James (Son of Alphaeus)

Who was James Son of Alphaeus?

James, son of Alphaeus, was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is listed among the apostles in the Gospels and spent time witnessing Jesus’ life, teachings, and miracles during His earthly ministry. To distinguish him from James, son of Zebedee, he is often called “James the Less.”

Significant Characteristics

There is very little known about his personal characteristics. His name is mentioned in the listing of the Apostles in the Gospels (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15) and again among the disciples who gathered together in the upper room for Pentecost (Acts 1:13) which does show that he had persevered in his faith through the death and resurrection of Jesus. He could have been a steadfast, low-profile disciple since there are no dramatic moments attributed to him.

Contributions to the Church

Although there is little detail about his specific actions in the early church, some traditions suggest that James preached in areas like Egypt, though there is limited historical evidence to confirm this.

Martyrdom

Traditional accounts suggest he was martyred for his faith. Some sources claim he was crucified in Egypt while other accounts say he was stoned to death in Jerusalem.