Topic: Persons Of The Bible - James

The name "James" is the English form of the Late Latin Jacomus which was derived from Ιακωβος (Iakobos), the New Testament Greek form of יַעֲקֹב (Ya'aqov). The name "James" means "supplanter."

A person named "James" was the son of Zebedee and Salome. James was elder brother of the evangelist John. We first hear of James in A.D. 28, (Mark 1:20) when at the call of the Master James left all, and became, one and forever, Christ's disciple. (Matthew 10:2; Mark 3:14; Luke 6:13; Acts 1:13) James was by trade a fisherman, in partnership with Peter (Matt. 20:20; 27:56). With John and Peter, James was present at the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1; Mark 9:2), at the raising of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37-43), and in the garden with our Lord (14:33). Because, probably, of their boldness and energy, James and John were called Boanerges, i.e., "sons of thunder." On the night before the crucifixion James was present at the agony in the garden. On the day of the ascension James is mentioned as persevering with the rest of the apostles and disciples, in prayer. (Acts 1:13) Shortly before the day of the Passover, in the year 44, James was the first martyr among the apostles, having been beheaded by King Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:1, 2), A.D. 44. (Comp. Matt. 4:21; 20:20-23).

Another person named "James" was the son of Alphaeus, or Cleopas, "the brother" or near kinsman or cousin of our Lord (Gal. 1:18, 19). He was called James "the Less," or "the Little," probably because this James was of low stature. This James, the son of Alpheus, was one of the twelve apostles. (Matthew 10:3) Whether or not this James is to be identified as James the Less, the son of Alphaeus, the brother of our Lord, is one of the most difficult questions in the gospel history. By comparing (Matthew 27:56) and Mark 15:40 with John 19:25 we find that the Virgin Mary had a sister named, like herself, Mary, who was the wife of Clopas or Alpheus (varieties of the same name), and who had two sons, James the Less and Joses. By referring to (Matthew 13:55) and Mark 6:3 we find that a James the Less and Joses, with two other brethren called Jude and Simon, and at least three sisters, were sisters with the Virgin Mary at Nazareth by referring to (Luke 6:16) and Acts 1:13. We find there were two brethren named James and Jude among the apostles. It would certainly be natural to think we had here but one family of four brothers and three or more sisters, the children of Clopas and Mary, nephews and nieces of the Virgin Mary. There are difficulties however, in the way of this conclusion into which we cannot here enter; but in reply to the objection the four brethren in (Matthew 13:55) are described as the brothers of Jesus, not as his cousins, it must be recollected "adelphoi," which is here translated "brethren," may also signify cousins. James the Less is mentioned along with the other apostles (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15). James the Less had a separate interview with our Lord after his resurrection (1 Cor. 15:7), and is mentioned as one of the apostles of the circumcision (Acts 1:13). James the Less appears to have occupied the position of head of the Church at Jerusalem, where he presided at the council held to consider the case of the Gentiles (Acts 12:17; 15:13-29: 21:18-24). This James was the author of the epistle which bears his name.

Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries

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