Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

By my count and understanding, in the authorized 27-book canon of the New Testament (that is, excluding apocryphal writings), there would have been three authors who had been among the original twelve apostles: Matthew (although the gospel bearing his name does not specifically attribute its authorship to him); John (who wrote five of the 27 books (John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation)); and Peter (who wrote two of the 27 books (1 Peter and 2 Peter)).

My understanding is that Catholics attribute the authorship of the epistle of Jude in the New Testament to the apostle variously known as Judas (not Iscariot), Thaddeus, or Lebbaeus, but Protestants generally do not, instead believing the author to have been a brother of the early church father James (the author of the epistle of James, and not to be confused with the apostles James the son of Zebedee (and brother of John), or James the son of Alphaeus), who are both regarded as "natural" children of Mary the mother of Jesus, subsequent to Jesus' birth, as noted by the residents of Nazareth in Matthew 13:55-56.

November 12 2020 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Appelt Supporter

Usually, the apostles that wrote New Testament books are limited to Peter, John, and Matthew, but there may have been two more of the original twelve apostles that wrote books.

The books in question would be the epistles of James and Jude, traditionally attributed to the half-brothers of Jesus. But neither actually said they were related to Jesus, even though some suggest a form of humility when they said they were “bondservants.”

The Epistle of James is most likely by James the son of Zebedee. Most commentators dismiss him thinking he was martyred quite early. But he was killed by Herod in 44, which theoretically gives him at least twelve years to have written an epistle. Some scholars suggest an early date for the letter and some think the addressees, James 1:1, may have even been those who were at Pentecost, Acts 2:1-5, and had returned to their homelands.

In fact, many things about the letter suggest it was one of the first epistles. Some of the vocabulary, “synagogue,” “Lord of Hosts,” “calling of the elders for healing,” reflects this.

It is problematic if James the brother of Jesus wrote this. He hardly qualifies not having sat under Jesus’ ministry. He seldom mentions Christ which would have been expected, but resorts to Old Testament prophets and Jewish traditions and seems to disregard his worthy Brother. On the other hand, the son of Zebedee, had the relationship and experience of being with Christ which his epistle reflects. He mirrors the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

Peter and John wrote books, so James, also of the inner circle, could also have written one. He possibly did because these three allude to the Lord in His glory when He was transfigured, Matthew 17:1, compared with II Peter 1:16-18, John 1:14, and James 2:1. And their epistles follow the order of the topical arrangement of I Corinthians 13:13, faith – James, hope – Peter, and love – John.

Concerning the Epistle of Jude, it is most likely by the apostle Jude, called “Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus.” In Mark 3:18, he is listed as “Thaddaeus.” In Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13, he is literally, “Judas of James.” This last phrase is commonly understood as a father-son relationship, but it can be a brother-link as some versions have in Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13, which agrees with Jude 1:1.

Jude, like James, learned to serve under Jesus, which cannot be said of Jesus’ half-brothers. Jude’s denunciation of false teacher is reminiscent of Jesus denouncing the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23. 

In John 14:22, John relates the only recorded words of Jude. Remarkably, Jude seems to develop on the Lord’s teaching of John 14:21, 23-24, to love Him and keep His words, when he wrote Jude 1:20-21. 

If James and Jude were apostles, as suggested here, the entire New Testament has the unmistakable authority of the apostles whether written by them or endorsed by them as Luke by Paul and Mark by Peter.

2 days ago • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report