Bible Question:
Now I am getting confused! As my Bible (Life Application Bible, NLT) explains it, there were two James's who were disciples: (1) James - brother of John, son of Zebedee. This James was killed by King Herod Agrippa, as described in Acts 12:2. This is the James that is often mentioned as part of a trio w/Peter and John. (2) James - son of Alphaeus. Mostly, he seems to be just in the list of the disciples (according to the "selected references" list in this bible's chart of the 12 disciples). Then, in Acts 15, there is an argument among the church leaders regarding circumcision, and it was settled by James giving his judgment that the Gentiles who turn to God should not be troubled w/circumcision. The notes in this Bible say that this James was Jesus' half-brother who became a leader of the church in Jerusalem and wrote the book of James. Thus giving us a third notable James in the NT. Mat 13:55 states "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? My Life Appl. Bible says that the third James, the writer of the book of James, is the James referred to in the above verse (Mt 13:55). To further confuse the mix, this Bible says that the book of Jude was written by the brother of James and Jesus, Jude (also mentioned in Mt 13:55). So, I would say that sah's original question was too vague to be answered succinctly! Does anyone/everyone agree with the notes in my Bible regarding James the writer of the book of James? |
Bible Answer: Stephanie, A short answer to your question about the author of James is that the letter is most often attributed to James the Just of Jerusalem, sometimes called the "brother" or kinsman of Jesus, although nothing in the letter itself or any other part of scripture gives this information. The attribution is based on tradition. Most agree that this James is not either of the two apostles by that name. The letter is really more of an exhortation and is very Jewish in character. Despite its very Jewish tone it was written in excellent Greek, some of the best in the New Tetsament, which would inidcate a professional scribe actually wrote it down and translated it into Greek whoever the actual author was. Emmaus |