Difference between revisions of "St. James the Less"
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| − | '''James the Less''' | + | '''James the Less''', called ''Saint James the Less'' in [[Catholic]] and [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] traditions, is also called '''James the Lesser''' <ref>[http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/mark15.html#40 Mark 15:40]</ref>. He was the brother of Joses and the son of a woman named Mary, the wife of Cleophas or Cleopas or Clopas<ref>Compare [http://biblehub.com/multi/john/19-25.htm multiple versions of John 19:25 Greek '''Κλωπά'''] and [http://biblehub.com/multi/luke/24-18.htm multiple versions of Luke 24:18 Greek '''Κλεόπας''']</ref>, who, when Jesus was in Galilee, followed him.<ref>[http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/mat27.html#56 Matthew 27:56]; [http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/mark16.html#1 Mark 16:1]; [http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/luke24.html#10 Luke 24:10]; [http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/john19.html#25 John 19:25]. </ref> Joses was also called a brother of Jesus.<ref>[http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/mat13.html#55 Matthew 13:55]; [http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/mark6.html#3 Mark 6:3]; see also [http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/mark15.html#47 Mark 15:47].</ref> |
| + | == Name == | ||
| + | The name James is from the [[Hebrew]]: '''יעקב''' ''Ya'aqov'', Jacob, "holder of the heel" (see Genesis 25:26). There are five biblical men named James, and James the Lesser is sometimes identified with James, son of Alphaeus, one of the Twelve Apostles, and is also sometimes identified with [[Saint]] [[James the Just]], though the evidence of this identification is lacking. | ||
| − | + | == Catholic tradition == | |
| + | In the Catholic tradition he was the son of Alpheus of Cleophas and Mary, who was either a sister or a close relative of the Blessed [[Virgin Mary]] (for that reason, according to Jewish custom, he was sometimes called the brother of the Lord). In the Protestant tradition, he is the younger brother of Jesus born of Mary and Joseph. He wrote the epistle which bears his name. James was a witness of the Resurrection of [[Christ]]; he is also a "pillar" of the Catholic Church, whom [[Paul|St. Paul]] consulted about the Gospel.<ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=356 St. James the Lesser]</ref> He was the first Bishop of [[Jerusalem]]. | ||
| + | == Epistle == | ||
| − | James | + | Author of the [[Epistle of James|first Catholic Epistle]], his discourse is an exhortation to practical Christian living. His most famous teaching, and most controversial, is found in James 2:14-26{{cquote|What ''doth it'' profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ''ye'' warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what ''doth it'' profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was call the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and '''not by [[Sola fide|faith only]]'''. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent ''them'' out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. <br>—KJV text (<small>''boldface emphasis added''</small>)}} |
| + | [[Martin Luther]] wrote in his 1599 preface that the St. James Epistle is really "''an epistle of straw''" compared to St. John's Gospel and his first epistle, to St. Paul's epistles, especially Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians, and to St. Peter's first epistle<ref>[http://twelvetribes.org/articles/epistle-of-straw#footnote1_dirj6jr Epistle of Straw? - Twelve Tribes (twelvetribes.org)]</ref>, because of its insistence on works as a requirement for justification to life and its rejection of faith alone without works (''sola fide''). He afterward removed the "straw" statement, insisting that the epistle was good<ref>[http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/2007/04/03/six-points-on-luthers-epistle-of-straw/ Six Points on Luther's "Epistle of Straw", James Swan - Alpha & Omega Ministries (aomin.org)].</ref> | ||
| + | ==His place in history== | ||
| + | |||
| + | James had a prominent place in the early church and Christian history: | ||
* He was one of select individuals Christ appeared to after his resurrection (I Cor 15:7) | * He was one of select individuals Christ appeared to after his resurrection (I Cor 15:7) | ||
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* James was a leader in the important [[Council of Jerusalem]] (Act 15:13) | * James was a leader in the important [[Council of Jerusalem]] (Act 15:13) | ||
* Jude could identify himself simply as "a brother of James" (Jude 1:1), so well known was James. | * Jude could identify himself simply as "a brother of James" (Jude 1:1), so well known was James. | ||
