1. James, the brother of John and son of Zebedee, the first apostle to be martyred. He is also known as James the Less (Matthew 10:2, Mark 15:40 and Acts 12:2).
2. James, the son of Alphaeus, another of the twelve disciples (Matthew 10:3).
3. James, the father of Judas (not Iscariot) (Luke 6:16).
4. James the Just, the half-brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55) and the brother of Jude (Jude 1), who led the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13).
Traditionally, the book of James has been attributed to James the Just.
Jesus' earthy life
During Jesus' time on earth, He grew up in a home that was probably as normal as any other Israeli family. His earthly father (Joseph) was a stone worker (aka, a carpenter), constructing buildings. (Remember that in Israel, the land is full of rocks. Most buildings in Jesus' time were constructed using rock. Carpentry of the day comprised of being a stone mason.)
Jesus was the son of Mary, but His biological father was not Joseph. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit as a new Adam; however, He was not made of the same flesh as the first Adam. But Joseph and Mary had other children conceived in the natural way. ("Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us?" Matthew 13:55-56)
One of Jesus' half brothers was a man named Jude, who wrote the New Testament letter by the same name.
Another half brother of Jesus was a man named James. James is a name translated from the Hebrew to Greek to Latin to English. James's name in Hebrew is Ya'akov (or Jacob in English). Named after the patriarch, Ya'akov means "he supplants" or "heel catcher".
Both Jude and James grew up with their older half-brother Jesus, living and working in Nazareth. We know nothing about the boys' early years together. When Jesus is about 30 years of age, He begins His earthly ministry. He begins teaching in the Galilee. His very first public declaration that He was Messiah was made in His hometown of Nazareth in the synagogue. It is likely that Jesus' half-brothers were present that day in the synagogue when they heard Him declare that He fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy of a coming Savior. His brother received the news with much skepticism.
In John chapter 7, we see Jesus' brothers showing nothing but contempt for Jesus' claim that He was the Messiah: "Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. Therefore His brother said to Him, 'Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.' For not even His brothers were believing Him" (John 7:2-5).
Jesus' brothers advised Jesus to go to Jerusalem to declare Himself to be Messiah. They saw His claims and did not believe Him. Teaching and preaching in small towns in the Galilee would only attract a small audience. They encouraged Jesus to go to Jerusalem so that He might be seen by the whole world.
After Jesus' death and resurrection
According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:7, Jesus appeared to James after Jesus' death and resurrection. ("then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles" 1 Corinthians 15:7.) This was probably the cause of James's conversion because up to this time, the brothers of Jesus were not supportive of His message and mission. It seems after this encounter, James became a faithful apostle and leader of the church in Jerusalem. James followed the Lord with great devotion. An early history of the church says that James was such a man of prayer that his knees had large and thick calluses, making them look like the knees of a camel. It also says that James was martyred in Jerusalem by being pushed from a high point on the temple. Yet, the fall did not kill him. On the ground, he was beaten to death, even as he prayed for his attackers.
James never describes himself as the half-brother of Jesus. Forgoing his claim to any fleshly relationship with Jesus, he instead identifies himself by his spiritual association--as a bond-servant of God and Christ.
During Jesus' time on earth, He grew up in a home that was probably as normal as any other Israeli family. His earthly father (Joseph) was a stone worker (aka, a carpenter), constructing buildings. (Remember that in Israel, the land is full of rocks. Most buildings in Jesus' time were constructed using rock. Carpentry of the day comprised of being a stone mason.)
Jesus was the son of Mary, but His biological father was not Joseph. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit as a new Adam; however, He was not made of the same flesh as the first Adam. But Joseph and Mary had other children conceived in the natural way. ("Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us?" Matthew 13:55-56)
One of Jesus' half brothers was a man named Jude, who wrote the New Testament letter by the same name.
Another half brother of Jesus was a man named James. James is a name translated from the Hebrew to Greek to Latin to English. James's name in Hebrew is Ya'akov (or Jacob in English). Named after the patriarch, Ya'akov means "he supplants" or "heel catcher".
