Week 13 - The Author of James

Briefly this week we looked at the authorship of the book.

Unfortunately a good number of people were called James in the New Testament and some have used this confusion to make its author one of the two Apostles who were named James.  This was an attempt to support the perpetual virginity of Mary (which is not supported by Matthew 1:25) and to give Apostolic authority to the book.  But neither are necessary.

Instead James, as a brother, heard what Jesus taught, but unlike the disciples was not a believer.

John 7:5

For not even his brothers believed in him.

This persisted past the crucifixion where Jesus gave His mother Mary into John's care, because none of brothers were present (John 19:25-27).  But by the time of the ascension, his brothers were part of the fledgeling church (Acts 1:12-14).

Paul records for us what happened between those two events:

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Take then the book of James as the testimony of an eye witness of the Resurrection!  Not only is it our connection to the teachings of Christ, it is our connection to the resurrected Christ.  

Take it and repeat the echo that James did for us.