There are three (maybe four) men named James referenced in the Scriptures.
Matthew 10:2-4 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Luke 6:14-16 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
Apparently, there are three sets of brothers: Peter/Andrew, James/John, James/Judas. Matthew(Levi) is also said to be the son of Alphaeus. Apparently, the three were brothers.
Mark 2:14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
The third James is the Lord’s brother.
Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
This gives us:
- James/John – sons of Zebedee
- James/Judas/Matthew – sons of Alphaeus (The context of Luke 6:14-16 & Mark 2:14 confirm this)
- James – the Lord’s brother
James the brother of John was killed early on.
Acts 12:2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
James the son of Alphaeus being one of the original apostles is most likely the James who seemed to lead in the Jerusalem Church.
Acts 12:17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
Acts 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Acts 21:18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
Acts 21:18 is not the same time as Paul earlier visit mentioned in Galatians.
Galatians 1:18-19 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.
Paul specifically points out that it was not James who was one of the original apostles but the Lord’s brother who he ran into at Peter’s place.
It is my opinion that it was James son of Alphaeus, one of the original apostles, who wrote the book of James. It is most likely that if the brother of the Lord had done so he would have mentioned that he was the Lord’s brother.
Jude of the book of Jude is Judas the brother of James son of Alphaeus. If he were the brother of the Lord he would have said that and not that he was the brother of the brother of the Lord.
Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
James and Jude sons of Alphaeus were both of the original twelve apostles.
There is also James the less of Mark 15.
Mark 15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
He is not the Lord’s brother, and I doubt that James of the original twelve would be known as the less. I must assume that it is another James.
Of course, this is just my gatherings from the Scriptures.
Back to: Questions