Home People James (Jesus' brother) James was Jesus' brother and became one of the most prominent leaders in the early church in Jerusalem. He was known for his piety and righteousness, and wrote the Epistle of James in the New Testament. He played a crucial role at the Council of Jerusalem and was martyred around the year 62.
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Key events James is mentioned as one of Jesus' brothers along with Joses, Simon and Judas. They did not believe in Jesus during his public ministry.
55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother called Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Gk οὐχ οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ τοῦ τέκτονος υἱός; ⸀οὐχ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ λέγεται Μαριὰμ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ Ἰάκωβος καὶ ⸀Ἰωσὴφ καὶ Σίμων καὶ Ἰούδας;
56 Aren't all his sisters here with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" Gk καὶ αἱ ἀδελφαὶ αὐτοῦ οὐχὶ πᾶσαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς εἰσιν; πόθεν οὖν τούτῳ ταῦτα πάντα;
Paul writes that Jesus appeared to James after the resurrection, which likely led to his conversion and faith.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Gk ἔπειτα ὤφθη Ἰακώβῳ, εἶτα τοῖς ἀποστόλοις πᾶσιν·
Paul describes James, together with Peter and John, as pillars in the church in Jerusalem. They gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship.
9 And recognizing the grace given to me, James, Cephas, and John, reputed to be pillars, gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Gk καὶ γνόντες τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι, Ἰάκωβος καὶ Κηφᾶς καὶ Ἰωάννης, οἱ δοκοῦντες στῦλοι εἶναι, δεξιὰς ἔδωκαν ἐμοὶ καὶ Βαρναβᾷ κοινωνίας, ἵνα ⸀ἡμεῖς εἰς τὰ ἔθνη, αὐτοὶ δὲ εἰς τὴν περιτομήν·
10 They asked only that we remember the poor — the very thing I was eager to do. Gk μόνον τῶν πτωχῶν ἵνα μνημονεύωμεν, ὃ καὶ ἐσπούδασα αὐτὸ τοῦτο ποιῆσαι.
12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those of the circumcision. Gk πρὸ τοῦ γὰρ ἐλθεῖν τινας ἀπὸ Ἰακώβου μετὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν συνήσθιεν· ὅτε δὲ ⸀ἦλθον, ὑπέστελλεν καὶ ἀφώριζεν ἑαυτόν, φοβούμενος τοὺς ἐκ περιτομῆς.
James played a decisive role at the apostolic council where the question of Gentiles' relationship to the Mosaic Law was settled. He formulated the final decision.
13 When they had finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. Gk μετὰ δὲ τὸ σιγῆσαι αὐτοὺς ἀπεκρίθη Ἰάκωβος λέγων· Ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ἀκούσατέ μου.
14 Simeon has described how God first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for his name. Gk Συμεὼν ἐξηγήσατο καθὼς πρῶτον ὁ θεὸς ἐπεσκέψατο λαβεῖν ἐξ ἐθνῶν ⸀λαὸν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.
15 And this agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written: Gk καὶ τούτῳ συμφωνοῦσιν οἱ λόγοι τῶν προφητῶν, καθὼς γέγραπται·
16 "'After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again, Gk Μετὰ ταῦτα ἀναστρέψω καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω τὴν σκηνὴν Δαυὶδ τὴν πεπτωκυῖαν καὶ τὰ ⸀κατεσκαμμένα αὐτῆς ἀνοικοδομήσω καὶ ἀνορθώσω αὐτήν,
17 so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things, Gk ὅπως ἂν ἐκζητήσωσιν οἱ κατάλοιποι τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὸν κύριον, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐφʼ οὓς ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπʼ αὐτούς, λέγει ⸀κύριος ποιῶν ⸀ταῦτα
18 known from of old.' Gk γνωστὰ ἀπʼ ⸀αἰῶνος.
19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who are turning to God, Gk διὸ ἐγὼ κρίνω μὴ παρενοχλεῖν τοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐπιστρέφουσιν ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν,
20 but should write to them to abstain from what has been polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood. Gk ἀλλὰ ἐπιστεῖλαι αὐτοῖς τοῦ ⸀ἀπέχεσθαι τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων καὶ τῆς πορνείας καὶ ⸀τοῦ πνικτοῦ καὶ τοῦ αἵματος·
21 For from ancient generations Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, since he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath." Gk Μωϋσῆς γὰρ ἐκ γενεῶν ἀρχαίων κατὰ πόλιν τοὺς κηρύσσοντας αὐτὸν ἔχει ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς κατὰ πᾶν σάββατον ἀναγινωσκόμενος.
When Paul came to Jerusalem after his missionary journeys, he met James and the elders to report on his work among the Gentiles.
17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly. Gk Γενομένων δὲ ἡμῶν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἀσμένως ⸀ἀπεδέξαντο ἡμᾶς οἱ ἀδελφοί.
18 The next day Paul went with us to see James, and all the elders were present. Gk τῇ δὲ ἐπιούσῃ εἰσῄει ὁ Παῦλος σὺν ἡμῖν πρὸς Ἰάκωβον, πάντες τε παρεγένοντο οἱ πρεσβύτεροι.
19 After greeting them, he reported in detail everything God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. Gk καὶ ἀσπασάμενος αὐτοὺς ἐξηγεῖτο καθʼ ἓν ἕκαστον ὧν ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν διὰ τῆς διακονίας αὐτοῦ.
20 When they heard it, they praised God. Then they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have come to believe, and all of them are zealous for the law. Gk οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες ἐδόξαζον τὸν ⸀θεόν, ⸂εἶπόν τε⸃ αὐτῷ· Θεωρεῖς, ἀδελφέ, πόσαι μυριάδες εἰσὶν ⸂ἐν τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις⸃ τῶν πεπιστευκότων, καὶ πάντες ζηλωταὶ τοῦ νόμου ὑπάρχουσιν·
James wrote a letter to the twelve tribes in the diaspora, with practical teaching about faith and works, the power of the tongue and wisdom from God.
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Gk Ἰάκωβος θεοῦ καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοῦλος ταῖς δώδεκα φυλαῖς ταῖς ἐν τῇ διασπορᾷ χαίρειν.