James (Brother of Jesus)

Biblical Record

His name first appears in the account of Jesus' rejection by the people of Nazareth. They asked, "And his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?" (Matthew 13:55; compare Mark 6:3). John 7:5 records that during Jesus' public ministry his brothers did not believe in him.

The risen Jesus Christ appeared to James (1 Corinthians 15:7). After Jesus ascended to heaven, his brothers are shown praying with the disciples (Acts 1:14). James later appears as the leader of the Jerusalem church.

• After his release from prison, Peter asked that word of it be sent to James (Acts 12:17).
• Paul met "James the Lord's brother" in Jerusalem (Galatians 1:19). Paul named him, together with Cephas (Peter) and John, among those "who seemed to be pillars" (Galatians 2:9).
• At the Council of Jerusalem, he proposed that Gentile believers not be required to be circumcised but be asked only to abstain from things offered to idols, from fornication, from things strangled, and from blood (Acts 15:13–21).
• When Paul made his last visit to Jerusalem, James received him together with the elders (Acts 21:18).

"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" in James 1:1 and "Jude... brother of James" in Jude 1:1 are also traditionally understood to refer to him.

Significance in Scripture

James went from being part of a family that did not believe in Jesus to becoming a witness of the resurrection and a leader of the church. The New Testament portrays him as a mediator between the community of Jewish believers and the mission to the Gentiles. The New Testament also mentions James the son of Zebedee and James the son of Alphaeus, who must be distinguished from him. After the death of James the son of Zebedee (Acts 12:2), the "James" who appears in Acts is generally taken to be this James.

Interpretation and Debates

• The meaning of "brother": Most Protestants understand him to be a younger brother of Jesus, born to Joseph and Mary after Jesus. The Eastern Orthodox Church follows a tradition that he was Joseph's son by an earlier marriage. The Catholic Church, in keeping with the doctrine of Mary's perpetual virginity, regards him as a close relative, such as a cousin. The question at issue is whether the Greek word adelphos can also refer to relatives more broadly. Some of the Reformers are known to have accepted Mary's perpetual virginity as well.
• Authorship of the Epistle of James: Church tradition regards this James as the author. Some scholars hold that it is a later work written under his name.
• Faith and works: James 2:21–24 and Romans 3:28 appear on the surface to conflict. Martin Luther, comparing James with the other epistles, called it an "epistle of straw." Mainstream Protestantism harmonizes the two passages as follows: Paul speaks of being declared righteous before God, that is, justification, while James speaks of genuine faith being shown through works.
• Extrabiblical tradition: Josephus's Antiquities of the Jews records that the high priest Ananus had him stoned to death. Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History, quoting Hegesippus, calls him "James the Just" and relates that he was thrown down from the pinnacle of the temple. These accounts are not found in the biblical text.