LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY

Biography of James (the son of Zebedee)

Submitted to Dr. Robert Wayne Stacy

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of

NBST 515-D01
New Testament Orientation I

by

Caleb R. Brown
August 20, 2017
 Contents

Introduction……………………….……………………………………….………………..iii
Research Methodology………….……………….………………………….……………..iv
The Biblical Texts………………………….………………………………………………iv
The Call……………………………………………………………………………..iv
Among the Twelve..……………………………….……………………..…………vi
An Intimate Relationship with Jesus.…….….…………………………..………....vii
A Son of Thunder.…………………………………….………………..……….…viii
Application…..……………………………………….……………………………….….…x
Conclusion……….…………………………………….……………..……………….….…xi
Bibliography….………..……………………………….………………………..….…..…xii

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 Introduction

This paper will systematically and comprehensively examine all of the biblical texts and

stories for examination in finding the information about James (the son of Zebedee). James (the

son of Zebedee) is one of four different James that is spoken about in the New Testament. The

synoptic Gospels, as well as a brief mention in Acts is where the detail of this apostle lies. James

was one of the original twelve disciples and later named an apostle by Jesus (Matt. 10:2; Mk.

3:17; Lk. 6:14). There are actually two disciples that were named James. Sometimes he is

known as James the Greater and not to be confused with James the lesser, or younger James the

son of Alphaeus. There is also a book named James, but this was not written by either one of

these James, and is actually James the brother of Jesus. This biography on James (the son of

Zebedee) is always mentioned in relation to his brother John. This paper will examine all of the

scriptures dealing with James (the son of Zebedee), and discuss this Apostle’s intimate

relationship with Christ as well as his ambition, zeal, and courage persevering in faith till his

death by the hands of Herod Agrippa I. The thesis of this paper will argue that the biblical texts

show that James had ambition that was originally misguided, however his intimate relationship

with Christ led him to have a zealous faith, and courageous character that eventually shared in

the Lord’s suffering as Christ foretold.

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 Research Methodology

This paper will use a methodology of examining all of the biblical portrayals and

examine them in context to show how James is viewed in the New Testament by each author in

both a positive and negative light, as well as present those findings in a biblical biography of the

person. The purpose of which is to give a full understanding of James and use this information in

church, drawing appropriate life lessons from the Bible’s portrayal of him that can be applied to

Christians today. The biblical texts that will be examined are five in Matthew (4:21-22; 10:2;

17:1; 20:20; 27:56), eight in Mark (1:19-20; 1:29; 3:17; 5:37; 9:2; 10:35-41; 13:3; 14:33), five in

Luke (5:10; 6:14; 8:51; 9:28; 9:54) and two in Acts (1:13; 12:2).

The Biblical Texts

The Call

The biblical texts first introduce James with his brother John in all of the synoptic gospels

as being called by Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus is walking by the Sea of Galilee and

Christ calls two sets of brothers. The first pair Peter and Andrew. The second pair, James and

John, the sons of Zebedee. Matthew is specific in his account of James and John and how they

are both in the boat with their father mending nets when Jesus calls them (Matt. 4:21). The next

verse shows that their response was the same as Peter and Andrew’s, immediate (Matt. 4:22).

This immediate response of the James in this text is the first glimpse that Matthew shares of

James desire to follow the Lord. With the reading of this text alone one could infer that Zebedee

is left “holding the net”. However in Mark’s account, the “immediate” emphasis is placed upon

Jesus in His calling of the two brothers and there is mention of servants that are left with their

