The figure of James, the "brother" of Jesus, has been somewhat controversial in the history of the church. Both Catholics and early Protestants taught for centuries that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, remained a virgin throughout her life. So, what do we do in those places in the Bible that refer to the brothers and sisters of Jesus?

Whatever the specific family tie between Jesus and James, a relationship existed. This one session study on the figure of James is part of a study pack called "Figures in the New Testament" which consists of six studies of important persons found in the Gospels. Each study is independent of the others and you do not need to study all of them to enjoy just one or several of the studies. While any order may be used, we suggest the following order: Peter; Mary and Martha; James, Brother of Jesus; Priscilla; Lazarus; and Mary, Mother of Jesus.