runs so deep that early members seriously proposed calling the fellowship “The James Club.” That is not folklore; it is preserved in A.A.’s own conference-approved literature. This page looks at why James meant so much to the founding generation, what they actually read, and how that little epistle’s language found its way into the program itself.
The Book of James and A.A.’s First Members
From 1935 to 1939 the pioneer members in Akron — the “alcoholic squad” of the Oxford Group — met in homes, prayed together, sought guidance in morning quiet time, and read Scripture daily. Dr. Bob Smith said plainly in his talks that the pioneers considered three portions of the Bible absolutely essential to their program: the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), 1 Corinthians 13, and the Book of James.
James earned its place because it is the New Testament’s most practical book — short, blunt, and aimed at conduct. For men fighting for their lives against alcohol, a text about prayer, confession, patience under trial, and faith proven by action read like a working manual.
The James Club: When the Book of James and A.A. Nearly Shared a Name
A.A.’s conference-approved biography of Dr. Bob, DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, records that many early members favored “The James Club” as a name for the fellowship, so central was the epistle to their reading. “Alcoholics Anonymous” prevailed, but the runner-up tells you where the founding generation’s heart was — and it is a detail of Bill W. history and Dr. Bob history alike that most modern accounts skip.
What the First Members Actually Read
- The Book of James — the fellowship favorite, read and reread in Akron’s meetings and homes
- The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) — called by Dr. Bob the underlying philosophy of A.A.
- 1 Corinthians 13 — Paul’s love chapter, the standard for how members treated one another
- Daily devotionals — above all The Upper Room, the Methodist quarterly used in the earliest meetings
- Anne Smith’s readings — Dr. Bob’s wife read Scripture and her spiritual journal to the pioneers at the Smith home on Ardmore Avenue
James in the Language of the Program
Open the Big Book and the epistle is audible. “Faith without works is dead” — James 2:20 in the King James Version — appears in the Big Book more than once, and it compresses the whole A.A. idea of a practical program of action into five words.
The parallels continue. James 5:16 — “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” — is the pattern later formalized in Step Five. James 1:5 promises wisdom to any who ask God for it, the very habit the pioneers practiced in morning guidance. And James 4:7,10 — submitting to God, humbling oneself before Him — anticipates the humility language of Steps Six and Seven. Set side by side, the Book of James and A.A.’s Steps read like parent and child.
Study the Book of James the Way Early A.A. Did
To study the Book of James and A.A.’s other founding-era reading for yourself, the habits of the first members are documented and reproducible. Start with the free mini-course on the Biblical roots of A.A., then go deeper with the Biblical roots of Alcoholics Anonymous and the evidence that the Bible influenced A.A.’s founding. For the primary-source record of what Akron read — including Anne Smith’s journal — see the Reference Set reading guide, and compare A.A.’s own history materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was A.A. almost called “The James Club”? Because the pioneer members prized the Book of James above any other Scripture; A.A.’s conference-approved biography of Dr. Bob records that many favored naming the fellowship after it.
Which Bible passages did early A.A. members read most? Dr. Bob named three as essential: the Book of James, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), and 1 Corinthians 13 — supplemented by daily devotionals such as The Upper Room.
Does the Big Book quote the Book of James? The phrase “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20, KJV) appears in the Big Book more than once — a direct verbal echo of the epistle the first members loved best.