The Writings of the Jesus’s Brothers
New Testament Books: James & Jude
Fulfilling an Old Testament prophecy regarding the Messiah (Isa 7.14), Jesus was miraculously born to a young virgin named Mary after being “overshadowed” by the Holy Spirit (Lk 1.30-35, Mt 1.18). However, this does not mean Mary remained a virgin, nor is there any theological need for her to do so. A plain reading of the Bible shows us that after Jesus was born, Mary had other children who were fathered by Joseph (Mt 13.53-58, 12.46-50, Mk 6.1-6, Jn 7.1-5). Because the initial audiences of the Gospel books were well aware of Jesus’s siblings, the authors used specific language to not only emphasize that Jesus was born first, but that He was also born supernaturally to show that He is the Messiah.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. … When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. – Matthew 1.18-20, 24-25
And when Jesus had finished these parables, He went away from there, and coming to His hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And He did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. – Matthew 13.53-58 (note unmistakable family context)
Two of Jesus’s brothers – or technically half-brothers due to their different father – were James & Jude (Judas) who went on to write the 2 books of the New Testament sharing their names. They apparently did not understand who Jesus really was or believe Him to be the Messiah throughout His earthly ministry (Jn 7.5), but later they would come to believe & were in close fellowship with the apostles (1 Cor 9.5, Gal 1.19).
And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. – Acts 1.13-14
Now there is more than one James noted in the New Testament – 2 are even named in the original 12 Apostles. One is always noted as “James the son of Alphaeus” & the more notable one was a son of Zebedee. He & his brother John were among Jesus’s closest disciples along with Peter. However, we know this isn’t the James that penned the New Testament letter because he was killed at the hands of King Herod Agrippa I.
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. – Acts 12.1-3
Shortly thereafter, the Apostle Peter miraculously escaped from prison & requests that someone explain what happened to yet another James who was a prominent leader in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15.2, 6 & 13).
…he (Peter) described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place. – Acts 12.17
Later, the Apostle Paul not only clarifies this James in Jerusalem is the Lord Jesus’s brother, but also notes him as an apostle. Paul additionally tells us that the risen Christ specifically appeared to James in addition to the “twelve” which would have included the other Jameses (1 Cor 15.3-7). Other early historians (i.e. Josephus, Clement of Alexandria & Eusebius) affirm him as Jesus’s brother & also tell us he was called James the Just.
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. – Galatians 1.18-19
Others have noted that James begins a letter from the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15.23) with the word “Greetings.” & the book of James is the only epistle that uses it this same way which is indicative of common authorship. It has been further pointed out that the introduction of simply “James” plausibly indicates he was well-known which would be the case if he was indeed a key figure in the Jerusalem church.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. – James 1.1
The opening of Jude is not much more descriptive – but does link him to James.
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,
To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ – Jude 1.1
Some may question why he is called “Judas” in the Gospel books & “Jude” in his epistle. This is because they are the same word in the original New Testament language (Greek), but Jude is an English variant likely used to differentiate him from the most notorious betrayer of Jesus, Judas Iscariot. Jude also identifies himself as the brother of James, not to be confused with Judas the son of James (a.k.a. Thaddaeus) who, along with Judas Iscariot, was among the original 12 Apostles (Mt 10.3-4, Lk 6.16).
Still others reasonably wonder why neither James nor Jude directly introduce themselves as Jesus’s brothers. It is also reasonable that if someone had grown up with Jesus, witnessed His perfect holy life, miraculous works, death, burial, resurrection & ascension, it would have a profoundly humbling effect on them – especially if they hadn’t believed Jesus was the Messiah during most of that time. They likely well understood the dramatic impact of their different father on their identity, with Jesus being the only direct offspring or begotten Son of God (Jn 3.16, Col 1.15-19). Nonetheless, James is referred to as an Apostle & was a key leader in the Jerusalem church. And both James & Jude were there with the Apostles in the upper room after Jesus’s ascension to heaven.
Still others reasonably wonder why neither James nor Jude directly introduce themselves as Jesus’s brothers. It is also reasonable that if someone had grown up with Jesus, witnessed His perfect holy life, miraculous works, death, burial, resurrection & ascension, it would have a profoundly humbling effect on them – especially if they hadn’t believed Jesus was the Messiah during most of that time. They likely well understood the dramatic impact of their different father on their identity, with Jesus being the only direct offspring or begotten Son of God (Jn 3.16, Col 1.15-19). Nonetheless, James is referred to as an Apostle & was a key leader in the Jerusalem church. And both James & Jude were there with the Apostles in the upper room after Jesus’s ascension to heaven.
- Inter-Author Reference: Jude’s letter largely warns Christians about the dangers of false teachers & then exhorts them to remember the “predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1.17-19).