Joshua Bennett
James, the brother of Jesus, was a son of Mary and Joseph, and therefore a half-brother to Jesus. James is mentioned in the Gospels and was one of the earliest witnesses of Jesus' resurrection. He was the first Jewish bishop of Jerusalem and was martyred in 62 AD by being stoned to death, or in 69 AD by being thrown off the pinnacle of the Temple. Catholics teach that Mary was a virgin throughout her life, and therefore, James and Jesus were not blood-related. Some believe that James was the cousin of Jesus or the son of Joseph from a previous marriage. The Catholic Encyclopedia identifies James with the James mentioned in Acts, who was an authority in the early church at the Council of Jerusalem.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | James the Just |
| Relation to Jesus | Half-brother, step-brother, cousin or spiritual brother |
| Parents | Son of Mary and Joseph, or Mary and Clopas, or Alphaeus and Mary of Clopas |
| Position | First Jewish Bishop of Jerusalem, leader of the early Church in Jerusalem, chairman of the Jerusalem Council |
| Death | Stoned to death or thrown off the pinnacle of the Temple and clubbed to death |
| Year of Death | 62 AD or 69 AD |
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What You'll Learn
James, son of Mary and Joseph
The identification of James, the son of Mary and Joseph, is a topic of debate among scholars. While some believe he was the biological son of Mary and Joseph, making him the half-brother of Jesus, others propose alternative theories.
One theory suggests that James was the son of Joseph from a previous marriage, making him Jesus' step-brother. This idea is supported by sources such as the Protoevangelium of James, which describes Joseph as a widower with children. The Gospel of James, a 2nd-century apocryphal gospel, also aligns with this theory, stating that Joseph already had children before his betrothal to Mary. The bishop of Salamis, Epiphanius, further reinforces this belief in his work "The Panarion."
Another perspective, held by Catholics and Orthodox Christians, posits that James was not the biological son of Mary but rather Jesus' cousin or step-brother from Joseph's previous marriage. This interpretation is based on the belief in the perpetual virginity of Mary, upheld by Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and some Protestants. The term "brother of the Lord" in the New Testament can be interpreted broadly to include cousins or relatives, as the specific word for "cousin" is not used in reference to James.
James is mentioned in the Gospels, initially as someone who did not believe in Jesus' ministry (John 7:2-5). However, he later becomes one of the earliest witnesses of Jesus' resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7). James stays in Jerusalem and becomes a prominent figure in the early church, even presiding over the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:13, 14-21, 19). His speech at the council reveals his humility, reliance on Scripture, desire for peace, and emphasis on grace over the law.
James is also identified as the author of the epistle of James, written between AD 50 and AD 60. In his writing, James refers to himself as "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." It is believed that he was martyred around AD 62, although the specific details of his death are not recorded in the Bible.
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James, cousin of Jesus
James, the cousin of Jesus, is a figure of debate among Christians. While some biblical scholars and historians argue that James was the brother of Jesus, others propose that he was his cousin or step-brother. The Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Christians, and some Protestant denominations, such as Anglicans and Lutherans, uphold the belief that James was not the biological son of Mary, mother of Jesus, but rather his cousin or step-brother. This belief stems from the interpretation that the Greek word "adelphos" in the Bible can mean brother, half-brother, step-brother, cousin, or a kinsman. Additionally, in Jesus's native language, Aramaic, cousins were also referred to as brothers or sisters.
The argument for James being the cousin of Jesus is supported by several pieces of evidence and interpretations. Firstly, the Gospel of James, a non-canonical text, describes St. Joseph as a widower with children from a previous marriage, suggesting that James could have been Jesus's step-brother. Secondly, the apostle Paul, who had a strong command of Greek, referred to James as "'the brother of our Lord' (Galatians 1:19), using the Greek word "adelphos". However, it is argued that Paul used "adelphos" in a broader sense, as the Greek language has a specific word for "cousin". Thirdly, Jerome, a prominent biblical scholar, believed that James was the cousin of Jesus, a view that aligns with the doctrine of perpetual virginity, asserting that Mary had no other children besides Jesus. Additionally, Jerome identified James, the son of Alphaeus, as one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, further complicating the familial relationships within Jesus's circle.
Another line of reasoning for James being Jesus's cousin stems from an examination of the women present during Jesus's crucifixion. John, one of Jesus's disciples, referred to his mother as "the mother of Zebedee's sons," which could indicate that he was unrelated to Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is speculated that John's mother could have been Mary's sister, making John and James, the son of Alphaeus, first cousins of Jesus. This interpretation is supported by the fact that John may have intentionally downplayed his kinship with Jesus out of reverence for Jesus's sovereignty.
