James son of Alphaeus
- James Collazo
- May 23, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 19
Introduction
James son of Alphaeus (Hebrew: Yaakov ben Halfai—Greek: Iakōbos ho tou Halphaiou) was born circa AD 15 (3775–3776 in the Hebrew calendar) in the Roman district of Galilee. The writers of the New Testament only mentioned him four times, always listed with Jesus' eleven other apostles (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). James may have been a brother or relative of Matthew of Capernaum, who was also called Levi son of Alphaeus, or coincidentally just had fathers with the same first name (Mark 2:14). He may have been the same James that John Mark called "the younger one" (Mark 15:40; Greek: Iakōbos tou mikrou). If so, Mary was the mother of James and his brother Joseph (Matt. 27:56). The Greek phrase tou mikros can also mean "the less" or "the lesser." However, "James the younger" probably referred to Jesus' brother, James of Jerusalem, since the gospels list him with three brothers of his—Joseph, Simon, and Jude—with the same names (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 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 of Cleopas, either from her father, the clan's family, 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).
Just glancing at Papias' interpretation makes it clear that he was also guessing about James the Less' identity. While it may be tempting to run with his statement because Papias lived in the late first century, he did not know Jesus' apostles. His writing here is an apologetic effort to reconcile various New Testament names without firsthand knowledge. Papias did not attempt to hide this fact, especially when using the word "either" twice.
Jerome of Stridon (c. 347–c. 419) and Gennadius of Massilia (died c. 496) 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 was not writing from firsthand knowledge. Jerome erred when he confused the martyrdom of James son of Zebedee with James of Jerusalem, as each man died at different times, by other methods, and by various authorities.
Conclusion
James son of Alphaeus, often called 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, given that both their fathers were named Alphaeus, though 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 the universe; you gave your apostle James the grace and strength to witness Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. Grant that we, mindful of his victory of faith, may glorify in life and death the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Bibliography
Book of Common Prayer. Huntington Beach, CA: Anglican Liturgy Press, 2019.
Jerome and Gennadius. "Lives of Illustrious Men." Translated by Ernest Cushing Richardson. In Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. 2, Vol. 3: Theodoret, Jerome, Gennadius, and Rufinus: Historical Writings. 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: The Apostolic Fathers, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1885.
