Ok...in today's world of emphasis on self-esteem...having a name like James "the Less" might not be acceptable. Yet, at a closer look Jame's name, it might not exactly mean what it implies. James throughout history has had alias name descriptions like James "the Minor", James "the Little", and what is probably the most accurate description James "the Younger".
James was a common name in the 1st century and the "add-ons" to their names were simply meant to distinguish one "James" from another. Most likely the name James "the Less" did not imply his characteristics in comparison to others, but simply he was younger than another James in a certain group...like the 12 apostles..."The Original". Sometimes "the Less" could imply to his height in comparison to another James in a certain group, yet most likely in this Jame's case it was in reference to his age...James "the Less" being younger in years than James the brother of John...one of the sons of Zebedee. So...I'll go with that...
James "the Less" is thought by many to be James the son of Alphaeus...now this story could get a little interesting. Some historians think Jame's father Alphaeus might have been the husband of Mary Clopas. Mary Clopas was a sister to Mary, the mother of Jesus making James "the less" a cousin to Jesus. This would not have been too far "fetched" a deduction because many of "The Original" (the 12 disciples") were from the region in Galilee from small villages near one another like Cana, Nazareth, and even Capernaum. As a result, there were family connections with some of the apostles like Peter and Andrew and James and John the sons of Zebedee.
The important thing in all this s not to confuse James "the Less" with James the son of Zebedee or James the brother of Jesus.
In the listings of "The Original" in the New Testament, James "the Less" always appears 9th in the names of the 12.
In 1 Corinthians 15:7, it reads "Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles." Some think this might have been a reference to James "the Less"...yet many others including myself think this James was in reference to James the brother of Jesus.
Other than this remote possible reference, there really isn't anything written in the New Testament of James "the Lesser". What we do know is James "the Lesser" was hand-picked to be one of Jesus disciples, and he too gave everything up to answer the call..."Follow Me."
In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 18, verse 28 it reads: " We have left all we had to follow You!" This would include...James "the Lesser". James was also present when He appeared to The Original in the Upper Room shortly after Christ Jesus had rose from the dead.
James "the Less" was perhaps a native of Capernaum in Galilee and was thought to have been from the tribe of Levi.
The impression James "the Less" leaves to his fellow believers in Christ Jesus is: ordinary men doing extraordinary things to the Glory of God. Some evidence concludes James "the Less" seemed to have a heart of humility that encouraged others to exercise the fruit of forgiveness, patience, and a respect for one another.
One verse of Scripture that is identified with James "the Less" is out of Psalm 115:1, which reads: " Not to us O Lord, not to us...rather to Your Name be all the Glory...".
An Egyptian historian of the 20th century, Aziz S. Atiya, who gave much study to the ancient history of Egypt known as Coptic study, along with historical study of neighboring countries in the Middle East...including an extensive study on the Crusades of the early and middle ages, once wrote of James "the Less" with these words: " The seeds of the Syrian Christianity had been sown in Jerusalem during the Apostolic Age and the contention had been made that the first bishop of the Syrian church was none other that Saint James of the Twelve Apostles, identified as " James the Less".
Yet tradition cries out through it's history that James "the Less" met his death in Jerusalem. It is written that James was taken to the top of a pinnacle on the Temple in Jerusalem, shortly before it's destruction in 66 to 70 A.D., and was threatened to his death for his belief in Jesus being the Christ...the True Messiah. This pinnacle at the top of the Temple is said to have been the similar place Satan had taken Jesus during His temptations in the desert.
James "the Less" refused to recant his belief in the Lord Jesus, and was pushed from the top of Temple (approximately 100 foot drop) where he landed on the ground...still alive! It is written he was then beaten to death by "Fullers mallets"... tools used to clean clothing, and it was there Jame "the Less" met his death. His death was probably around 62 to 63 A.D.
