62 by orders from the Sadducees of the Sanhedrin, while another tradition (the second century writers, Clement of Alexandria or Hegesippus) says he was pushed off the wall of the Temple.ħ. For many generations after Jesus' death a relative of Jesus was appointed leader of the church in Jerusalem.ī. In Studies in the Epistle of James, A. 2:9 Acts 12:17 15:13).Ħ. In Antiquities of the Jews, 20.9.1, Josephus says that he was stoned in a.d. 9:5).ĥ. He is referred to by Paul as a pillar (possibly an apostle, cf. Acts 1:14) and possibly also there when the Spirit came on Pentecost.Ĥ. He was probably married (cf. 15:7).ģ. He was present in the upper room WITH THE DISCIPLES (cf. Jesus appeared to him personally after the resurrection (cf. 1:19 2:12).ġ. He was called 'James the Just' and later nicknamed 'camel knees' because he constantly prayed on his knees (from Hegesippus, quoted by Eusebius).Ģ. James was not a believer until after the resurrection (cf.

He was the leader of the Jerusalem Church ( a.d. A. This was Soren Kierkegaard's favorite book in the New Testament because it emphasizes practical, daily Christianity.ī. This was Martin Luther's least favorite book in the New Testament because it seems to contradict Paul's 'justification by faith' emphasis in Romans and Galatians (i.e., James 2:14-26).Ĭ. This is a very different genre from other NT booksġ. very much like a new covenant book of Proverbs (i.e., wisdom literature) spoken by a fiery prophetĢ. written early after Jesus' death and still very Jewish and practicalĪ. The traditional author is James (Hebrew, 'Jacob'), the half-brother of Jesus (one of four sons from Mary and Joseph (cf.

Introduction to the book of james