Paul did not write Hebrews; we do not know who did

[Right Divider]

James was not an apostle in the same sense the the Twelve and Paul were. Israel had twelve and only twelve Apostles (capital A). The Body of Christ has one and only one Apostle. James was an apostle in the same sense that Barnabas was.

It feels to me like an important distinction to make.

I fully understand the difference between the various apostleship's. But that does not invalidate Nick's point.

 

[Derf]

Quite so.

Of course the point is that neither of those boys were the New Testament author, the leader of the Jerusalem church and the one who sent men to check out Paul's ministry.

It's tradition that says the book of James was written by the brother of Jesus. From the description in the letter and in Jude's letter, it could have been the third James, the brother of Jude, according to the scripture @Right Divider provided.

 

[Clete]

I fully understand the difference between the various apostleship's. But that does not invalidate Nick's point.

Which was what, exactly?

 

[Right Divider]

Which was what, exactly?

Have you ever noticed Christians that don't rightly divide, still call Paul "The Apostle Paul", yet never say "The Apostle James (insert any of the 12). I think it is the Holy Spirit.

 

[Clete]

Yeah, I remember that now and my reaction to the way its worded is the same now as then. It seems to imply that James (the Lord's brother and biblical author) was one of the Twelve.

Also, I don't think its all that uncommon for someone to refer to "the apostle Peter" or "the apostle John". If people avoid the term "apostle" in reference to James it's most likely because there's more than one James and so they are typically referenced in a manner that properly differentiates them from each other.

Lastly, if it had been the Holy Spirit quashing the use of "apostle" in reference to James, it seems that Galatians 1:19 would read differently than it does.

So, to be clear, I have no problem calling James an apostle, per se, so long as doing so does not leave the impression that he held the same office as that of the Twelve, who will sit on thrones ruling over the twelve tribes of Israel in the New Jerusalem.

 

[Nick M]

This is good work by the author. Just incomplete. Like Sozo here, one time he said. He says Paul contradictions Jesus, and lays it all out for you.

James is wrong

Well, you could look at it that way. But he has a different audience with different rules.