We are are going to discuss three men named James in the Bible. This can get confusing just as the common name Mary has caused some to be confused. First we have,
James surnamed the Greater, or the Elder, this to distinguish him from James the Younger who was the brother of John the evangelist, the son of Zebedee and Salome, Matthew 4:21. He was with his brother John a fisherman, when he left all he had to follow Christ. Mark 1:18-19.
The two were witnesses of our Lord’s transfiguration Matthew 17:2. When certain Samaritans refused the apostles and Jesus permission to pass through while on their way to Jerusalem, James and John desired to leave so they could pray for fire to come down from heaven and consume them, Luke 9:54. Jesus rebuked them. He gave the two the surname Boanerges, or sons of thunder.
A few days after the resurrection of Jesus, James and John went fishing in the sea of Tiberias where they saw the Lord; these two were also present at Jesus ascension. James is said to have preached to all the dispersed tribes of Israel; His martyrdom is found in Acts 12:1-2, about the year 42 or 44 A.D. Herod Agrippa, king of Israel, the grandson of Herod the Great caused James to be arrested and executed at Jerusalem, this just before Herod’s own death, Acts 12:2.
James the Less, surnamed the brother of our Lord, Galatians 1:19, was the son of Cleophas also know as Alpheus, and his mother Mary, the sister to Mary the mother of Jesus, making him a cousin to Jesus. He was surnamed the Just because of the admirable holiness and the purity of his life, said to have been a priest, and to have observed the laws of the Nazarites from his birth.
The conversion of James took place as a result of a special appearance of Jesus to him after the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:7. James was at Jerusalem, and was considered a pillar of the Christian church, when Paul first came there after his conversion, Galatians 1:19, this about 37 A.D. Paul had an interview with James and Peter on his first visit to Jerusalem following his conversion, Galatians 1:19. When Paul visited Jerusalem for the second time after his conversion, the leaders of the church, James, Peter and John gave their approval to Paul and Barnabas that they should preach to the Gentiles, while they themselves would minister to the Jews.
James most likely took part in the election of Matthias to the vacant apostleship, Acts 1:15-25. In the counsel of Jerusalem, 51 A.D. James voted last; the results of the council were principally formed from what James said. Although he observed the ceremonies of the Jewish law, and was careful that others should observe them, thought such a yoke was not to be imposed on any converted Gentiles, Acts 15:13.
About 63 A.D. James was commanded by the Jews to proclaim from one of the galleries of the temple, that Jesus was not the Messiah. Unwilling to submit, he proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God, and Judge of the world. For this he was thrown from the battlement, and while praying for his murderers, was stoned to death.
James the Less was highly esteemed by the apostles and other Christians. Josephus the Jewish historian had declared that the suffering of the Jews’ and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple was due to the anger of God because of the murder of James. What a powerful testimony this was coming from the man Josephus who never believed Jesus to be the Messiah.
Lastly, the father of the Apostle Judas; not Judas Iscariot. This is referred to in Acts 1:13, and Luke 6:16. Nothing more is known of this man.
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com