Bible Dictionary
JUDAS OF JAMES
Judas of James was one of the twelve apostles, also identified with Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus and called Judas, not Iscariot. He is recorded asking Jesus why He would reveal Himself to the disciples and not to the world.
Definition
Judas of James was one of the twelve apostles. He is identified with Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus and is distinguished from Judas Iscariot.
Biblical Usage
In John 14:22, Judas asks Jesus why He will manifest Himself to the disciples and not to the world. Luke and Acts call him Judas of James, preferably understood as “son of James.”
Historical Background
The King James Version reads “brother of James,” while the Revised Version reads “son of James.” His identification with Thaddaeus is generally accepted, though some have disputed it.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>(Ioudas Iakobou): One of the twelve apostles (Lu 6:16; Ac 1:13; for etymology, etc., see JUDAS). the King James Version has the reading "brother of James," and the Revised Version (British and American) reads "son of James." The latter is to be preferred. In Joh 14:22 he is described as "Judas (not Iscariot)." The name corresponds with the "Thaddaeus" or "Lebbaeus whose surname was Thaddaeus" of Mt 10:3 the King James Version and Mr 3:18 (compare THADDAEUS). The identification of Thaddaeus with Judas is generally accepted, though Ewald and others hold that they were different persons, that Thaddeus died during Christ's lifetime, and that Judas was chosen in his place (compare Bruce, Training of the Twelve, 34). If the Revised Version (British and American) is accepted as the correct rendering of Lu 6:16 and Ac 1:13, this Judas cannot be identified either with the Juda (Mr 6:3 the King James Version), Judas (Mr 6:3 the Revised Version (British and American)), or Judas (Mt 13:55), the brother of Jesus; or with the Judas (Jude 1:1 the Revised Version margin) or Jude (Jude 1:1 the King James Version), the brother of James, whether these two latter Judases are to be regarded as the same or not. The only incident recorded of Judas of James is in Joh 14:22, where during Christ's address to the disciples after the last supper he put the question, "Lord, what is come to pass that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?"</p><p>C. M. Kerr</p>