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
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?
The James referenced in the passage above is called ... the Lord's brother.
This wouldn't have been any of the original twelve Apostles ... because scriptures tells us that Jesus' brothers did not believe on Him.John 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.It is inferred that James, the brother of the Lord ... became a believer ... and, from the Galatians passage above, ... an Apostle, ... after he was confronted by the resurrected Christ.1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;Actually, the passage above clears up a few things here ...
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
The James which this passage speaks of ... was not one of the original twelve ... for he saw the resurrected Christ after the twelve did.
Also ... that there were other Apostles ... not of the twelve ... which saw the risen Christ around the same time this James did.