3.5 Fact 4. The sceptic James, brother of Jesus, was suddenly changed

Published by 1c15 on 13th November 201913th November 2019

In 2002, what was thought to be a significant archaeological discovery was made. An ancient ossuary or bone box dating to the first century was found with the inscription “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.” While controversy continues regarding the authenticity of the inscription, the fact that such a find enthralled the religious world shows the historical importance attached to James, the brother of Jesus. To clarify, we don’t have as much quantitative data on James as we do Paul, but we sure do have enough qualitative data.

Such data gives us good reason to believe that post-resurrection, James, the brother of Jesus became a convert to Christianity because he believed the risen Jesus had appeared to him. This is how that conclusion is made.

First, the gospels report that Jesus’ brothers, including James were unbelievers during his ministry. The gospels also report Jesus had four brothers: James, Joseph, Judas and Simon, plus unnamed sisters. We see in John 7:5 that none of his brothers believed in what Jesus was doing. Historian Josephus in his work Antiquities mentions: “The brother of Jesus who was called the Christ, whose name was Jesus”

Many Scholars accept the fact James and his brothers (Jude etc.) were not followers before Jesus’ crucifixion (Some example Scholars: Beth, Conzelmann, Craig, Derrett, Ehrman, Funk, Hoover, Kee, Koester, Ladd, Lorenzen, Ludemann, Meier, Oden, Osborne, Pannenberg, Sanders, Spong, Struhmacher, Wedderburn)

Second, In the ancient Creed of 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 that was previously mentioned, lists the appearance of the risen Jesus to James: “Then he appeared to James”. 

James appears to have been a passionate Jewish believer prior. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians he condemns legalistic men claiming affiliation with James who were teaching in the churches in Galatia that Christians had to keep the Jewish law in addition to putting their faith in Jesus. So people were trying to use James’ known Jewish past to push customs on people who did not need to commit to this old covenant.

Third, Post resurrection, James is identified as the leader of the Jerusalem Church (Acts 15:12-21; Galatians 1:19). Peter, Paul and Barnabas spoke before a church council in Jerusalem. James the leader of the council at the time made this pronouncement

Therefore it is my judgement that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the gentiles, but that we write to them that. They abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.

Acts 15

Forth, In 2nd century, Hegesippus reported that James was a pious Jew who strictly followed Jewish law.

James, the brother of the Lord, succeeded to the government of the church in conjunction with the apostles. He has been called the just by all from the time of our saviour to the present day; for there were many that bore the name of James. He was holy from his mother’s womb; and he drank no wine, nor strong drink, nor did he eat flesh. No razor came upon his head; he did not anoint himself with oil, and he did not use the [public] bath. He alone was permitted to enter into the holy place; for he wore not wooden but linen garments. And he was in the habit of entering alone into the temple, and was frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel, in consequence of his constantly bending them in his worship of God, and asking for forgiveness for the people. Because of his exceeding great justice he was called the Just and Oblias, which signifies in Greek, ‘Bulwark of the people’ and ‘Justice,’ in accordance with what the prophets declare concerning him.

Hegesippus, Church Leader, second century

Fifth, Not only did James convert to Christianity, his belief in the risen Jesus meant he was and did suffer martyrdom which is attested by historian Josephus, Hegesippus and Clement of Alexandria. 

The original texts of Hegesippus and Clement have been preserved by Eusebius. For example, in Eusebius’ work Ecclesiastical History 2.23 he devotes a chapter to the martyrdom of James, in which he writes, “

But the most accurate account of him is given by Hegesippus, who came in the generation after the apostles. He writes, in Book 5 of his Memoirs . . . 

Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 2.23

The Jewish historian Josephus records his martyrdom, in 62 CE. The high priest Ananus II (son of Arenas and brother-in-law to Caiaphas) had him executed by stoning, probably under the law which prescribed this penalty for someone who entices the people to apostasy (Dt. 13:6-11). Hegesippus’ account agrees that he suffered death by stoning. James’ martyrdom is attested by Christian and non-Christian sources (Josephus).