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father Zebedee (Mk. 1:20). Francis Maloney asserts that the mention of servants could reveal the

possible wealth or at least success of their fishing trade.1 Maloney’s inference, as relative as it

may be, is not a dynamic reason for James and John leaving their father to follow Jesus. In fact,

if they were so successful, there may have been little reason for the two brothers to want to

follow Jesus. Craig Keener states that Galileans were mostly peasants, but fisherman did make a

better income and were viewed as strong.2 It is not until Luke’s account that the full picture of

their scene begins to come together. This would be the first account of many miracles James

would be a witness to. In Luke’s account it reveals that James and John were partners with Peter

and his brother (Lk. 5:10). James had to help as their nets were breaking with their fill of fish

after an unsuccessful toil that evening (Lk. 5:5). Whether James and his father were successful

before this event, the text does not say. After James witnessed this miracle he was astonished

(Lk. 5:9) and their immediate catch that broke their nets would have definitely been successful

for their fathers business. This is probably the reason they were mending the nets that Matthew

and Mark speak of in their accounts. It was enough for James, his brother, and his partners to

“leave everything” behind to follow Jesus, even their economic way of life (Lk. 5:11). James

immediate trust and faith in the Lord was evident by the three gospel accounts.

1
Francis Maloney, Gospel of Mark: A Commentary, (Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group, 2012), 16.
2
Craig Keener, IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press,
2014), 193.

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 Among the Twelve

The next portrait that the gospel accounts give of James are the beginnings of a recurring

theme of James intimate relationship with the Lord. It is in Matthew where James is first listed

as one of the first twelve peoples that was given authority over unclean spirits to be cast out as

well as having the ability to heal every disease and affliction just as he had witnessed Jesus do

(Matt. 10:1). James is listed third in order (after Peter and Andrew his brother) with John being

fourth. But, this would not be the same order that all the synoptic gospels would use. In Mark’s

Gospel account James would be listed second (Mk. 3:17). It is in this verse where Mark reveals

Jesus peculiar name for James and his brother John as Boanerges, which meant “Sons of

Thunder” (Mk. 3:17). Luke’s account is interesting in that before he names the twelve, his

portrayal notes Jesus prayed all night before he called disciples and chose twelve among them

that He named apostles (Lk. 6:12-13). While there is not specificity to what Jesus prayed for, the

mention of James as one of the twelve apostles named among the disciples called, shows that

there was something different or special for James to be given this type of authority by Christ

(Lk. 6:13). Beth Kreitzer notes that just as the twelve tribes that were named after the sons of

Jacob, the twelve apostles were the founders of the church of Jesus Christ.3 It is likely that such

an important task for James (and the other eleven) was something that Jesus considered in His

prayer to the Father, as He prayed all night (Lk. 6:12).4 It is also important to note the time with

in which James would have spent with Lord up to this point. James Lightfoot states that the

twelve would have been with Jesus learning, praying, auditing, watching, and while they were

3
Beth Kreitzer, Luke, (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 131. Accessed August 19, 2017.
ProQuest Ebook Central.
4
John Trapp, Commentary or Exposition, 387; alluding to Gen. 24:12-14 in Luke, Beth Kreitzer, ed.,
(Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 131. Accessed August 19, 2017. ProQuest Ebook Central.

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chosen by Christ, it would be another year before they would be allowed to preach.5 So James

had a different type of relationship with Christ that was more intimate than even a number of

many disciples at this point. The biblical texts that this paper will examine next will show that

James had an even more intimate type of relationship with the Lord and Savior than even nine of

the other Apostles appointed by Jesus.

An Intimate Relationship with Jesus

It is in the Gospel of Matthew that James is now pictured to have a different, and even

more intimate relationship with the Lord than the other apostles, except for Peter and John.

James is one of three, (along with Peter and John) to be present at the transfiguration of Jesus

(17:1). However in Mark’s Gospel, the transfiguration happens after a mention of James with

Peter and John alone with Jesus (Mk. 9:2). Mark shows that James was one of the only people,

(along with Peter and John) allowed to see Jesus raise a twelve year old girl from the dead (Mk.

5:35-43). Luke’s account follows the same order as Mark’s (Lk. 8:51, 9:28). It makes these two

accounts, along with Matthew’s account of the transfiguration, to reveal the special type of

relationship that James had with Jesus. Mark expounds more on this relationship with Christ.

