SPECIAL TOPIC: JAMES, THE HALF BROTHER OF JESUS

SPECIAL TOPIC: JAMES, THE HALF-BROTHER OF JESUS

A. He was called "James the Just" and later nicknamed "camel knees" because he constantly prayed on his knees (from Hegesippus, quoted by Eusebiusin Hist. Eccl. 2.23-24; 4-18).

B. James was not a believer until after the resurrection (cf. Mark 3:21; John 7:5). Jesus appeared to him personally after the resurrection (cf. 1 Cor. 15:7).

C. He was present in the upper room with the disciples (cf. Acts 1:14) and possibly also there when the Spirit came on Pentecost.

D. He was married (cf. 1 Cor. 9:5).

E. He is referred to by Paul as a pillar of the Jerusalem church (possibly an apostle, cf. Gal. 1:19; see Special Topic: Send [apostellō]) but was not one of the Twelve (cf. Gal. 2:9; Acts 12:17; 15:13ff; 21:18).

F. In Antiquities of the Jews, 20.9.1, Josephus says that he was stoned in a.d. 62 by orders from the Sadducees of the Sanhedrin, while another tradition (the second century writers, Clement of Alexandria or Hegesippus) says he was pushed off the wall of the Temple.

G. For many generations after Jesus' death a relative of Jesus was appointed leader of the church in Jerusalem.

H. He was author of the NT book of "James" and the brother of the author of the NT book of "Jude" (cf. Jude v. 1).