James is the given name for three prominent men in the New Testament. They include two of the twelve apostles and one of the brothers of Jesus. This has caused much confusion as to the identity of the Book of James. We will look at the three men named James and then consider the author of the book.

JAMES THE SON OF ZEBEDEE

The greatest number of Bible references (at least 21) refers to James the son of Zebedee and the brother of the Apostle John (Matthew 10:2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
See All...). He is almost certainly the older brother of John since he is mentioned first in 17 of the 18 verses where the two of them are listed together (the exception is in Luke 9:28And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
See All...). James worked with his brother John, with his father Zebedee (Matthew 4:21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
See All...), and with Simon Peter (Luke 5:10And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
See All...), in the fishing business in the Sea of Galilee (Mark 1:16Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
See All...). He had certainly been a follower of John the Baptist as were all the early disciples (Acts 1:21-22 [21] Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, [22] Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
See All...). He immediately answered the call to follow Christ when he received it (Matthew 4:18-22 [18] And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. [19] And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. [20] And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. [21] And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. [22] And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
See All...).

When Jesus prayed all night and chose twelve of His disciples to be apostles the next morning (Luke 15:12-16 [12] And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. [13] And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. [14] And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. [15] And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. [16] And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
See All...), James is the third man mentioned (after Peter and his brother Andrew and immediately before John). Jesus called James and his brother John Boanerges, which means the sons of thunder (Mark 3:17And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
See All...). Both brothers evidently had fiery tempers. They proved this when they sought permission to call fire down on a village of Samaritans who did not receive Jesus (Luke 9:51-56 [51] And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, [52] And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. [53] And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. [54] And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? [55] But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. [56] For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
See All...). They also had the audacity to approach Christ (with their mother – Matthew 20:20Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
See All...) and ask Him that they might sit on His right hand and left hand in His kingdom (Matthew 20:20-28 [20] Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. [21] And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. [22] But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. [23] And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. [24] And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. [25] But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. [26] But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; [27] And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: [28] Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
See All...; Mark 10:35-44 [35] And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. [36] And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? [37] They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. [38] But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? [39] And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: [40] But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. [41] And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. [42] But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. [43] But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: [44] And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
See All...).

Yet, this aggressive tendency did not keep Christ from drawing James into His inner circle. The inner circle of disciples included Peter, James, and John. Only those three went up with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
See All...; Mark 9:2And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
See All...; Luke 9:28And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
See All...). The same three were taken in to see the raising of the daughter of Jairus from the dead (Mark 5:37And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
See All...; Luke 8:51And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
See All...). In the Garden of Gethsemane, these three were taken further than the other disciples to pray with the Saviour (Mark 14:33And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
See All...). On a couple of occasions (Mark 1:29And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
See All...; Mark 13:3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
See All...), Andrew was included in a slightly larger inner circle.

But though he knew the intimacy of the Saviour, James was not destined to the visible recognition given to Peter and John. His life for His Lord was to be a short one. In Acts 12:1-2 [1] Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. [2] And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
See All..., probably about a dozen years after the death of Christ on the cross, James suffered as the first of the apostles to die of martyrdom. Herod had James executed with the sword. As such, he entered into the presence of God sooner than all the rest.

JAMES THE SON OF ALPHAEUS

Though mentioned ten times in the New Testament, we know very little about this James. His father was Alphaeus (Matthew 10:3Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
See All...) and his mother was evidently Mary (Mark 16:1And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
See All...). He is called “James the less” (Mark 15:40There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
See All...). This could mean that he was either younger or shorter than the other apostle by that name.

James the son of Alphaeus is one of the unknown apostles. We know nothing of his particular character and none of his individual actions are recorded in scripture. He is mentioned as being in the upper room as the disciples pray for the promise of the Father (Acts 1:12-13 [12] Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. [13] And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
See All...). Then, he disappears from the divine record. Some have tried to identify him as the same James who is the brother of Jesus. But, since the brethren of Christ did not believe in Him during His lifetime (John 7:5For neither did his brethren believe in him.
See All...), this is impossible. Yet, his disappearance from scripture does not mean that he accomplished nothing further for God. Several of the apostles are not mentioned by name after Acts 1:13And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
See All....

JAMES THE BROTHER OF OUR LORD

This James was not one of the twelve, but was a brother of Jesus in the flesh (being born of Mary and Joseph). He is one of four brothers of Jesus mentioned by the Jews in Nazareth (Matthew 13:54-55 [54] And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? [55] Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
See All...; Mark 6:3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
See All...). These later sons of Mary explain why Jesus was called her “firstborn son” (Matthew 1:25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
See All...; Luke 2:7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
See All...). The attempts by some to make these cousins and not brothers of Jesus are ill-advised attempts to deny scripture.

