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James the Just
c. 1 – c. 62 · b. Nazareth · Bishop of Jerusalem
BishopMartyr
Quick facts
- Born
- c. 1, Nazareth
- Died
- c. 62, Jerusalem
- See
- Jerusalem
- Region
- palestine
- Era
- apostolic father
- Significance
- Major Father(3/4)
- Also known as
- James, brother of the Lord · James of Jerusalem
Highlights
- Main contribution
- James held the Jerusalem church together at the most delicate point in its early life.
- Event connection
- Council of Jerusalem (50)
- Primary source
- Galatians 1:19; 2:9
Called 'brother of the Lord' in the New Testament (Galatians 1:19; Mark 6:3) — Catholic and Orthodox tradition reads this as kinsman or step-brother through Joseph's prior marriage; most Protestants read it as a literal sibling. Either way, leader of the Jerusalem church for some thirty years. Presided at the Apostolic Council (Acts 15); martyred c. 62 by stoning under high priest Ananus per Josephus and Hegesippus.
Why James the Just matters
James held the Jerusalem church together at the most delicate point in its early life. Paul calls him 'the Lord's brother,' and Acts presents him as a leading voice at the Council of Jerusalem, where the church decided that Gentile believers did not have to become Jews first. That decision changed the future of Christianity. Josephus records his death under the high priest Ananus in AD 62, which gives James a rare place where New Testament memory and non-Christian history meet.
Recommended reading near James the Just
A cover-visible starting point chosen from the curated reading path, either by this figure or by their era.
Chain to Jesus
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Common questions
- Who was James the Just?
- James the Just (1–62) — Called 'brother of the Lord' in the New Testament (Galatians 1:19; Mark 6:3) — Catholic and Orthodox tradition reads this as kinsman or step-brother through Joseph's prior marriage; most Protestants read it as a literal sibling. Either way, leader of the Jerusalem church for some thirty years. Presided at the Apostolic Council (Acts 15); martyred c. 62 by stoning under high priest Ananus per Josephus and Hegesippus.
- Who did James the Just meet?
- Paul of Tarsus.
- Who did James the Just oppose?
- Paul of Tarsus.
Sources for biography
- Galatians 1:19; 2:9 primary
- Acts of the Apostles 15 primary
- Josephus, Antiquities 20.9.1 primary
- Hegesippus in Eusebius HE 2.23 primary
documented connections(2)
- knew of Jesus of NazarethBrother of Jesus per Mark 6:3 and Galatians 1:19; received a resurrection appearance per 1 Cor 15:7.Gospel of Mark 6:3 · 1 Corinthians 15:7 · Galatians 1:19
- met (incoming) Paul of TarsusPaul met James in Jerusalem (Gal 1:19) and again at the Apostolic Council (Gal 2:9 / Acts 15).Galatians 1:19; 2:9 · Acts 15:13; 21:18
tradition connections(1)
- opposed (incoming) Paul of TarsusPaul was opposed not by James personally but by 'certain men from James' whose intervention triggered the Antioch incident (Gal 2:12). The direct opposition between Paul and James himself is inferred and disputed by scholars.Galatians 2:12
External resources
📖WikipediaFull encyclopedic biography with footnotes and further reading.🔗WikidataStructured data hub linking to library catalogues, archives, and academic sources worldwide.🏛️WikisourcePublic-domain primary texts and translations (search).⛪Catholic Encyclopedia1913 reference — long entries, useful for less-known figures (search for James the Just).