James, son of Alphaeus, is one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, as listed in the Synoptic Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. His designation as "son of Alphaeus" helps distinguish him from other figures named James in the New Testament, such as James the son of Zebedee and James, the brother of Jesus. Despite his inclusion among the Twelve, James, son of Alphaeus, remains a relatively obscure figure in the biblical narrative, with few specific details about his life and ministry recorded in Scripture.

Biblical References

James is mentioned in the lists of the apostles found in the Synoptic Gospels and Acts. In Matthew 10:2-4 , he is listed as one of the Twelve: "These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him." Similar lists appear in Mark 3:16-19 and Luke 6:14-16, as well as in Acts 1:13.

Identity and Role

James, son of Alphaeus, is often identified with "James the Less" or "James the Younger," a designation found in Mark 15:40 , which mentions "Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses." This identification, however, is not universally accepted, and some scholars suggest that "James the Less" could refer to a different individual. The epithet "the Less" may indicate either his younger age or lesser prominence compared to James, son of Zebedee.

The New Testament does not provide specific accounts of James, son of Alphaeus, engaging in particular acts or teachings. His role as an apostle, however, implies that he was a witness to Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection, and that he participated in the early church's mission to spread the Gospel. As an apostle, James would have been involved in the foundational work of establishing Christian communities and teaching the doctrines of the faith.

Tradition and Legacy

Early Christian tradition offers various accounts of James, son of Alphaeus, though these are not found in the canonical Scriptures. Some traditions suggest that he preached the Gospel in regions such as Syria or Persia, and that he suffered martyrdom for his faith. However, these accounts are not consistent across sources, and historical evidence is limited.

James, son of Alphaeus, is venerated as a saint in many Christian traditions, and his feast day is celebrated on different dates depending on the liturgical calendar of each tradition. Despite the scarcity of information about his life, his inclusion among the Twelve underscores his importance as a foundational figure in the early church.

Conclusion

While the New Testament provides limited information about James, son of Alphaeus, his role as one of the Twelve Apostles signifies his importance in the early Christian community. His faithful discipleship and witness to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ continue to be honored in Christian tradition.Matthew 10:3
Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
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Mark 3:18
And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
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Luke 6:15
Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
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Acts 1:13
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where stayed 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.
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Acts 12:17
But he, beckoning to them with the hand to hold their peace, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things to James, and to the brothers. And he departed, and went into another place.
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The General Epistle of James
... and the name apostle was not limited to the twelve. The considerations of Lange
in favor of identifying the author with James, the son of Alphaeus, are rather ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the general epistle of james.htm

James the Brother of the Lord.
... identifies James, the brother of the Lord, with James the son of Alphaeus and James
the Little, thus making him (as well as also Simon and Jude) an apostle. ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 27 james the brother.htm

After Prayer Jesus Selects Twelve Apostles.
... were humble "fishermen"]; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; { ^c Judas the
son of James ... The apostle James is thought by some to be our Lord's ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xli after prayer jesus selects.htm

Characteristics of the Twelve
... and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son ... life," "Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the ... best established mental quality of any apostle, fail or ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 3 14-19 characteristics of the.htm

The Call of Matthew.
... difficulty by calling Levi the son of Alph??us ... the extreme view here, contending that
James, Matthew, Thadd??us ... of Jesus, preparatory to being chosen an apostle. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxvi the call of matthew.htm

The Gospel of Matthew
... and Paul. In Mark he is said to be the son of Alphaeus, whom some identify
with Alphaeus the father of the apostle James. But this ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the gospel of matthew.htm

The General Epistle of James
... My brother, eat thy bread, for the Son of man ... writer would not have attacked what
an apostle did not ... James, in attacking a theory of justification by faith, is ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xx the general epistle.htm

Preface
... 9:9). James the son of Alphaeus was there, who had the honour of being the presiding
Apostle at the first Council held in Jerusalem, and of whom St. ...
/.../ryle/the upper room being a few truths for the times/preface.htm

The Twelve and the Seventy.
... perhaps, the marked attention of our Saviour to James and John ... their promotion in
the kingdom of the Son of Man. ... "Beloved," says the Apostle John, "believe not ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter iii the twelve and.htm

The Choice of the Twelve
... malicious haste to proclaim Him the Son of God ... or third rank, in which doubtless
that apostle habitually followed ... Peter, Philip, and the Lesser James, hold the ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 3 7-19 the choice of.htm

Who was James the son of Alphaeus? | GotQuestions.org

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