Matthew 13:55
55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
I didn't think I had to hold you hand by referencing Joseph as Jesus' earthly father.
I like your post #2061 I just don't like the only two conclusions you come to.
Now, there are two competing theories on the rest of the references.
#1. James the Lesser, son of Alphaeus, brother of Judas, brother of Joses is a relative of Jesus's earthly family and is in this way referred to as a "brother" of Jesus. He also has a mother named Mary, but not the same mother as Jesus.
#2. James, a son of Joseph and Mary, is a half-blood brother of Jesus. He is mentioned in a list of Jesus's "brothers" early in his ministry and then disappears from the narrative until sometime around Penetecost and the death of James the Greater.
The first Bishop of Jerusalem was James the brother of Jesus. This is the same James referenced in Matthew Matthew 13:55.
When Luke narrated the story of the Jerusalem council, it was "James" who made the final ruling on the situation with Gentile believers. (Acts 15:13-21) Although it was not made explicit in Acts who this James was, Paul's epistle to the Galatians provide the clarification. This is how James was introduced in Galatians:
Galatians 1:18
Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James, the Lord's brother.
Fair enough. Thank you for responding.
The first Bishop of Jerusalem was James the brother of Jesus. This is the same James referenced in Matthew Matthew 13:55.
Is there Scripture for this reference to James being a "bishop of Jerusalem"? Or are you relying on some external tradition?
When Luke narrated the story of the Jerusalem council, it was "James" who made the final ruling on the situation with Gentile believers. (Acts 15:13-21) Although it was not made explicit in Acts who this James was, Paul's epistle to the Galatians provide the clarification. This is how James was introduced in Galatians:
Galatians 1:18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James, the Lord's brother.
So you agree that this new James appears out of nowhere in the narrative in Acts and his coming is not mentioned, but rather must be intuited?
How can one be expected to read Acts and know the person referred to as "James" suddenly changes? Is this some extra-Biblical tradition that explains who this actor is?
Why would you assume that a person called an "apostle" named James in Galatians is not, in fact, the apostle named James referenced in Acts 1 and in the listing of the apostles in the synoptic Gospels?
Where is this new, third James elevated to apostolic status and where can we find it in Scripture? How many other men were made apostles without any mention in Scripture and what were there names?
Why is it not a reasonable interpretation that James in Acts 15 is the same James in Acts 1? That the original apostle James, who had brothers named Joses and Judas; and the "brother of the Lord" James, who had brothers Joses and Judas are the same person?
SD