James Alphaeus
- James Collazo
- May 23, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 12
Introduction
James, son of Alphaeus (Hebrew: Yaakov ben Halfai / Greek: Iakōbos ho tou Halphaiou), was born around AD 3 in the Roman district of Galilee. The New Testament only mentions him four times, always in conjunction with the other eleven apostles (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). James may have been a relative of Matthew from Capernaum, also known as Levi, son of Alphaeus, or it could be a coincidence that their fathers shared the same name (Mark 2:14). Some sources refer to John Mark as calling him "the younger one" (Mark 15:40; Greek: Iakōbos tou mikrou, G2385 / G3398). If that is correct, Mary was the mother of James and his brother Joseph (Matt. 27:56). The Greek phrase tou mikros can mean "the smaller," "the lesser," or "the younger." Most likely, though, "James the younger" refers to James of Jerusalem, Jesus' brother, because the gospels list him alongside three brothers—Joseph, Simon, and Jude—each with the same name (Matt. 13:55–56; Mark 6:3).
Patristic Identification of James
In the second century, the Greek bishop Papias of Hierapolis (AD 70–163) wrote:
Mary, the mother of the Lord; Mary, the wife of Cleopas [cf. John 19:25; Luke 24:18] or Alphaeus, who was the mother of James the bishop and apostle, and of Simon and Thaddeus, and one Joseph; Mary Salome, wife of Zebedee, mother of John the evangelist and James; Mary Magdalene. These four are found in the gospel. James, Jude, and Joseph were the sons of an aunt of the Lord. James and John were also sons of another of the Lord's aunts. Mary, mother of James the Less, and Joseph, wife of Alphaeus, was Mary's sister, the Lord's mother, whom John named Cleopas, either from her father's family, the clan's lineage, or for some other reason. Mary Salome is called Salome either by her husband or her village. Some affirm that she is the same as Mary of Cleopas because she had two husbands (Exposition of the Oracles of the Lord 10).
A quick look at Papias' interpretation shows that he was guessing about the identity of James the Less. Although Papias lived in the late first century, he did not personally know any of Jesus' apostles. In this passage, he is trying to reconcile different New Testament names without firsthand knowledge of them. He does not try to hide this fact, mainly because he used the word "either" twice.
Jerome of Stridon (c. 347–419) and Gennadius of Massilia (c. AD 430–500) wrote, "James, who is called the brother of the Lord, surnamed the Just, the son of Joseph by another wife, as some think, but, as appears to me, the son of Mary sister of the mother of our Lord of whom John makes mention in his book" (Lives of Illustrious Men 2). This statement was also conjecture, meaning Jerome did not write from firsthand knowledge. He made a mistake by confusing the martyrdom of James, son of Zebedee, with that of James of Jerusalem, since each man died at different times, in separate ways, and under different authorities.
Conclusion
James, son of Alphaeus, also known as James the Less, remains enigmatic among Jesus' twelve apostles. The New Testament mentions him only in the apostolic lists, providing minimal personal details. This scarcity of information has led to various scholarly debates regarding his exact identity and role. Some traditions suggest he might be the brother of Matthew, since both their fathers were named Alphaeus; however, this connection remains speculative. Despite the limited biblical references, James' inclusion among the apostles underscores his significance in the early Christian community. His story serves as a reminder that many who contributed to the foundation of the faith did so without widespread recognition, highlighting the diverse and humble origins of the church's earliest leaders.
Prayer
Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of heaven and earth. You gave your apostle James Alphaeus faith and courage to follow Christ. Strengthen us to serve humbly, evangelize boldly, and remain steadfastly faithful through every hardship. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Bibliography
Jerome and Gennadius. "Lives of Illustrious Men." Translated by Ernest Cushing Richardson. In Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 3. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1892.
Nelson, Ryan. "Who Was James, Son of Alphaeus? The Beginner's Guide." OverviewBible. September 11, 2019. [link].
Papias. "The Fragments of Papias." In Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1885.