James, the Lord's Brother (Matthew 13:53–58; Mark 6:1–6; John 7:1–10; 1 Corinthians 15:3–8; Galatians 1:15–24; Acts 12:2; Acts 12:12–17; Acts 15:4–22; Galatians 2:1–14; Acts 21:15–26; Acts 1:12–14; James 1:1)

Seen by Paul at Jerusalem

Named with Joseph, Simon and Judas among Jesus' brethren, and called “James the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:19) by Paul in Galatians. A James in Jerusalem speaks at the gathering of apostles and elders, and receives Paul at the end of Acts.

The Gospels of Matthew and Mark name four brethren of Jesus: “his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas” (Matthew 13:55); “brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon” (Mark 6:3). The Gospel of John says that “even his brethren did not believe on him” (John 7:5), and Paul lists a later appearance: “then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles” (1 Corinthians 15:7). They were sons of Joseph and Mary, born after Jesus: Joseph “knew her not till she had brought forth a son” (Matthew 1:25), and Jesus was “her firstborn son” (Luke 2:7).

The one place that names him with the title is Paul's own account of his first visit to Jerusalem: “But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:19). Elsewhere a James appears in Jerusalem without that title: Peter says “Tell these things unto James, and to the brethren” (Acts 12:17), in the chapter that tells of the killing of James the brother of John (Acts 12:2); a James answers at the gathering over the Gentiles (Acts 15:13), and Paul goes in to James and the elders (Acts 21:18). Paul names James, Cephas and John as “reputed to be pillars” (Galatians 2:9), and tells of a time “before that certain came from James” (Galatians 2:12). Acts does not call this James the Lord's brother; reading him as the same man is common. James the son of Alphæus, one of the twelve (Acts 1:13), is a different man: the Lord's brother was a son of Joseph.

A letter opens “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1) without saying which James is meant; whether the Lord's brother wrote it is a question Christians answer differently.

Strengths

• Counsel from Scripture
• Care for Gentile believers
• Standing among the leaders

Themes

• The brethren of the Lord
• The Gentiles and the law
• Leadership in Jerusalem

Named among his brethren (Matthew 13:53–58; Mark 6:1–6)

In his own country the people name Jesus' brethren: James, Joseph, Simon and Judas.

His brethren did not believe (John 7:1–10)

Before the feast of tabernacles Jesus' brethren urge him to go into Judæa; the text says they did not believe on him.

Christ appeared to James (1 Corinthians 15:3–8)

Paul lists the appearances of the risen Christ: to Cephas, to the twelve, to above five hundred, then to James, then to all the apostles.

Christ appeared to James

“he appeared to Cephas; then to the twelve; then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once” (1 Corinthians 15:5–6), and then “he appeared to James; then to all the apostles” (1 Corinthians 15:7).

The verse names James without saying more. Whether this is the James of Galatians 1:19 is a reading; the Gospel of John, for its part, says Jesus' brethren did not believe (John 7:5), and Acts names his brethren with the apostles and the women in prayer (Acts 1:14).

Paul sees him in Jerusalem (Galatians 1:15–24)

After three years Paul goes up to visit Cephas, stays fifteen days, and sees no other apostle except James the Lord's brother.

Paul sees him in Jerusalem

“Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:18–19).

This is the only verse in the study that gives James the title of the Lord's brother. Paul adds “behold, before God, I lie not” (Galatians 1:20). James was a son of Joseph and Mary, and Paul names him by that bond.

Peter's word to James (Acts 12:2; Acts 12:12–17)

Brought out of prison, Peter tells the gathered church to tell these things to James and the brethren, and goes to another place.

James speaks at the gathering (Acts 15:4–22)

After Peter, Barnabas and Paul speak, James answers, cites the prophets, and gives his judgment that the Gentiles who turn to God not be troubled.

James speaks at the gathering

Certain Pharisees who believed said “It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses” (Acts 15:5). When Peter, Barnabas and Paul had spoken, “James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me” (Acts 15:13).

He says that “to this agree the words of the prophets” (Acts 15:15) and gives his judgment: “my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God; but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood” (Acts 15:19–20). Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to send men to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:22).

James, Cephas and John (Galatians 2:1–14)

Paul tells of a visit when James, Cephas and John, reputed to be pillars, gave him and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; later certain came from James to Antioch.

Paul goes in to James (Acts 21:15–26)

On Paul's arrival in Jerusalem, James and all the elders are present; they glorify God, then ask Paul to join four men with a vow and purify himself.

Paul goes in to James

“And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present” (Acts 21:18). Paul told them the things God had wrought among the Gentiles, and “they, when they heard it, glorified God” (Acts 21:20).

They then spoke of the many thousands of Jews who believed and are “all zealous for the law” (Acts 21:20), and asked Paul to purify himself with four men under a vow. They added: “But as touching the Gentiles that have believed, we wrote, giving judgment” (Acts 21:25). The passage speaks of James and the elders together.

Jesus (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3; John 7:3–5)

His brethren are named James, Joseph, Simon and Judas; the brethren did not believe on him.

Paul (Galatians 1:18–19; Acts 21:18–19)

Paul saw him on his first visit to Jerusalem, and later went in to him with the elders.

Peter (Cephas) (Acts 12:17; Galatians 2:9)

Peter asked that James be told of his release; Paul names James and Cephas together among the pillars.

John (Galatians 2:9)

Named with James and Cephas among those reputed to be pillars.

The elders of Jerusalem (Acts 21:18)

Present when Paul went in to James.

Major sections

• Galatians 1:18–19
• Acts 15:4–22
• Acts 21:15–26
• 1 Corinthians 15:3–8

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