While the debate surrounding James's relationship with Jesus continues, it is important to note that James played a significant role in the early Christian church. He is described as a gracious leader, emphasizing grace over the law and showing care for Gentile believers. James's humility is also noteworthy, as he never used his position as Jesus's relative to assert authority. Instead, he referred to himself as a "servant" of Jesus.
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James, son of Alphaeus
Overall, while there is some debate and uncertainty regarding the identity of James, son of Alphaeus, he is considered to have been one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and is possibly the same person as James, the brother of Jesus.
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James, the Just
James the Just, or a variation of James, brother of the Lord (Latin: Iacobus, from Hebrew: Ya'aqov, and Ancient Greek: Iákōbos, Anglicized as "Jacob"), was, according to the New Testament, a brother of Jesus. James was a common name in 1st-century Palestine. The name appears several times in the Bible, referring to different people.
James, the brother of Jesus, was the first Jewish bishop of Jerusalem. He was a leader of the Jerusalem Christians and is regarded as one of "the pillars of the church", along with Saints Peter and John the Evangelist. James was an important figure in the Jewish Christian community of Jerusalem. He was a gracious leader, emphasizing his humility by portraying himself as a "servant" of Jesus.
James is mentioned in the Gospels, specifically in Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3, where he is named alongside Jude, Simon, Joses (Joseph), and Judas as the brothers of Jesus, as well as two or more unnamed sisters. James's name always appears first in these lists, suggesting he was the eldest.
The interpretation of the phrase "brother of the Lord" is divided between those who believe that Mary had children after Jesus, and those who uphold Mary's perpetual virginity, including Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Anglicans, and Lutherans. Catholics and Orthodox Christians teach that James and the others named as brothers of Jesus in the New Testament were cousins of Jesus or step-brothers from Joseph's previous marriage. The Protoevangelium of James describes St. Joseph as a widower with children, and some Catholics believe James was a step-brother to Jesus.
James is also mentioned in Acts, where Peter, having escaped from prison, asks for James to be informed. James is an authority figure at the Council of Jerusalem, and he is later martyred in the city. The traditional belief is that he was martyred in 62 AD by being stoned to death on the orders of High Priest Ananus ben Ananus. Another account places his death in 69 AD, stating that he was thrown off the pinnacle of the Temple and then clubbed to death by scribes and Pharisees.
James has traditionally been attributed as the author of the Epistle of James, a New Testament book of moral instructions, since 253. However, modern scholars disagree on its authorship.
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James, the apostle
James the Apostle, also known as James the Greater, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was distinguished as being in Jesus' inner circle and was the brother of John the Apostle. James is described as one of the first disciples to join Jesus. The Gospels describe James as fishing with his brother John and their father when Jesus called them to follow him.
James was present at three particular occasions during Jesus' public ministry: the raising of Jairus' daughter, the transfiguration of Jesus, and Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. James and John asked Jesus to grant them seats on his right and left in his glory, to which Jesus replied that this honour was not his to grant. James and John also wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan town, but Jesus rebuked them.
James was martyred in 44 AD, making him the first apostle to be martyred. According to tradition, he was beheaded by order of Herod Agrippa I of Judaea, also known as King Herod. Some sources suggest that his death may have been triggered by his fiery temper, for which he and his brother earned the nickname Boanerges or "Sons of Thunder".
In Roman Catholicism, St James is the patron saint of pilgrims, soldiers, veterinarians, pharmacists, and people with arthritis. He is also the patron saint of Spain, Galicia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Seattle. According to tradition, St James travelled to Spain to preach the gospel, returned to Judaea, and was martyred. His body was then taken by boat to Galicia, where a church was built on the site of his tomb. This church, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, is believed to house the relics of St James the Greater. The Camino de Santiago (Spanish: Way of St James) is a network of pilgrimage routes to the purported tomb of St James that attracted thousands of pilgrims annually in the Middle Ages and continues to draw pilgrims today.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, James was the brother of Jesus.
Catholics believe that Mary was a virgin throughout her life, and that Jesus's "brothers" were either cousins or step-brothers. However, some biblical scholars argue that James and Joseph/Joses, called Jesus's "brothers" in Mark 6:3, were indeed the children of Mary—just not Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The Gospel of Mark refers to Jesus as Mary's firstborn, and James is mentioned as the brother of Joses/Joseph. If James was an older brother, he would have been quite old by the time he died in the 60s CE. However, if he was a cousin, this wouldn't be an issue. Additionally, the brothers' continuing association with Mary in the Gospels suggests they were not cousins or Joseph's children, as they likely would have had their own families by then.
The Protoevangelium of James describes St. Joseph as a widower with children, leading some Catholics to believe that James was a step-brother to Jesus.
James was an authority in the early church at the Council of Jerusalem. He was also one of the earliest witnesses of Jesus' resurrection and stayed in Jerusalem, forming part of the group of believers who prayed in the upper room.