Culpepper states that this group of disciples seems to be of more importance to Mark than

Matthew or Luke.6 Further Culpepper states that this may be conjecture that this was of more

emphasis of Mark partly because of the secrecy motif that Mark alludes to.7 Mark does show

5
James Lightfoot, Harmony, Chronicle and Order of the New Testament, 24, in Luke, Beth Kreitzer, ed.,
(Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 132. Accessed August 19, 2017. ProQuest Ebook Central.
6
R. Alan Culpepper, John, the Son of Zebedee: The Life of a Legend, (Columbia, S.C.: University of South
Carolina Press, 1994), 31.
7
Ibid.

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Jesus teaching the disciples privately (Mk. 4:10, 34; 8:27; 9:33; 10:32).8 However, these

disciples may not be mentioned because Mark does note that Jesus tells them to tell no one after

raising Jairus’ daughter (Mk. 5:37), and Christ has a similar command for the “inner three” after

they witness the transfiguration (Mk. 9:9). Perhaps Matthew and Luke made note of this in the

use of Mark’s account. James is one of four present (Peter, Andrew, and John) to hear Christ

teach them of the end of the age (Mk. 13:3-13), and one of the three present, (along with Peter

and John) when Jesus is praying in the garden before He is about to be betrayed and crucified

(Mk. 14:32-42). While Matthew and Luke may not have seen the need to show the same

emphasis as Mark, it is evident that Mark did see James as one of the disciples that had a more

intimate relationship with their savior. Mark’s close relationship with Peter would have been

another reason as to why Mark viewed James along with Peter and John in this way. It is also

important to note that James and his brother John were the only disciples to be given a new name

by Jesus other than Simon (Peter).9

A Son of Thunder

One of the peculiar verses noted earlier was Mark’s account of Jesus’ name for James

and his brother, Boanerges. What is it that Jesus meant by this name for these two brothers?

Ronald Brownrigg states that it was for their zeal and spirit, and it was shown in their desire

to destroy a Samaritan village that was inhospitable.10 Jesus does rebuke James and John in

their asking permission to call fire down on the inhospitable Samaritan village. Perhaps one

reason why Jesus called them by the nickname, “the sons of thunder” (Lk. 9:54). Culpepper

8
Ibid.
9
Culpepper, 40.
10
Ronald Brownrigg, Who’s Who in the New Testament, (Florence: Taylor and Francis, 2001), 115.

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says that these passages that mention James and his brother without Peter do not paint an

intimate portrait but rather a picture of two that were intolerant and hot-tempered.11

However he further notes that just like the name that was given to Simon (Peter, which

means rock) was an ironic one, the same may be said for the name given to James and John

and their future state.12 Just as Christ saw in Peter what he would become (and could be

argued showed some glimpses of), Christ saw the same in James’ and John’s misguided

ambition to be great (Mk. 10:35-40; Matt. 20:20-28). Jewish tradition shows that names

were given to someone who is given to act a specific task or given as a future promise

according to Culpepper.13 Culpepper’s assertion would make since in light of what we know

of Peter as well as James and John. While there is just a brief mention in the Acts of the

Apostles about James, it is an account of the first martyrdom of an apostle (Acts 12:1-3).

Brownrigg makes mention that Luke’s account of James death in Acts is the only biblical

account, as well as the most reliable account of any of the original twelve.14 This would be

the fulfillment of what Jesus would foreshadow earlier as James was the first to drink

Christ’s cup of death and succumb to His baptism of suffering (Mk. 10:35-40).15 Because

the death of James at the hands of Herrod Agrippa I pleased the Jews so much, it ended up

landing Peter in jail. The fact that James died for his faith in Jesus as Lord and savior reveals

the courage that James had to continue following his Lord and Savior.

