Category:James (subject)

James was the brother of Jesus of Nazareth and the leader of the Church of Jerusalem.

Overview

James, the "brother of Jesus", is the only follower of Jesus recorded by name by Josephus. After the death of his brother he was the leader of the Church of Jerusalem, the actual head of the early Christian movement. In the 60s he was executed by the High Priest Ananiah. The outrage for his execution was so widespread, even outside the Christian community, that caused the removal of Ananias from the High Priesthood.

In 2002 great sensation came from the discovery of an ossuary with the inscription “James son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.” The finding was presented to the public by the Discovery Channel on October 21, 2002, and in November of the same year the artifact was exhibited in connection with the Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature. On June 18, 2003, however, a report by the Israeli Antiquities Authority concluded that the inscription on the “James ossuary” was a modern forgery.

James in ancient sources

Gospel of Mark

Mark 6:3 -- Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 13:55 -- Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

Acts of Apostles

Acts 12:17 -- But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

Acts 15:13 -- After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.

Acts 21:18 -- On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 15:7 -- Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Galatians

Galaltians 1:19 -- But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.

Galatians 2:9 -- and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Galatians 2:12 -- For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.

Letter of James

James 1:1 -- James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:Greetings.

Letter of Jude

Jude 1:1 -- Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:

Josephus, Jewish Antiquities

Ant XX 9, 1: Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrim of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, [or, some of his companions]; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned: but as for those who seemed the most equitable of the citizens, and such as were the most uneasy at the breach of the laws, they disliked what was done.

James in Scholarship

James in Fiction

External links