| − | * Josephus mentions James' death at the hands of the Jewish authorities. | + | * [[Josephus]] mentions James' death at the hands of the Jewish authorities (''Antiquities'' 20.9.1). |
| − | + | [[Hegesippus]], in his first of five books of Commentaries on the Acts of the Church (c. A.D. 170), wrote of James: | |
| + | ''James, the Lord's brother, succeeds to the government of the Church, in conjunction with the apostles. He has been universally called the Just, from the days of the Lord down to the present time. For many bore the name of James; but this one was holy from his mother's womb. He drank no wine or other intoxicating liquor, nor did he eat flesh; no razor came upon his head; he did not anoint himself with oil, nor make use of the bath. He alone was permitted to enter the holy place: for he did not wear any woolen garment, but fine linen only. He alone, I say, was wont to go into the temple: and he used to be found kneeling on his knees, begging forgiveness for the people-so that the skin of his knees became horny like that of a camel's, by reason of his constantly bending the knee in adoration to God, and begging forgiveness for the people. Therefore, in consequence of his pre-eminent justice, he was called the Just, and Oblias, which signifies in Greek Defence of the People, and Justice, in accordance with what the prophets declare concerning him.'' <ref>Peter Kirby, [http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/hegesippus.html Hegesippus fragments in Eusebius]</ref> | ||
| − | '''Feastday | + | == Martyrdom and feastday == |
| + | James was [[martyr]]ed in 62 A.D. His '''Feastday''' is May 3 (traditionally the day he was martyred). | ||
| − | + | == [[Intercession of the saints|Prayer to Saint James the Lesser]] == | |
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| − | == Prayer to Saint James the Lesser == | + | |
O Glorious Saint James, you were our Lord's cousin and at the same time his friend and follower. You wrote that every good and perfect gift comes to us from the Father of lights, and that faith without works is useless. You preached the divinity of Jesus until your death as a martyr. Obtain for us from the Father of lights the great gift of a living faith in Jesus' divinity which will inspire us to unstinting labor in the service of God and our fellow human beings and enable us to reach our heavenly destiny. Amen. | O Glorious Saint James, you were our Lord's cousin and at the same time his friend and follower. You wrote that every good and perfect gift comes to us from the Father of lights, and that faith without works is useless. You preached the divinity of Jesus until your death as a martyr. Obtain for us from the Father of lights the great gift of a living faith in Jesus' divinity which will inspire us to unstinting labor in the service of God and our fellow human beings and enable us to reach our heavenly destiny. Amen. | ||
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{{DEFAULTSORT:James the Less, St.}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:James the Less, St.}} | ||
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
| − | *[[The Twelve Apostles]] | + | *[[Twelve Apostles|The Twelve Apostles]] |
| − | *[[Jude the Apostle]] Brother of James the Lesser. | + | *[[Jude the Apostle]], Brother of James the Lesser. |
| + | *[[Antinomianism]] | ||
| + | *[[Licentiousness]] | ||
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| + | == References == | ||
| + | {{reflist}} | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
| + | *[http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/james.html Christian Answers Network ''James''] accessed June 23, 2007 | ||
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08280a.htm St. James the Less] Catholic Encyclopedia. | *[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08280a.htm St. James the Less] Catholic Encyclopedia. | ||
*[http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintj10.htm James the Lesser] | *[http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintj10.htm James the Lesser] | ||
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| + | [[Category:Biblical Persons]] | ||
[[Category:Saints]] | [[Category:Saints]] | ||
[[Category:12 Disciples]] | [[Category:12 Disciples]] | ||
[[Category:Martyrs]] | [[Category:Martyrs]] | ||
Revision as of 04:26, June 20, 2019
James the Less, called Saint James the Less in Catholic and Orthodox traditions, is also called James the Lesser [1]. He was the brother of Joses and the son of a woman named Mary, the wife of Cleophas or Cleopas or Clopas[2], who, when Jesus was in Galilee, followed him.[3] Joses was also called a brother of Jesus.[4]
Contents
Name
The name James is from the Hebrew: יעקב Ya'aqov, Jacob, "holder of the heel" (see Genesis 25:26). There are five biblical men named James, and James the Lesser is sometimes identified with James, son of Alphaeus, one of the Twelve Apostles, and is also sometimes identified with Saint James the Just, though the evidence of this identification is lacking.
