James 2:7

Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which ye are called?

The obvious reference here is to the name of Jesus Christ, in the name of whom all Christians were baptized (Acts 2:38), and upon whom the name was formally declared as in the baptismal formula given in Matthew 28:18-20. Some have marveled that James did not spell out the name of Christ in this passage; but as Oesterley said, "This was due to the Jewish heritage of James."[17] "A feeling of reverence led the Jews as far as possible to avoid mentioning the name of God."[18] This also, in all probability, accounts for the few references to Jesus Christ throughout this epistle. A. Plummer commented that "The last clause literally means `which was called upon you,' and we need not doubt that the reference is to the name of Christ, which was invoked upon them at their baptism." [19]

By which ye are called ... The fact of the epistle's being addressed to baptized believers in Christ is evident in this.

[17] W. E. Oesterley, Expositor's Greek New Testament, Vol. IX (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967), p. 440.

[18] Ibid.

[19] A. Plummer, Biblical Illustrator, James (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1954), p. 227.