New Testament people named James
The name James (from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos); Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (Yaʿăqōḇ)) appears 38 times in the New Testament.[1] James was a very common given name in the historical period and region of Jesus, but surnames were still very rare. It is therefore not always clear which person these names refer to, and whether some refer to the same person or distinct characters, which has led to confusion. Therefore, Christian authors and modern scholars have given these men names based on their known attributes.[2][3] According to American theologian and scholar Donald Hagner, there are at least 5, and possibly up to 7, different Jameses in the New Testament.[3]
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James the Less (by Batoni, c. 1740). It is disputed whether he is to be identified with James, son of Alphaeus, or James, brother of Jesus.[2][3]
The following Jameses are found in the New Testament:
- James the Great, son of Zebedee, brother of John the Apostle. One of the Twelve Disciples of Jesus, together with his brother John and Simon Peter part of the inner circle of Jesus.[2][3]
- James, son of Alphaeus. One of the Twelve Disciples of Jesus, but almost nothing is known about him.[2][3]
- James, brother of Jesus.[2] Also called James the Just.[3] The New Testament calls him 'James, brother of God / the Lord' (Ἰάκωβος ὁ Ἀδελφόθεος); disputes have arisen whether this means he was a biological brother of Jesus, or that this description must mean something else. Christian theologians trying to maintain the dogma of the perpetual virginity of Mary argue it's impossible for Jesus to have had a biological brother.[3]
- James the Less (Ἰάκωβος ὁ μίκρος, Mark 15:40), son of Mary, mother of James, brother of Joses. It's unclear whether he is to be identified as James, son of Alphaeus, or James, brother of Jesus.[2][3] Also called James the Younger.[2]
- James, the father of Jude the Apostle (also called Jude Thaddeus, Jude of James).[2]
- James, the otherwise unknown author of the Epistle of James. Some Christian authors and modern scholars have attempted to find a connection between this James and one of the Jameses above, but no consensus has emerged.[2][3]
- James, the brother of Jude, the otherwise unknown author of the Epistle of Jude.[4]
See also
References
- Bible Gateway search results for James
- Losch, Richard R. (2008). All the People in the Bible: An A-Z Guide to the Saints, Scoundrels, and Other Characters in Scripture. Cambridge: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 183–187, 428. ISBN 9780802824547. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- Hagner, Donald A. (2012). The New Testament: A Historical and Theological Introduction. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books. p. 779–. ISBN 9781441240408. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- Jude 1:1.
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