James would be included in the brethren of Christ who did not believe in Him during His earthly ministry (John 7:5For neither did his brethren believe in him.
See All...). However, something happened around the time of the Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. For one thing, Jesus made a special appearance to James after His resurrection (1Corinthians 15:7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
See All...). Then, we see that Mary, the mother of Jesus, and “his brethren” prayed in the upper room before the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:14These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
See All...). James is now a believer and a disciple.

We do not read about James again until after the death of James the son of Zebedee in Acts, chapter twelve. When the angel of the Lord released Peter from prison, he interrupted the prayer meeting being held for him and told them, “Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren” (Acts 12:17But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
See All...). By this time, James had a prominent place in the church at Jerusalem.

Paul confirms that this same James was the brother of Jesus. After his salvation, he went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and while there, saw also “James the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:18-19 [18] Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. [19] But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
See All...). In this same passage, James is now considered one of the apostles. In the council of Jerusalem in Acts 15, James gave the conclusion of the conference (Acts 15:13-21 [13] And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: [14] Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. [15] And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, [16] After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: [17] That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. [18] Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. [19] Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: [20] But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. [21] For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
See All...). We see his authority in the statement, “Wherefore my sentence is” (Acts 15:19Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
See All...). James, so to speak, cast the deciding vote.

James continued to be a force in the church at Jerusalem and by all accounts would be considered its senior pastor. Paul recognized James, along with Cephas (Peter) and John, to be “pillars” in the church (Galatians 2:9And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
See All...). He also speaks of receiving certain men who “came from James” (Galatians 2:12For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
See All...).

The last personal reference to James comes late in the book of Acts when Paul came to Jerusalem. Paul was received of James who encouraged him to take a vow with the Jews to demonstrate his continuation in Jewish practices (Acts 21:18-26 [18] And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. [19] And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. [20] And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: [21] And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. [22] What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. [23] Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; [24] Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. [25] As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. [26] Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
See All...). This ended in disaster for Paul, but is shows the character of the Christianity of James. James never left his Jewish practices. Traditionally, he is known for his extreme strictness to the law and is called James the Just. God truly used him in the church at Jerusalem.

THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK OF JAMES

The question arises, "Who is the author of the book of James?" It begins simply, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” A “servant of God” could be any of the men known as James. Here are several possible solutions that have been given:

• James, the son of Zebedee
• James, the son of Alphaeus
• James, the brother of Jesus (the most popular choice)
• Both James the son of Alphaeus and the brother of Jesus (by those who think they are the same)
• An unknown James
• Someone who wanted us to think it was written by James (by those who deny scriptural authority)

How are we to make our way through so many choices? In truth, an absolute answer is impossible to determine. Most lean toward James the brother of Jesus. He is prominent in the early church. He is very Jewish in his Christianity and James is the most Jewish of all the epistles. All of this points to James the Lord’s brother. But what about the others?

James, the son of Alphaeus, has nothing else written about him. It is just difficult to believe that he would be the author of the book of James. Yet, the book of Jude is written by “the brother of James” (Jude 1:1Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
See All...). Jude is another form of Judas. And, not only does James the brother of Jesus have a brother named Judas (Matthew 13:55Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
See All...), so does James the son of Alphaeus (Luke 6:16And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
See All...).

James, the son of Zebedee, is an interesting possibility. He was in the inner circle. The others in the inner circle, Peter and John, both wrote books in the New Testament. Though he died very early, the book of James was obviously written quite early. He is usually opposed as a choice because of his early death.

Some deny him as a possibility because he writes to the “twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
See All...); therefore, he must have died too early for believers to be all over. But what happened at Pentecost? Jews came in from all over the world and heard of Jesus in their own tongues. They went back to their own lands, but they believed in Jesus. They were all over. And, as concerning his early death, by most counts he was killed about twelve years after the death of Jesus. Was this not long enough to write a book to the Jews that were scattered abroad? Certainly, this James must be included in the short list.

In conclusion, either James the brother of Jesus or James the son of Zebedee could have written the book of James. Even James the son of Alphaeus cannot be totally discounted. Perhaps, as with other books in the Bible, God did not deem it important that we know for certain the human author. We need only to be certain that the words written are the words of God.