36. James the Just – Historical and Archaeological Evidence
Independent historical sources confirm this early church leader’s existence. The Jewish historian Josephus recorded how religious authorities executed “James, the brother of Jesus who is called Christ” in 62 CE. This rare non-Christian reference matches New Testament accounts of James leading the Jerusalem church after his brother’s death. Archaeologists have found inscriptions and ancient church ruins in Jerusalem from James’s time as leader. The dig sites reveal how the earliest Christians worshipped under his guidance. His death shook the young Christian community, but his leadership had already helped the movement survive its difficult early years. Even Roman writers noted how James’s execution upset many Jerusalem residents who considered him righteous.
