Paul and James: Backgrounds (James)

The author, James, of the letter by the same name, is positively known only by what might be inferred from the letter itself. He calls Jesus "Lord," he has facility with the Hebrew scriptures, he is at ease giving far-reaching instructions. He has a deep sense of social responsibility and of the need for personal morality, he has an abiding concern for personal action borne of a living faith in God. He has strong conviction of specific characteristics of God, notably, God's goodness, faithfulness, justice, mercy, and immanence.

If the author of James is to be identified with a James known elsewhere in the New Testament, there are several candidates from which to choose.

One James, son of Zebedee, was an earliest disciple of Jesus. Matthew 4:21. Jesus nicknamed him, with his brother John, Son of Thunder. Mark 3:17. Together with John and with Simon Peter, James was one of the three closest of Jesus' disciples during his earthly ministry. Luke 9:28. Chosen by Jesus as one of the twelve apostles, he was also the first of the Twelve killed on account of his belief in Jesus as the Messiah. Acts 12:2.

Three other men of the same name include another disciple and apostle, James, son of Alphaeus. Mark 3:18. Another is the father of the apostle, Judas (not Iscariot). Acts 1:13. Yet another is James the younger, brother to Joseph and Salome, whose mother Mary (not Jesus' mother), intended to assist at Jesus' embalming. Mark 16:1.

The last James I note here is a brother to Jesus in his earthly family. Mark 6:3. He is also brother to Joseph, Simon, Judas (presumed author of the New Testament letter of Jude), and to unnamed sisters. We infer he is a son to Joseph and Mary, along with the rest of the siblings. Following his resurrection, Jesus visits privately with a James, thought to be this brother. 1 Corinthians 15:7. When Peter is miraculously released from prison, he makes sure that James be apprised of the matter. Acts 12:17. He is also thought to be the same James, leader in the Jerusalem church who presides over the church council in Jerusalem. Acts 15:13. This James, though not one of the Twelve, is implied to be an apostle, too. Galatians 1:19. Nothing more is known certainly of his life or death, though ancient tradition speaks of him as a martyr in Jerusalem.

On at least three occasions, perhaps four, Paul visits in Jerusalem with this James, whom he identifies as the Lord's brother. First, at the beginning of his ministry among the Gentiles, Paul visits with Peter (to whom he refers as Cephas, Aramaic term for Peter) for two weeks, and with James, too. Galatians 1:19. Second, after he had been on mission with Barnabas and Titus, he meets with James, Peter, and John, "reputed to pillars in the church," to confirm with them the gospel message. Galatians 2:9. Then (third?), if this is distinct from the event in Gal. 2:9, Paul and Barnabas meet in council with the Jerusalem congregation, at which James presides. Acts 15. Third (fourth?), toward the end of his ministry, Paul brings a financial offering from the Gentile churches to the Jewish churches in Jerusalem and Judea; he wants James and the elders there to recognize the work that God has been doing in the mission. Acts 21:18.

In his Galatian letter, Paul says that on the one hand, James completely approved of the gospel Paul preached among the Gentiles; James agrees that Gentiles are not to be circumcised. Yet, Paul also charges that men from James to Paul's Antioch mission intended to advance circumcision among the Gentiles converted to Christ. Galatians 2:12. (We note that Paul does not say explicitly that James sent them for that purpose, though it would be easy to assume so.)

For several reasons, not least of which is ancient historical tradition, I take the author of the letter as James, Jesus' brother, apostle and leader in the Jerusalem church. The author's qualities noted above can reasonably be attributed to this James' life.

James is convicted that God has designated Jesus, the man he grew up with as a younger brother, to be the Lord of glory, the Christ. Twice he refers to Jesus as Lord and as Christ (Jas. 1:1; 2:1), while he refers to himself as a servant or slave of Jesus. But not only is Jesus his Lord (1:1), Jesus is our Lord (2:1). And with that commonality among believers, James writes to us all scattered about the cosmos.