Famous, Forgotten, and Family: The Three men named James in the New Testament

You’ve probably heard of James the apostle—the one who wanted to sit at Jesus’ right hand, who saw the Transfiguration, who got nicknamed “Son of Thunder” with his brother John. You may even know that he has a book of the Bible named after him. But here’s the strange thing: there are three different men named James in the New Testament, and only one of them actually wrote the letter we call James. The other two? One became the first apostle to die for the faith. The third barely gets a mention at all. Three men. Same name. Wildly different stories.

James the Famous, James the son of Zebedee, James the Greater, Big James

This is the James everyone thinks of first. Fisherman, inner-circle disciple, one of the first four called by Jesus (Mark 1:19-20). He’s on the mountain when Jesus shines like the sun. He’s in the room when Jairus’ daughter wakes up. He’s bold enough (or foolish enough) to ask for the best seat in the kingdom, and Jesus nicknames him and his brother Boanerges—“Sons of Thunder.” Tradition says he preached in Spain; Scripture says he didn’t live long enough to do much preaching anywhere. Herod Agrippa I had him executed with the sword around AD 44 (Acts 12:2). First apostle in, first apostle out. Famous in life, famous in death.

James the Forgotten, James the son of Alphaeus, James the Lesser, Little James

We know almost nothing about this second James. He makes every list of the Twelve (Matt 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13), but he never gets a speaking line. No miracles, no nicknames, no scandals, no martyrdom story. Mark 15:40 mentions a “James the Less” (literally “James the Little” or “James the Short”—maybe he was younger or shorter than the other James), and some scholars think this is the same guy. That’s it. Twelve verses total, and most of them are just his name on a roster. Yet for three years he walked the same dusty roads, heard the same sermons, ate the same bread-and-fish lunches as Peter and John. He was there. He counted. And then he vanished quietly into Christian history, doing who-knows-what for the kingdom. Forgotten by almost everyone—except the One who called him by name.

James the Family, James the brother of Jesus, James the Just

This is the James who finally got what mattered most and made an impact.

During Jesus’ public ministry, his own brothers didn’t believe in him (John 7:5). Imagine growing up with the sinless older brother who never lost at anything, never got in trouble, and kept claiming to be the Messiah. Awkward family dinners, to put it mildly. But something changed after the resurrection. Paul tells us the risen Jesus made a special post-resurrection appearance to his brother James (1 Cor 15:7). Whatever happened in that encounter turned the skeptic into the undisputed leader of the Jerusalem church. When Peter escapes prison, he says, “Tell James” (Acts 12:17). When the Council of Jerusalem decides the Gentile question in Acts 15, it’s James who stands up and renders the final verdict. Paul calls him a “pillar” alongside Peter and John (Gal 2:9), and later visits him first when he returns to Jerusalem (Acts 21:18). Early Christian writers nicknamed him “James the Just” because of his extraordinary holiness—he supposedly prayed so much his knees were like a camel’s. And almost every scholar today (Catholic and Protestant alike) agrees that this James—the Lord’s brother—is the author of the letter of James. The famous apostle James was already dead by the time it was written.

So What Do We Do with Three Jameses?

The three Jameses teach us that God’s call is never one-size-fits-all. Whether you’re destined for a bold, visible role like James the Greater, a quiet, faithful walk like James the Less, or a surprising transformation like James the Just, your story matters in the kingdom. Take a moment to reflect: What’s one small step you can take to lean into the unique way God is shaping your life for His purposes? It might be as simple as serving unnoticed, speaking up courageously, or trusting Him through doubt. Whatever it is, step forward—because, like each James, you’re called by name to make a difference.