James, brother of Jesus

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/james-brother-of-jesus

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the biblical references?Mentioned in Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3 as a brother of Jesus
2. What is the associated traditions?Often identified with James, son of Alphaeus, and James the Less
3. Who was James the brother of Jesus?James, also called James the Just, was Jesus's brother and became the first leader, or bishop, of the Jerusalem church.
4. Why was James important in early Christianity?He helped decide how new believers should follow Jewish laws, made the church more inclusive, and was respected by the Apostle Paul.

Apocryphal Texts: Ancient writings that are not part of the official canon of the Bible but are still studied.
Perpetual Virginity: The belief that Mary remained a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus.
Council of Jerusalem: An early church meeting where leaders decided on rules for new Christian converts.
Mosaic Law: The religious laws given to Moses by God, primarily found in the first five books of the Bible.