Both Jude and James grew up with their older half-brother Jesus, living and working in Nazareth. We know nothing about the boys' early years together. When Jesus is about 30 years of age, He begins His earthly ministry. He begins teaching in the Galilee. His very first public declaration that He was Messiah was made in His hometown of Nazareth in the synagogue. It is likely that Jesus' half-brothers were present that day in the synagogue when they heard Him declare that He fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy of a coming Savior. His brother received the news with much skepticism.
In John chapter 7, we see Jesus' brothers showing nothing but contempt for Jesus' claim that He was the Messiah: "Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. Therefore His brother said to Him, 'Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.' For not even His brothers were believing Him" (John 7:2-5).
Jesus' brothers advised Jesus to go to Jerusalem to declare Himself to be Messiah. They saw His claims and did not believe Him. Teaching and preaching in small towns in the Galilee would only attract a small audience. They encouraged Jesus to go to Jerusalem so that He might be seen by the whole world.
After Jesus' death and resurrection
According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:7, Jesus appeared to James after Jesus' death and resurrection. ("then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles" 1 Corinthians 15:7.) This was probably the cause of James's conversion because up to this time, the brothers of Jesus were not supportive of His message and mission. It seems after this encounter, James became a faithful apostle and leader of the church in Jerusalem. James followed the Lord with great devotion. An early history of the church says that James was such a man of prayer that his knees had large and thick calluses, making them look like the knees of a camel. It also says that James was martyred in Jerusalem by being pushed from a high point on the temple. Yet, the fall did not kill him. On the ground, he was beaten to death, even as he prayed for his attackers.
James never describes himself as the half-brother of Jesus. Forgoing his claim to any fleshly relationship with Jesus, he instead identifies himself by his spiritual association--as a bond-servant of God and Christ.
Chapter One
Consider it joy when you face trials. They are tests sent by God the Father to allow us to demonstrate our spiritual maturity. This is such a life changing perspective. It causes us to reconsider the way we face challenges. It helps us recognize we need to glorify God to overcome these trials. We need to turn these obstacles into success stories and change what we perceive as bad circumstances into opportunities for good.
Favorite verse: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)
Chapter Two
Do not show favoritism. When faced with men of different social or economical status, we are to treat every one as equal. We are not to show hospitality to the rich while shaming the poor. We are not to judge others. We are to view our brothers and sisters as God does. When we show favoritism, we violate the Royal Law. When we are able to set aside earthly status and regard every one as equal in Christ, we are able to pass this test. We are able to declare our inner faith by outward deeds.
Favorite verse: "If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself." (James 2:15-17)
Chapter Three
Guarding our speech is a key to avoiding a life of disobedience. When we yield our speech to the Spirit, we allow Him to take control of our lives. Often, our tongue is the last thing Christians are willing to release to the power of God. When we cannot bridle our tongue, we quench God's ability to use us, to use our testimony and to glorify Him. When unbelievers hear Christians using abusive or words which do not bring glory to God's kingdom, they assume that being a Christian is no different than the people of the rest of the world. When we yield to the Spirit to control our tongue, counseled by God's word, we endeavor to put into action what we learn.
Favorite verse: "For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well." (James 3:2)
Chapter Four
If instead we seek for the world's wisdom and riches, it leads to discord and rivalries in the church. When we search for the riches of this world, we lie against the Gospel by acting like the world. We do not rise above the self-help worldly wisdom; we do not seek God. Our prayers go unanswered because we are praying with selfish motives. James gives us a warning--the self-sufficient and prideful Christian does not respect God's sovereignty.
Favorite verse: "You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:2-3)
Chapter Five
Misuse of riches leads to a life of earthly pleasure which will be a witness against them in the judgment to come. When we withhold wages from our employees or hold our goods, although we may appear to have gained great wealth, in reality, we are setting ourselves up for great judgment. We need to be patient and strengthen our hearts until the coming of our Lord. We should confess our sins, pray and turn our brothers and sisters back from their ways of error. "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much" (James 5:16).
Favorite verse: "We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful." (James 5:11)
Summary
In all five chapters, James writes about one convicting message after another. The conviction is so powerful because James is driving headlong into many of the core issues of the Christian walk. We all struggle with a faithful walk, with improper speech, with a selfish prayer life, with favoritism and with seeking godly goals and with an unwillingness to live out our faith in righteous works. May God's word bring us closer to Him, each and every day of our lives.
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