Sixth, Jesus handing his mother’s protection over to apostle John. In John 19:25-27, James was not listed as someone at the cross. Many NT scholars of all beliefs accept this as a fact for why James was a sceptic.

“[James and his brothers] would have regarded their dead brother as a heretic rather than rush to Jerusalem…, it seems more likely that Jesus’ execution as a criminal and a blasphemer would have supported their continued unbelief rather than their conversion…”

Michael Licona

Critical scholar Reginald Fuller says the evidence for James is sufficient. Even without it, we would have to invent an appearance to account for 2 things: first, James’ conversion from scepticism and second, his elevation to leading council at the Jerusalem church, the centre of ancient Christianity. Like with Paul, now with James, we have to ask, what happened to give them such convictions to change? Also, what does it take to believe your brother is God in flesh? It’s not easy for most, never mind if it’s your brother!

Sources on ‘James’

• James’ bonebox — For details on the find, reasons for accepting its authenticity, and a historical study on James, see Hershel Shanks and Ben Witherington III, The Brother of Jesus (San Francisco: Harper SanFrancisco, 2003).
• 4 brothers — Matthew 13:55–56 and Mark 6:3. That Jesus had brothers is well attested, being recorded in all four gospels and some of the earliest writings in the New Testament: Matthew 12:46–50; Mark 3:31–35; Luke 8:19–21; John 2:12; 7:3, 5, 10; Acts 1:13–14; 1 Corinthians 9:5; Galatians 1:19.
• 4 brothers — Acts 1:14 and 1 Corinthians 9:5 indicate that more than one of Jesus’ brothers became believers. Church tradition reports that two letters in the New Testament were by the brothers after whom they were named: James and Jude.
• Josephus, Antiquities 20:200.
• James, Pious Jew — Galatians 2:12–13.
• Peter, Paul, Barnabas speaking before the council — Acts 15:19-20
• Hegesippus’s — Hegesippus’s works have been lost. However, Eusebius in Ecclesiastical History 2.23 devotes a chapter to the martyrdom of James, in which he writes, “But the most accurate account of him is given by Hegesippus, who came in the generation after the apostles. He writes, in Book 5 of his Memoirs . . .” (Eusebius, Eusebius: The Church History, Paul L. Maier, ed. and trans. [Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1999], 81). Eusebius then provides this information on James’s martyrdom from Hegesippus. Ben Witherington III comments, however, that “the Josephus account is probably both earlier and more circumspect and deserves the nod as best reflecting the historical realities of the situation. While Eusebius is a careful historian by ancient standards, he does not always exercise the sort of critical judgment of his sources one might wish” (Hershel Shanks and Ben Witherington III, The Brother of Jesus [San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2003], 192).
• Appearance to James — We can only speculate when the appearance to James occurred. Luke reports that Jesus’ brothers were gathered with his disciples and mother for constant prayer a few days before Pentecost (Acts 1:14), indicating that James had become a believer by then. This would place the appearance within fifty days of Jesus’ resurrection.
• Eusebius cites Josephus, Hegesippus, and Clement of Alexandria on the martyrdom of James (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 2.23). Josephus reports that James was executed as a lawbreaker (i.e., one who broke the Jewish law [Josephus, Antiquities 20.200]). In the New Testament, Christians were often considered lawbreakers by the Jewish authorities because of their beliefs (Acts 6:13; 18:13; 21:28). Darrell L. Bock adds, “What Law was it James broke, given his reputation within Christian circles as a Jewish-Christian leader who was careful about keeping the Law? It would seem likely that the Law had to relate to his christological allegiances and a charge of blasphemy. This would fit the fact that he was stoned, which was the penalty for such a crime, and parallels how Stephen was handled as well.” See Darrell L. Bock, Blasphemy and Exaltation in Judaism: The Charge against Jesus in Mark 14:53–65 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000), 196 n. 30.
• Michael Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus, p517
• Fuller — Reginald H. Fuller, The Formation of the Resurrection Narratives (New York: Macmillan, 1971), 37.
• Antiquities 20.200.
• https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_relatives_bauckham.html
• Book – The Risen Jesus and the Future hope, p22,44