James, son of Alphaeus
one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ
b. 1st century BC · d. 62
James, son of Alphaeus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, appearing under this name in all three of the Synoptic Gospels' lists of the apostles. He is generally identified with James the Less and commonly known by that name in church tradition. He is also labelled "the Minor", "the Little", "the Lesser", or "the Younger", according to translation. He is distinct from James, son of Zebedee and in some interpretations also from James, brother of Jesus. He appears only four times in the New Testament, each time in a list of the twelve apostles.
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How we know
Recorded as a historical figure.
- Gospel of Matthew 4 claims — Sermon on the Mount; Sending of the Twelve; Last Supper
- Gospel of Mark 2 claims — Calling of the Twelve; triumphal entry into Jerusalem
- Acts of the Apostles 1 claim — Pentecost
- Gospel of John 1 claim — Christ washing the Disciples' feet
- Gospel of Luke 1 claim — Ascension of Jesus
Also recorded as
- James the Just possibly same
- James the Less possibly same
Glosses
- 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…