James the Just and the Jerusalem church
c. c. 30 – 62
Place: jerusalem
31.778, 35.235 · On the map
His death is reported by Josephus (Ant. 20.200) and by Hegesippus as quoted in Eusebius (HE 2.23). Josephus is a neutral outside source; Hegesippus is a later Christian insider.
James, called the brother of Jesus, led the Jerusalem community of Torah-observant followers until he was executed in 62 CE. Later Jewish-Christian groups (Ebionites, Nazoraeans) and the Pseudo-Clementine writings treated him as their great authority.
People named here
- James the Just
- Ananus ben Ananus
Links
Influence
Out
Pseudo-Clementine Homilies and Recognitions
The Pseudo-Clementines treat James as the supreme authority of the Jerusalem church.
influenced
attested
Sequence
Out
War with Rome and the dispersal of Jerusalem's Jesus-followers (incl. the Pella tradition)
James' execution (62) came shortly before the war and dispersal of 66–70.
preceded
attestedIn
Jesus of Nazareth (crucifixion in Jerusalem)
After Jesus' death, James led the Jerusalem community.
succeeded_by
attested
Sources
- Josephus, Antiquities 20 (Whiston trans., PD)
Penelope, Univ. of Chicago. Accessed 2026-11-11.
- Eusebius, Church History Book 2 (NPNF trans., PD)
New Advent. Accessed 2026-11-11.
- Wikipedia: James the Just
Wikipedia contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-11-11.