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James is clearly distinguished from [[James, son of Zebedee]], also called James the Greater, another one of the Twelve Apostles, but he is often identified with two other figures of the same name: |
James is clearly distinguished from [[James, son of Zebedee]], also called James the Greater, another one of the Twelve Apostles, but he is often identified with two other figures of the same name: |
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#[[James the Less]] (or "the Small"), who appears only in reference to his mother [[Mary of Clopas|Mary]] in {{bibleref|Mark|15:40}}, {{bibleref|Mark|16:1}}, {{bibleref|Matthew|27:56}} This identification was convenient as it juxtaposed the two Apostles called James as ''Jacobus Maior'' and ''Jacobus Minor''. However, it also made it imperative to identify [[Clopas]], the husband of Mary, with Alphaeus, the father of the Apostle James.<ref>Some avoided this problem by identifying Clopas as Mary's father and Alphaeus as Mary's husband.</ref> (For the argument on this, see [[Alphaeus]].) This identification accepted by early church leaders and, therefore, tradition knows him also as '''Saint James the Less'''. |
#[[James the Less]] (or "the Small"), who appears only in reference to his mother [[Mary of Clopas|Mary]] in {{bibleref|Mark|15:40}}, {{bibleref|Mark|16:1}}, {{bibleref|Matthew|27:56}} This identification was convenient as it juxtaposed the two Apostles called James as ''Jacobus Maior'' and ''Jacobus Minor''. However, it also made it imperative to identify [[Clopas]], the husband of Mary, with Alphaeus, the father of the Apostle James.<ref>Some avoided this problem by identifying Clopas as Mary's father and Alphaeus as Mary's husband.</ref> (For the argument on this, see [[Alphaeus]].) This identification accepted by early church leaders and, therefore, tradition knows him also as '''Saint James the Less'''. Some modern Biblical scholars find the identification unlikely, however.<ref>John P. Meier, ''[[A Marginal Jew]] volume 3'', p.201. "There are no grounds for identifying James of Alphaeus -- as church tradition has done -- with James the Less"</ref> |
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#[[James the Just|James the brother of Jesus]], who served for thirty years as head of the Church at Jerusalem and was killed in 62 AD.<ref>Josephus, ''Antiquities'', 2.9.1</ref> The identification with the brother of Jesus was supported by [[Jerome]] and therefore widely accepted in the [[Roman Catholic Church]],<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08280a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Saint James the Less]</ref> while [[Eastern Orthodox]] and [[Protestant]] churches tend to distinguish between "James son of Alphaeus" and "James the brother of the Lord". |
#[[James the Just|James the brother of Jesus]], who served for thirty years as head of the Church at Jerusalem and was killed in 62 AD.<ref>Josephus, ''Antiquities'', 2.9.1</ref> The identification with the brother of Jesus was supported by [[Jerome]] and therefore widely accepted in the [[Roman Catholic Church]],<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08280a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Saint James the Less]</ref> while [[Eastern Orthodox]] and [[Protestant]] churches tend to distinguish between "James son of Alphaeus" and "James the brother of the Lord". |
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Revision as of 10:35, 15 January 2008
James, son of Alphaeus | |
|---|---|
 Statue at the church of the Mafra Palace, Portugal | |
| Saint, Apostle | |
| Died | ~62 AD Jerusalem |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Feast | May 3 (Roman Catholic Church) |
| Attributes | carpenter's saw; fuller's club; book |
| Patronage | apothecaries; druggists; dying people; Frascati, Italy; fullers; hatmakers; hatters; milliners; Monterotondo, Italy; Nemi, Italy; pharmacists; Uruguay[1] |
James, son of Alphaeus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus of Nazareth. He is mentioned only briefly in the Synoptic Gospels. "The son of Alphaeus" appears in the slightly varying lists of the Twelve Apostles provided by the Synoptic Gospels, as well as in the Acts of the Apostles.[2] James is the son of Alphaeus and a possible brother of Levi the tax collector though they are never described as such.
James is clearly distinguished from James, son of Zebedee, also called James the Greater, another one of the Twelve Apostles, but he is often identified with two other figures of the same name:
- James the Less (or "the Small"), who appears only in reference to his mother Mary in Mark 15:40, Mark 16:1, Matthew 27:56 This identification was convenient as it juxtaposed the two Apostles called James as Jacobus Maior and Jacobus Minor. However, it also made it imperative to identify Clopas, the husband of Mary, with Alphaeus, the father of the Apostle James.[3] (For the argument on this, see Alphaeus.) This identification accepted by early church leaders and, therefore, tradition knows him also as Saint James the Less. Some modern Biblical scholars find the identification unlikely, however.[4]
- James the brother of Jesus, who served for thirty years as head of the Church at Jerusalem and was killed in 62 AD.[5] The identification with the brother of Jesus was supported by Jerome and therefore widely accepted in the Roman Catholic Church,[6] while Eastern Orthodox and Protestant churches tend to distinguish between "James son of Alphaeus" and "James the brother of the Lord".
Another tradition holds that James, though strongly clinging to Jewish law, was sentenced to death for having violated the Torah. This however, is highly unlikely as the Jewish authorities did not practice crucifixion, and unless a possible rebellion was at hand, the Roman authority would not involve themselves in Jewish religious affairs. He is reported to have been martyred by crucifixion at Ostrakine in Lower Egypt, where he was preaching the Gospel. A carpenter's saw is the symbol associated with him in Christian art because it is also noted that his body was later sawed to pieces [7]
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint James the Less.
- ^ http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintj10.htm
- ^ For the son of Alphaeus in the Synoptics, see Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, and Luke 1:13. In the Book of Acts, see Acts 1:13.
- ^ Some avoided this problem by identifying Clopas as Mary's father and Alphaeus as Mary's husband.
- ^ John P. Meier, A Marginal Jew volume 3, p.201. "There are no grounds for identifying James of Alphaeus -- as church tradition has done -- with James the Less"
- ^ Josephus, Antiquities, 2.9.1
- ^ Catholic Encyclopedia: Saint James the Less
- ^ James the Less on the Latter Rain page, retrieved March 7, 2007.