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James, son of Alphaeus

the other James of the Twelve

Who was James, son of Alphaeus?

The name
“James” comes from “Iakobos,” the Greek form of the name of the patriarch Jacob. Benedict XVI, general audience of June 21, 2006
Also called
James the Less (a traditional identification, not certain) Mark 15:40; Benedict XVI, general audience of June 28, 2006
Feast day
May 3: Saints Philip and James, Apostles
James, son of Alphaeus, an artistic recreation

What the Bible says

Matthew 10:3; Acts 1:13

James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus,

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of James, son of Alphaeus

  1. Before Jesus. He was the son of a man named Alphaeus. The Bible tells nothing about his life before Jesus. Matthew 10:3
  2. With Jesus. Jesus spent a whole night praying on a mountain. At dawn he chose twelve, and James was one of them. Luke 6:12-15
  3. With Jesus. Jesus chose them to be with him and to send them out to preach. Mark 3:14
  4. With Jesus. Jesus sent the Twelve out two by two. They preached and healed many sick people. Mark 6:7, 12-13
  5. With Jesus. On the night of the arrest, all the disciples left Jesus alone and ran away. Matthew 26:56
  6. Afterward. The eleven disciples saw the risen Jesus on a mountain in Galilee. He sent them to all nations. Matthew 28:16-19
  7. Afterward. After the Ascension, he prayed in Jerusalem with the apostles, with Mary, and with some women. Acts 1:13-14
  8. Afterward. According to Tradition: If he is the same man as “the brother of the Lord,” he was stoned to death in Jerusalem around the year 62. Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 20, 201, quoted by Benedict XVI, general audience of June 28, 2006

Words of James, son of Alphaeus

The Gospels do not record a single word of his.

Not to be confused with

In the Church today

Feast day: May 3, Saints Philip and James, Apostles (feast). General Roman Calendar

James, son of Alphaeus in art

Saint James the Less, by El Greco
Saint James the Less, El Greco, h. 1610-1614. El Greco Museum, Toledo
Saint James the Less, by Georges de La Tour
Saint James the Less, Georges de La Tour, h. 1620. Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, Albi

What people ask

Why is he called “James the Less”?

To tell him apart from the other apostle James, the son of Zebedee, who is called “the Greater.” These names do not measure their holiness. Benedict XVI, general audience of June 21, 2006

Is he the same man as “James, the brother of the Lord”?

We do not know for certain. Many believe so, but scholars debate it. Galatians 1:19; Benedict XVI, general audience of June 28, 2006

Did Jesus have brothers?

The Bible calls James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas brothers of Jesus. The Church teaches that they were close relatives. Matthew 13:55; Catechism 500

Did he write the Letter of James?

It is believed to have been written by the James who led the Church in Jerusalem. Whether that James is the son of Alphaeus is debated. James 1:1; Benedict XVI, general audience of June 28, 2006

What does the Bible tell about him?

Only his name, in the four lists of the Twelve. No story in the Gospels speaks about him alone. Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13; Benedict XVI, general audience of June 28, 2006

Little known In the four lists of the Twelve, he is always in the same place: ninth. Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13 Mark says that Levi, the…

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