James the Just, Brother of Jesus

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James the Just, Brother of Jesus 2/5/2017 Jesus of Nazareth: Jesus in historical context James the Just, Brother of Jesus Dr. Keith Lloyd Kent State University Stark [email protected] This presentation series is dedicated to the memory of Jim Kettlewell, a lifelong learner and an inspiring friend. https://jamestabor.com/category/james-brother-of-jesus/ The New Testament describes James, Joseph James the Just (Joses) Judas (Jude) as brothers of Jesus. (Greek: ἀδελφοὶ, translit. adelphoi, lit. 'brothers'). Also mentioned but not named, are sisters of Jesus. Wiki “Brothers of Jesus” – Though not a follower of Jesus during his ministry, James was at the ascension and is credited in the book of Acts in the New Testament as being the first leader of the Jerusalem church. – Sources beyond the New Testament confirm his leadership. – The first historical mention of Jesus of Nazareth outside the New Testament actually refers to the martyrdom of James, “brother of Jesus.” – “the overwhelming consensus is that the traditions contained within the epistle [of James] can confidently be traced to James the Just.” (Aslan 204). – James and his epistle are the most substantial link we have to the historical Jesus. 1 2/5/2017 Historical approaches to scripture – Deep study of historical context to mentally recreate the world of the text through focusing on – Outside verification – Josephus; Roman records, etc. – Number of sources – all four gospels = more evidenced – Lack of fit with tradition or overall message – “I do not bring peace but a sword” – Earliest documents – Mark, Q, Paul’s letters Who was Jesus of Nazareth? Series: What can we The Two Previous Sundays: learn about the – What does it mean that the early church referred to Jesus as Jesus of Nazareth? historical Jesus – Why did he forbid others to call him “Messiah” or “King”? from the period – What did it mean in his time to call oneself “Messiah” or ‘King”? history and his – Why did he refer to himself until his trial as “the Son of Man?” use of rhetoric? How can this – What was the role and function of his miracles? enhance our – How were his words and actions related the powers of his day? understanding of This Week Jesus and the – How is this related to the Early Church leadership as focused in James, his brother? Early Church? 2 2/5/2017 Leader of the Early Church: James, brother of Jesus Hulme, David. “The Apostles, Part 12: James, Brother of Jesus” Religion and Spirituality. Vision. Fall 2008. http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/religion-and-spirituality-apostles-of-jesus-james-brother-of-jesus/6812.aspx – … in the early days of the Church, about 44 C.E., King Herod Agrippa killed the apostle James, the son of Zebedee and one of the original 12 (see Acts 12:1–2). – Thus it must be another James to whom Luke refers in verse 17 of the same chapter, where he records that Peter sent news of his release from prison to someone named James. – Though as many as seven different people by the same name have been identified in the New Testament, it is James the brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19) who is the most likely in this case. Paul in Galatians 1 Hulme, David. “The Apostles, Part 12: James, Brother of Jesus” Religion and Spirituality. Vision. Fall 2008. http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/religion-and-spirituality-apostles-of-jesus-james-brother-of-jesus/6812.aspx – 11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. – 13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. – 18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas[b] and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles— only James, the Lord’s brother. 3 2/5/2017 James, leader of the early church and author of the book of James Hulme, David. “The Apostles, Part 12: James, Brother of Jesus” Religion and Spirituality. Vision. Fall 2008. http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/religion-and-spirituality-apostles-of-jesus-james-brother-of-jesus/6812.aspx Note, some believe James was a disciple: In two small but potentially important works of Hippolytus, On the Twelve Apostles of – … Jesus’ brothers were present with the Christ and On the Seventy Apostles of Christ, he relates the following: “And James the apostles in Jerusalem as the Church began son of Alphaeus, when preaching in Jerusalem was stoned to death by the Jews, after Jesus’ departure (Acts 1:14). This and was buried there beside the temple.” James, the brother of Jesus was also stoned same James appears later in Acts as the to death by the Jews. With this testimony of Hippolytus there is good reason to assume leader of the church at Jerusalem, so it’s that James the son of Alphaeus is the same person as James the brother of Jesus. (James, son of Alphaeus, one of the Twelve reasonable to suggest that he is the author Apostles of Jesus, and the son of Mary Cleophas. (Thus Jesus’ cousin and one of of the New Testament book by that name. the twelve; but this doesn’t fit with other accounts.) -- Wiki “James, Brother of Jesus.” According to Acts 1: Jesus’ Ascension Paul: Then he [Jesus] appeared to – 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid James, then him from their sight. – 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly to all the two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, apostles. “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been Last of all, as taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen to one him go into heaven.” untimely born, – 12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of [c] 13 he appeared Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, also to me. James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James (1Corinthians son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all 15:7) joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. 4 2/5/2017 James as Leader of the Church – As leader in Jerusalem, James spoke with authority to end an internal Church controversy over the circumcision of gentile believers (Acts 15:13–19; see also 21:18). – And according to the first-century Jewish historian Josephus, the Jewish religious hierarchy put to death by stoning “the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James” (Antiquities of the Jews 20.200). This would have been around 62 C.E. Hulme, David. “The Apostles, Part 12: James, Brother of Jesus” Religion and Spirituality. Vision. Fall 2008. http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/religion-and-spirituality-apostles-of-jesus-james-brother-of-jesus/6812.aspx – 15 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, Acts 13 you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3 … 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the James apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. speaks – 5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of with Moses.” – 6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, authority Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” 5 2/5/2017 – 12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
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