If the extract below from Eusebius "Chruch History" is true then it would mean
1) James not Peter was the leader of the church
2) This leader of the first Christian church appears to be a devout Jew keeping all the Mosaic law and even entering the "Holy of Holys" in the temple
3) As the brother of Jesus and leadership successor it is far more likely that his doctrine, rather than Pauls, reflects Jesus' original teaching.
It seems all a bit too good to be true, Jesus was likely a devout Jew and nothing like what Paul taught. Then again I've learnt that in the shadowy world of apologetics nothing is quite what it seems.
Any opinions or views?
Quote:
Eusebius - Church History 2.23:
James, the brother of the Lord, succeeded to the government of the Church in conjunction with the apostles. He has been called the Just by all from the time of our Saviour to the present day; for there were many that bore the name of James. He was holy from his mother's womb; and he drank no wine nor strong drink, nor did he eat flesh. No razor came upon his head; he did not anoint himself with oil, and he did not use the bath. He alone was permitted to enter into the holy place ; for he wore not woolen but linen garments. And he was in the habit of entering alone into the temple, and was frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel, in consequence of his constantly bending them in his worship of God, and asking forgiveness for the people. Because of his exceeding great justice he was called the Just.....
<snip>
The aforesaid Scribes and Pharisees therefore placed James upon the pinnacle of the temple, and cried out to him and said: Thou just one, in whom we ought all to have: confidence, forasmuch as the people are led, astray after Jesus, the crucified one, declare to us, what is the gate of Jesus.' And he answered with a loud voice,' Why do ye ask me concerning Jesus, the Son of Man ? He himself sitteth in heaven at the right hand of the great Power, and is about to come upon the clouds of heaven....
<snip>
So they went up and threw down the just man, and said to each other, 'Let us stone James the Just.' And they began to stone him, for he was not killed by the fall; but he turned and knelt down and said, 'I entreat thee, Lord God our Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' ....
<snip>
And one of them, who was a fuller, took the club with which he beat out clothes and struck the just man on the head. And thus he suffered martyrdom. And they buried him on the spot, by the temple, and his monument still remains by the temple. He became a true witness, both to Jews and Greeks, that Jesus is the Christ.
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[This message has been edited by james-2-24 (edited January 02, 2001).]
01-02-2001, 04:59 AM
James the Just
