# James the Just

> Jewish bishop of Jerusalem figure in Early Christianity

**Wikidata**: [Q26925](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26925)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James,_brother_of_Jesus)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/james-the-just

## Summary
James the Just was a Jewish bishop of Jerusalem and a prominent figure in Early Christianity. He is identified in the New Testament as one of the brothers of Jesus, specifically referred to as James the brother of the Lord. He is also known by the aliases James the Lesser, Saint James the Just, and James, brother of Jesus.

## Biography
- Born: [date and place if known]
- Nationality: [country]
- Education: [degrees, institutions]
- Known for: Jewish bishop of Jerusalem figure in Early Christianity
- Employer(s): [current and notable past employers/affiliations]
- Field(s): Early Christianity, Religion

## Contributions
James the Just is associated with several early Christian texts and traditions. He is traditionally attributed as the author of the **Epistle of James**, a book of the New Testament. He is connected to the **Gospel of James**, an apocryphal Gospel, and the **Liturgy of St James**, an Eastern Christian liturgy. Additionally, his name is linked to Gnostic texts including the **First Apocalypse of James** (3rd century) and the **Second Apocalypse of James** (2nd century). He is also recognized as one of the **seventy disciples**, early students of Jesus mentioned in the Gospel of Luke.

## FAQs
**Who are the siblings of Jesus?**
The New Testament describes four men—James, Joseph (or Joses), Judas, and Simon—as brothers of Jesus, along with unnamed sisters. In Christian denominations that teach the perpetual virginity of Mary, these individuals are often rationalized as half-siblings or other relatives.

**What texts are attributed to James the Just?**
James is traditionally credited with writing the Epistle of James in the New Testament. He is also associated with the apocryphal Gospel of James, the Eastern Christian Liturgy of St James, and the Gnostic texts known as the First and Second Apocalypse of James.

**What was James the Just's role in the early church?**
James served as a Jewish bishop of Jerusalem and was a significant figure in Early Christianity. He is described as a presbyter and is identified as one of the seventy disciples, who were early students of Jesus.

## Why They Matter
James the Just is a central figure in the history of Early Christianity, particularly for his leadership as the bishop of Jerusalem. His relationship as a brother of Jesus places him in a unique position within the New Testament narrative and early church history. The attribution of the Epistle of James to him provides a key component of New Testament theology, while the various liturgies and apocryphal texts associated with his name demonstrate his wide-ranging influence on Christian tradition, Gnostic thought, and worship practices.

## Notable For
- Identified as a "human" and a "presbyter" in structured knowledge bases.
- Listed among the "seventy disciples," early students of Jesus mentioned in the Gospel of Luke.
- Associated with the "Epistle of James," a book of the New Testament.
- Connected to the "Gospel of James," an apocryphal Gospel.
- Linked to the "Liturgy of St James," an Eastern Christian liturgy.
- Associated with the "First Apocalypse of James," a third-century Christian Gnostic text.
- Associated with the "Second Apocalypse of James," a second-century Christian Gnostic text.
- Recognized as one of the "siblings of Jesus," a group including Joseph/Joses, Judas, Simon, and unnamed sisters.

## Body
### Identity and Family
James the Just is classified as a human and holds the specific aliases of James the brother of the Lord, Saint James the Just, James the Lesser, and James, brother of Jesus. He is a key member of the "siblings of Jesus" group. This group consists of four men—James, Joseph (or Joses), Judas, and Simon—described in the New Testament as brothers of Jesus, along with unnamed sisters. In Christian denominations that teach the perpetual virginity of Mary, these siblings are often rationalized as half-siblings or other relatives.

### Role in Early Christianity
As a figure in Early Christianity, James the Just is recognized as a presbyter. His most prominent official role was serving as the Jewish bishop of Jerusalem. He is also identified as one of the seventy disciples, a group defined as early students of Jesus mentioned in the Gospel of Luke.

### Literary and Liturgical Associations
James the Just is traditionally associated with the authorship of the **Epistle of James**, which is a book of the New Testament attributed to him. Beyond the canonical texts, he is connected to the **Gospel of James**, which is an apocryphal Gospel. His influence extends into Christian liturgy through the **Liturgy of St James**, an Eastern Christian liturgy. Furthermore, his name appears in Gnostic traditions, specifically linked to the **First Apocalypse of James**, a third-century Christian Gnostic text, and the **Second Apocalypse of James**, a second-century Christian Gnostic text.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.pravoslavie.us/RU/Saint-Apostol-Iakov-Brat-Gospoden.htm)
2. data.bibliotheken.nl
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. CERL Thesaurus
5. Quora
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. HMML Authority File