James (Brother of Jesus)

James, the brother of Jesus, was an important leader (the leading elder) in the church in Jerusalem. He also wrote the Letter of James in the New Testament.

The Gospels only mention James twice. These mentions list him with his brothers Joseph (or Joses), Simon, and Judas (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). James may have been the oldest of the brothers after Jesus. James might have been the oldest brother after Jesus. Some people wonder if these were Jesus's full brothers or not. But the Bible seems to say clearly that they were. Like his other brothers, James did not accept Jesus's authority while Jesus was alive (John 7:5).

James’s conversion is not mentioned. It may have happened when Jesus appeared to him and others after his resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7). He became head of the church at Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; 21:18; Galatians 2:9). Jesus had taught that following him was more important than being related to someone (Matthew 12:48–50; Mark 3:33–35; Luke 8:21). But it is likely that being Jesus's brother helped James become a respected leader.

People saw James as an apostle (Galatians 1:19), even though he was not one of the original twelve apostles. Some suggest he was a replacement for the martyred son of Zebedee. Others think the term “apostle” can mean both “the Twelve” and “all the apostles” (see the two separate categories cited in 1 Corinthians 15:5, 7).

Tradition says that Jesus and the apostles chose James to be the first bishop of Jerusalem. What is certain is that he led the first Council of Jerusalem. This meeting was about how to welcome non-Jewish people into the Christian church. James helped make the final decision that was sent to churches in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia (Acts 15:19–20). James felt his main job was to teach Jewish people about Jesus. He helped solve arguments in the new church about how Jewish laws applied to new Christians, both Jewish and non-Jewish.

James kept following many Jewish practices even as a Christian. We can see this in what he asked Paul to do when Paul visited Jerusalem for the last time (Acts 21:18–25). This is the last time the book of Acts mentions James. He is traditionally considered to be the author of the Letter of James, where he describes himself as “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1).

An early Christian writer named Hegesippus (who died around AD 180) said people called James "the Just." This was because James carefully followed Jewish law and lived a simple life. It seems clear that James was martyred (killed for his faith). A Jewish historian named Josephus says this happened in the year AD 61. There was a Jewish uprising after the Roman governor Festus died, and before a new one had been chosen.