Lexical Summary Alphaios: Alphaeus Original Word: Ἀλφαῖος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Alpheus. Of Hebrew origin (compare Cheleph); Alphoeus, an Israelite -- Alpheus. see HEBREW Cheleph Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 256: ἈλφαῖοςἈλφαῖος (WH Ἁλφ., see their Introductory § 408), , ὁ (חַלְפַּי cf. חַגַּי Ἀγγαῖος, Haggai 1:1), Alphoeus or Alpheus; 1. the father of Levi the publican: Mark 2:14, see Λευί, 4. 2. the father of James the less, so called, one of the twelve apostles: Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13. He seems to be the same person who in John 19:25 (cf. Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40) is called Κλωπᾶς after a different pronunciation of the Hebrew חלפי accusative to which cheth (ח) was changed into kappa κ', as פֶּסַח φασεκ, 2 Chronicles 30:1. Cf. Ἰάκωβος, 2; (B. D. American edition under the word Alphaeus is a personal name that appears five times in the Greek New Testament. Though its precise derivation is debated, it was a familiar Semitic name in first-century Judea and Galilee. Biblical Occurrences Alphaeus is mentioned only in connection with two of the Twelve: Levi (also called Matthew) and James. The name surfaces in five verses: Matthew 10:3; Mark 2:14; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13. Relationship to the Twelve Apostles 1. Father of Levi (Matthew) Mark 2:14 records: “As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth. ‘Follow Me,’ Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.” In every list of the apostles, James is singled out as “son of Alphaeus” (for example, Luke 6:15). To distinguish him from James the son of Zebedee, church tradition commonly calls him “James the Less” or “James the Younger.” Whether Alphaeus fathered both men or whether two different men shared the same name cannot be stated with certainty. The straightforward reading of the text, however, presents Alphaeus as the biological father of each. Alphaeus and the Call of Levi (Matthew) The calling of Levi illustrates the far-reaching grace of Christ, drawing even a tax collector—socially despised and often regarded as a collaborator with Rome—into discipleship. The brief notice of Alphaeus underscores that the gospel transcends family backgrounds and social status. The transformation of Levi into Matthew the evangelist displays the power of Christ to redeem any household represented in Scripture. Alphaeus and James son of Alphaeus James the son of Alphaeus receives little individual attention in the narratives, yet his inclusion among the Twelve demonstrates that faithful, lesser-known servants are integral to God’s redemptive plan. Acts 1:13 shows James present in the upper room after the Ascension, steadfastly devoted to prayer and awaiting the promised Spirit. His quiet fidelity is a reminder that kingdom significance is measured by faithfulness, not public acclaim. Possible Identification with Other Figures Some early writers equated Alphaeus with Clopas (John 19:25) or with Cleopas (Luke 24:18), proposing that James the son of Alphaeus is the same as “James the Less,” brother of Joses, whose mother Mary stood at the cross (Mark 15:40). While the names Alphaeus, Clopas, and Cleopas can be linguistically related through Aramaic and Greek transliterations, the New Testament never explicitly makes the identification. Scripture’s silence cautions against dogmatism, yet the discussion illuminates the complex kinship networks surrounding Jesus and the early church. Historical Background Alphaeus lived during the late Second Temple period, a time when Galilee and Judea were under Roman occupation. Jewish families typically preserved ancestral names, and Alphaeus may have belonged to a social stratum able to educate his sons: one becoming a capable record-keeper (Levi), the other serving among itinerant disciples. The presence of his sons in different vocational spheres (tax collection and apostolic ministry) illustrates the societal diversity within the early movement that followed Jesus. Theological and Ministry Significance 1. Divine Calling Surpassing Human Pedigree The gospel writers mention Alphaeus simply to identify his sons. Scripture’s economy of words keeps the focus on Christ’s call rather than on ancestral credentials, emphasizing that ministry qualification rests on divine initiative. James son of Alphaeus models understated obedience. Those who labor without prominence mirror his role, contributing indispensably to the body of Christ. Two apostles issuing from the same father suggests that family environments can nurture responsiveness to God’s call. Parents today are encouraged to shape homes where surrender to Christ is normal rather than exceptional. Lessons for Today • Obscurity in human records does not diminish value in God’s service. Alphaeus, though mentioned only in passing, stands as a quiet witness to the breadth of God’s redeeming work, reminding readers that every name recorded in Scripture—however briefly—bears testimony to the faithfulness of God in history. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 10:3 N-GMSGRK: ὁ τοῦ Ἁλφαίου καὶ Θαδδαῖος NAS: James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; KJV: [the son] of Alphaeus, and INT: the [son] of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus Mark 2:14 N-GMS Mark 3:18 N-GMS Luke 6:15 N-GMS Acts 1:13 N-GMS |
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