The Apostolic Age · AD 4–70
James the Just
c. 1 – 62 · Brother of Jesus · Bishop of Jerusalem · Nazareth → Jerusalem
The Apostolic Age
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Who James the Just was
“The Lord’s brother” did not follow Jesus during his ministry, but a private appearance of the risen Christ (1 Cor 15:7) made him the anchor of the Jerusalem church for three decades. He presided over the Council of Jerusalem in 49, brokering the decision that Gentile converts need not keep the whole Law, and was famed even among non-Christian Jews for his temple piety — Hegesippus says his knees grew hard as a camel’s from kneeling. Josephus, writing within living memory, records that the high priest Ananus had him stoned in 62 during a gap between Roman governors, an act that scandalized the city’s law-observant elite.
Also listed in the bishops of Jerusalem.
Common questions
When did James live?
James the Just is dated c. 1 – 62 in the archive, which places James in the Apostolic Age (AD 4–70). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
What did James write?
James the Just has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: The Epistle of James.
Which early sources mention James?
James the Just is named in 5 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Paul of Tarsus, Josephus, Hegesippus and Clement of Alexandria. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was James from?
The archive associates James the Just with Nazareth, Jerusalem. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Writings (1)
The Epistle of James
c. 45–62 (trad. dating)But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.Read the full text ↗
Primary-source mentions (5)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Galatians 1:19
c. AD 49But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.Paul of Tarsus · read ↗
Antiquities XX.9.1
c. AD 93…he assembled the sanhedrim of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned.Josephus · Antiquities XX.9.1 · source text
Hegesippus, via Eusebius II.23
c. AD 180He was in the habit of entering alone into the temple, and was frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel.Hegesippus · II.23 · source text
Clement of Alexandria, via Ecclesiastical History II.1 (chosen bishop of Jerusalem)
c. AD 200Peter and James and John, after the ascension of the Saviour, did not strive after honor, but chose James the Just bishop of Jerusalem.Clement of Alexandria · Ecclesiastical History II.1 · source text
Apostolic Constitutions VII.46 (first of the Jerusalem register)
c. AD 380James the bishop of Jerusalem, the brother of our Lord.The Constitutions' compiler · Apostolic Constitutions VII.46 · source text
Connected in the archive
Presided over the Council of Jerusalem with Peter and Paul; succeeded by his cousin Symeon
People
- Simon Peter
- Paul of Tarsus
- Annas (Ananus I)
- Mary, the Mother of Jesus
- Judas called Barsabbas
- Porcius Festus
- Ananus II (the Younger)
- Clopas (Cleopas?)
- Jude, the Brother of the Lord
- Flavius Josephus
- Symeon, son of Clopas
- Hegesippus
- Joses, brother of the Lord
- Simon, brother of the Lord
- Jesus of Nazareth
Events in this lifetime
- AD 30 · Crucifixion, Resurrection and Pentecost, AD 30–33
- AD 44 · Persecution under Herod Agrippa I, AD 44
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put James, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.