Origins & Early Life

James, son of Alphaeus (Greek: Ἰάκωβος, Iakōbos; Aramaic: ܝܥܩܘܒ ܒܪ ܚܠܦܝ; Hebrew: יעקב בן חלפי Ya'akov ben Halfai; Coptic: ⲓⲁⲕⲱⲃⲟⲥ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲁⲗⲫⲉⲟⲥ; Arabic: يعقوب بن حلفى, romanized: Ya'qūb bin Halfā) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, appearing under this name in all three of the Synoptic Gospels' lists of the apostles. He is generally identified with James the Less (Ancient Greek: Ἰάκωβος ὁ μικρός Iakōbos ho mikros, Mark 15:40) and commonly known by that name in church tradition. He is also labelled "the Minor", "the Little", "the Lesser", or "the Younger", according to translation. He is distinct from James, son of Zebedee and in some interpretations also from James, brother of Jesus (James the Just).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He appears only four times in the New Testament, each time in a list of the twelve apostles. James, son of Alphaeus, is often identified as James the Less, who is only mentioned four times in the Bible, each time in connection with his mother. Mark 15:40 refers to "Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses", while Mark 16:1 and Matthew 27:56 refer to "Mary the mother of James". Since there was already another James (James...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Bartholomew the Apostle — Contemporary (Born in -100) (-100): One of the twelve apostles of Jesus, traditionally associated with Nathanael.
• Iaia — Contemporary (Born in -100) (-100): A celebrated female Greek painter from Cyzicus, renowned for her portraiture of women.
• Lazarus of Bethany — Contemporary (Born in -100) (-100): A figure resurrected by Jesus in the Gospel of John, symbolizing victory over death.
• James, brother of Jesus — Contemporary (Died in 62) (62): A foundational leader of the early Christian community in Jerusalem.
• Jude the Apostle — Contemporary (Died in 62) (62): A foundational Apostle in the New Testament, variously known as Thaddeus or Judas of James.
• Aglaonice — Contemporary figure (Died in -99) (-99): A legendary Thessalian witch known for predicting and manipulating lunar eclipses.
• Spartacus — Contemporary figure (Born in -103) (-103): Thracian gladiator who spearheaded the massive slave revolt in the Roman Republic.
• Dong Zhongshu — Contemporary figure (Died in -104) (-104): Prominent Han Dynasty philosopher who championed Confucianism as the state ideology.
• Jugurtha — Contemporary figure (Died in -104) (-104): King of Numidia, whose conflict with Rome sparked the Jugurthine War.
• -100 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from -100
• 62 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 62