The name "James" is the English equivalent of the Greek Iakobus,
thus is a variation of "Jacob."
The original "Jacob" of the Old Testament was the grandson of Abraham
(Gen 25:19--36:43)
Jacob's twelve sons (Gen 29:31--30:24; 35:16-18) became the patriarchs of the
"Twelve Tribes of Israel."
Thus, you can imagine how popular this name was among Jews of every generation.
There are several men named "Jacob/James" in the New Testament:
James, the son of Zebedee, the brother of John - one of the first four
disciples of Jesus (Mark 1:19-20; Matt 4:21-22); one of the twelve "apostles"
(Mark 3:17; Matt 10:2); actually one of the three or four closest to Jesus throughout
his public ministry (Mark 5:37; 9:2; 13:3; 14:33; & pars.); killed by King
Herod Agrippa I around 40 CE (Acts 12:2);
James, the son of Alphaeus - another one of the twelve apostles (Mark
3:18 & par.), but little is known about him;
James, the father of Judas - the father of yet another of the twelve
apostles, according to Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13).
James, the "brother" of the Lord - listed first among the
four "brothers" of Jesus mentioned in the Synoptic Gospels (Mark 6:3;
Matt 13:55; cf. Mark ; Matt 12:46-50); he later becomes the leader of the early
Christian community in Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; 1Cor 15:7; Gal 1:19;
2:9); Paul calls him an "apostle" (Gal 1:19), although there are some
tensions between Paul and some "people from James" who insist that non-Jewish
Christians must be circumcised (Gal 2:12).
The author of the epistle simply identifies himself as "James, a
servant/slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Christian tradition and biblical scholars generally agree that the author is
the fourth James listed above.
Authenticity and Date?
This issue is disputed among scholars and difficult to determine. Some scholars
maintain that it was actually written by James the Just, the brother of the Lord.
Others argue that is is pseudepigraphic, written sometime later in the first century
by a Jewish-Christian who wanted to honor and continute the legacy James, the leader
of the early Jewish-Christian church in Jerusalem.
[list of reasons, pro & con, will be added some day]
Why do many people think there is a contradiction between the teachings of James
and Paul on faith and works? Why is this only an apparent contradiction, a difference
in emphasis, but not really a contradition? How are the differences to be understood
properly?
What does James say about the power of the tongue, the role of speech in our
lives, and the importance of avoiding slander?
What does James say about riches and wealth? What does he say about rich
people? What does he say directly to rich people?
What is the relationship between sickness and sin, according to James 5:13-20.
How are the sacraments of penance/reconciliation and anointing of the sick as
practiced in the Churches today similar to or different from the early Christian
practices reflected in James 5:13-18?