11
Culpepper, 38.
12
Ibid., 40.
13
Ibid.
14
Brownrigg, 115.
15
Ibid.

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 Application

What is to be said now of James? The biblical texts dealing with James show the culture

and climate that James lived in. In fact, Culpepper states that much can be revealed of James

religious culture and environment just from his name.16 James was a Hellenized form of Jacob

and was a very common Jewish name, and Zebedee means “gift of Yahweh”.17 The biblical

texts initially show a character of zeal to leave everything behind to follow Jesus (Matt. 4:22).

Christians today should take note. There are often grumblings anytime a preacher speaks of

money from the pulpit. Comments will often be repeated like, “All Jesus wants is our hearts, and

He does not need our money.” While that may be true, one can look at the zeal of James and see

what giving your heart to Jesus entails. Not only does Jesus want our money, He wants

everything, every single part of our lives. Christ wants nothing to stand in the way of us having

all of Him. The biblical text shows that James knew he could trust the savior, and his desire to

be with Jesus was evident. The biblical text also shows that James was not anywhere near

perfection, nor where Christ wanted Him to be. James zeal often revealed itself as misguided

ambition. Jesus let James know in no uncertain terms that James’ reward was not a throne of

power in the Lord’s kingdom, but to share in His suffering and to be a servant (Matt. 20:20-23).

Perhaps it was a since of entitlement for being more close with the Lord than the others. Mark’s

gospel shows it even made the other ten “indignant” of James and John (Mk. 10:35-40). Jesus

even has to rebuke James and his brother John in wanting to call down fire from heaven on an

ungenerous Samaritan village (Lk. 9:54). These two instances must have been terribly

embarrassing for James and John. Even though James was misguided in this ambition, he did

16
Culpepper, 7.
17
Culpepper, 7.

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desire to be with the Lord in eternity. This is something all believers in Christ should keep in

mind, and desire to be with our Lord for eternity just like James. It is evident that James did

persevere in the faith. He would be the first apostle to die for his Lord and savior. There is no

doubt that James was courageous. Death is a horrible thing that believers have to deal with, and

I do not believe the church in America truly understands the gravity of such courage. All

believers of Christ should take note of what it may possibly mean for us on this earth to follow

Jesus. This is something that James would have been very aware of, but he not waiver and

remained faithful to the Lord all the way to his death.

Conclusion

In closing it is evident that James (the son of Zebedee) had a faith that was so strong that

his desire to be with Christ led to his death by the hands of Herrod Agrippa I. Even though

James had a misguided zeal, James remained faithful because Christ remained faithful to him. It

is evident that Jesus had an intimate relationship with James. This should also stand as a picture

for the church to emulate as well in the type of relationships that believers should have. Jesus

had different types of relationships just as we do. The intimate relationships that believers have

make a large impact in people’s lives. So while this is a biography of James (the son of

Zebedee) and his ambition, courage and zeal; it is ultimately about the effect that Christ had on

James and gifted him with such talents. After viewing the character of James, this research

revealed that ultimately, it is all about Jesus! This is what James would want his biography to be

about- that it would ultimately point to Jesus.

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 Bibliography

Brownrigg, Canon Ronald, and Brownrigg, Ronald. Who's Who in the New Testament. Florence:
Taylor and Francis, 2001.

Cheney, Emily. "The Mother of the Sons of Zebedee (Matthew 27.56)." Journal for the
Study of the New Testament 20, no. 68: 13-21. Religion and Philosophy Collection.

Culpepper, R. Alan. John, the Son of Zebedee: The Life of a Legend. Columbia, S.C.:
University of South Carolina Press, 1994.

Keener, Craig S. IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove:
InterVarsity Press, 2014.

Kreitzer, Beth. Luke. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001. Accessed August 19, 2017.
ProQuest Ebook Central.

Maloney, Francis J. Gospel of Mark: A Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group,
2012.

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