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plt said:
Hello everyone!
I am still deeply involved in my studies of the various Christian beliefs and am wondering what the Calvinist view(s) of James, the brother or relative of Jesus is? I know that Martin Luther did not agree with his book and was very bothered by it, however, I am reading several sources (yes, Eisenman is one of them) that seem to be saying that 1. James was Jesus' blood brother (younger). 2. That the early church was in his care before Peter (suggesting that he was actually the 1st pope) and 3. That he and Paul were very conflicted over the early developing church with regards to applying the Mosaic law to Gentiles and works vs. faith. How does your faith interpret James and his place in Christianity?

Thank you in advance for taking time with me! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bow.gif" alt="" />
I don't know what Calvinism has to do with this. Any suggestion that a mere man can or should take the place of the Holy Spirit acting through all mature male saints seems to me like indescribable, if common, heresy.

One cannot get the merest glimmer of daylight between James and Paul. James was evidently writing to folk who knew Paul's writings, or who well understood justification by faith, at any rate. But they were on the verge, if not over it, of nominalism. So James said, ok, you are justified before God by faith, but before men you are justified by works- so let's see some! In a way, James is the best, most punchy book in the NT, when properly understood. Jesus' brother crunches dead bones, Halleluiah.

I can understand why that dreadful nominalist Catholic Luther didn't like him.