James the Just
Jewish bishop of Jerusalem figure in Early Christianity
b. 1st century · d. 62
1st Bishop of Jerusalem (Patriarch)
Offices
James the Just, or a variation of James, brother of the Lord, was, according to the New Testament, a brother of Jesus. James was personally known to Paul the Apostle. He was the first leader of the Church of Jerusalem. James was martyred, though the year and manner were disputed; Josephus records his death in 62 AD by being stoned to death on the order of High Priest Ananus ben Ananus, while Hegesippus places his death in 69 AD by being thrown off the pinnacle of the Temple by scribes and Pharisees and then clubbed to death. James, Joses, Simon, and Judas are mentioned as the brothers of Jesus as well as two or more unnamed sisters.
Related people
- Alphaeus child of · traditional
- Jesus disciple of · traditional
- Justus of Jerusalem parent of · traditional
- Simeon of Jerusalem preceded · inferred
Works
Events
Commemorated
Places
How we know
Recorded as a historical figure.
- Ecclesiastical History 3 claims — HE 2.23, 7.19; Martyrdom of James the Just; Simeon succeeds James at Jerusalem
- Acts of the Apostles 1 claim — Council of Jerusalem
- Gospel of Mark 1 claim — The rejection at Nazareth
- Oriens Christianus in quatuor Patriarchatus digestus 1 claim — Oriens Christianus III, col. 101 sqq. — De Patriarchatu Hierosolymitano
Also recorded as
- James the Less possibly same
- James, son of Alphaeus possibly same
Documents
- Epistle of James author
Glosses
- Clopas and Cleopas Two names one letter apart stand in the passion narratives and the church has never quite decided whether they are one man. Clopas appears once, and only in a genitive: standing by the cross was 'Mary the wife of…
- The three Jameses Three men named James stand in the apostolic record and the West has spent most of its history with two of them. James son of Zebedee is never confused with anyone: he is John's brother, one of the inner three, and…