Early artists painted and portrayed James "the Less" with facial features similar to the early paintings...of Jesus. Based on what we know of James "the Less"...he would consider this of the highest honor a man could ever receive....and I am now convinced...there was nothing "Less" about James.
James was a common name in the 1st century and the "add-ons" to their names were simply meant to distinguish one "James" from another. Most likely the name James "the Less" did not imply his characteristics in comparison to others, but simply he was younger than another James in a certain group...like the 12 apostles..."The Original". Sometimes "the Less" could imply to his height in comparison to another James in a certain group, yet most likely in this Jame's case it was in reference to his age...James "the Less" being younger in years than James the brother of John...one of the sons of Zebedee. So...I'll go with that...
James "the Less" is thought by many to be James the son of Alphaeus...now this story could get a little interesting. Some historians think Jame's father Alphaeus might have been the husband of Mary Clopas. Mary Clopas was a sister to Mary, the mother of Jesus making James "the less" a cousin to Jesus. This would not have been too far "fetched" a deduction because many of "The Original" (the 12 disciples") were from the region in Galilee from small villages near one another like Cana, Nazareth, and even Capernaum. As a result, there were family connections with some of the apostles like Peter and Andrew and James and John the sons of Zebedee.
The important thing in all this s not to confuse James "the Less" with James the son of Zebedee or James the brother of Jesus.
In the listings of "The Original" in the New Testament, James "the Less" always appears 9th in the names of the 12.
In 1 Corinthians 15:7, it reads "Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles." Some think this might have been a reference to James "the Less"...yet many others including myself think this James was in reference to James the brother of Jesus.
Other than this remote possible reference, there really isn't anything written in the New Testament of James "the Lesser". What we do know is James "the Lesser" was hand-picked to be one of Jesus disciples, and he too gave everything up to answer the call..."Follow Me."
In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 18, verse 28 it reads: " We have left all we had to follow You!" This would include...James "the Lesser". James was also present when He appeared to The Original in the Upper Room shortly after Christ Jesus had rose from the dead.
James "the Less" was perhaps a native of Capernaum in Galilee and was thought to have been from the tribe of Levi.
The impression James "the Less" leaves to his fellow believers in Christ Jesus is: ordinary men doing extraordinary things to the Glory of God. Some evidence concludes James "the Less" seemed to have a heart of humility that encouraged others to exercise the fruit of forgiveness, patience, and a respect for one another.
One verse of Scripture that is identified with James "the Less" is out of Psalm 115:1, which reads: " Not to us O Lord, not to us...rather to Your Name be all the Glory...".
An Egyptian historian of the 20th century, Aziz S. Atiya, who gave much study to the ancient history of Egypt known as Coptic study, along with historical study of neighboring countries in the Middle East...including an extensive study on the Crusades of the early and middle ages, once wrote of James "the Less" with these words: " The seeds of the Syrian Christianity had been sown in Jerusalem during the Apostolic Age and the contention had been made that the first bishop of the Syrian church was none other that Saint James of the Twelve Apostles, identified as " James the Less".
Yet tradition cries out through it's history that James "the Less" met his death in Jerusalem. It is written that James was taken to the top of a pinnacle on the Temple in Jerusalem, shortly before it's destruction in 66 to 70 A.D., and was threatened to his death for his belief in Jesus being the Christ...the True Messiah. This pinnacle at the top of the Temple is said to have been the similar place Satan had taken Jesus during His temptations in the desert.
James "the Less" refused to recant his belief in the Lord Jesus, and was pushed from the top of Temple (approximately 100 foot drop) where he landed on the ground...still alive! It is written he was then beaten to death by "Fullers mallets"... tools used to clean clothing, and it was there Jame "the Less" met his death. His death was probably around 62 to 63 A.D.Early artists painted and portrayed James "the Less" with facial features similar to the early paintings...of Jesus. Based on what we know of James "the Less"...he would consider this of the highest honor a man could ever receive....and I am now convinced...there was nothing "Less" about James.
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