Catholic tradition
In the Catholic tradition he was the son of Alpheus of Cleophas and Mary, who was either a sister or a close relative of the Blessed Virgin Mary (for that reason, according to Jewish custom, he was sometimes called the brother of the Lord). In the Protestant tradition, he is the younger brother of Jesus born of Mary and Joseph. He wrote the epistle which bears his name. James was a witness of the Resurrection of Christ; he is also a "pillar" of the Catholic Church, whom St. Paul consulted about the Gospel.[5] He was the first Bishop of Jerusalem.
Epistle
Author of the first Catholic Epistle, his discourse is an exhortation to practical Christian living. His most famous teaching, and most controversial, is found in James 2:14-26
| “ | What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was call the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. —KJV text (boldface emphasis added) |
” |
Martin Luther wrote in his 1599 preface that the St. James Epistle is really "an epistle of straw" compared to St. John's Gospel and his first epistle, to St. Paul's epistles, especially Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians, and to St. Peter's first epistle[6], because of its insistence on works as a requirement for justification to life and its rejection of faith alone without works (sola fide). He afterward removed the "straw" statement, insisting that the epistle was good[7]
His place in history
James had a prominent place in the early church and Christian history:
- He was one of select individuals Christ appeared to after his resurrection (I Cor 15:7)
- Paul called him a 'pillar' of the church (Gal 2:9)
- Paul, on his first post conversion visit to Jerusalem, saw James (Gal 1:19)
- Paul did the same on his last visit (Acts 21:18)
- When Peter was rescued from prison, he told his friends to tell James (Act 12:17)
- James was a leader in the important Council of Jerusalem (Act 15:13)
- Jude could identify himself simply as "a brother of James" (Jude 1:1), so well known was James.
- Josephus mentions James' death at the hands of the Jewish authorities (Antiquities 20.9.1).
Hegesippus, in his first of five books of Commentaries on the Acts of the Church (c. A.D. 170), wrote of James:
James, the Lord's brother, succeeds to the government of the Church, in conjunction with the apostles. He has been universally called the Just, from the days of the Lord down to the present time. For many bore the name of James; but this one was holy from his mother's womb. He drank no wine or other intoxicating liquor, nor did he eat flesh; no razor came upon his head; he did not anoint himself with oil, nor make use of the bath. He alone was permitted to enter the holy place: for he did not wear any woolen garment, but fine linen only. He alone, I say, was wont to go into the temple: and he used to be found kneeling on his knees, begging forgiveness for the people-so that the skin of his knees became horny like that of a camel's, by reason of his constantly bending the knee in adoration to God, and begging forgiveness for the people. Therefore, in consequence of his pre-eminent justice, he was called the Just, and Oblias, which signifies in Greek Defence of the People, and Justice, in accordance with what the prophets declare concerning him. [8]
Martyrdom and feastday
James was martyred in 62 A.D. His Feastday is May 3 (traditionally the day he was martyred).
Prayer to Saint James the Lesser
O Glorious Saint James, you were our Lord's cousin and at the same time his friend and follower. You wrote that every good and perfect gift comes to us from the Father of lights, and that faith without works is useless. You preached the divinity of Jesus until your death as a martyr. Obtain for us from the Father of lights the great gift of a living faith in Jesus' divinity which will inspire us to unstinting labor in the service of God and our fellow human beings and enable us to reach our heavenly destiny. Amen.
See also
- The Twelve Apostles
- Jude the Apostle, Brother of James the Lesser.
- Antinomianism
- Licentiousness
References
- ↑ Mark 15:40
- ↑ Compare multiple versions of John 19:25 Greek Κλωπά and multiple versions of Luke 24:18 Greek Κλεόπας
- ↑ Matthew 27:56; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10; John 19:25.
- ↑ Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3; see also Mark 15:47.
- ↑ St. James the Lesser
- ↑ Epistle of Straw? - Twelve Tribes (twelvetribes.org)
- ↑ Six Points on Luther's "Epistle of Straw", James Swan - Alpha & Omega Ministries (aomin.org).
- ↑ Peter Kirby, Hegesippus fragments in Eusebius
External links
- Christian Answers Network James accessed June 23, 2007
- St. James the Less Catholic Encyclopedia.
- James the Lesser
