Bible Figure
Saint James the Great
James the son of Zebedee, traditionally called James the Great, was one of the Twelve and brother of John. He belonged to Jesus' inner circle with Peter and John and became the first of the Twelve whose martyrdom is explicitly recorded in the New Testament. This record overlaps the AVWJ James son of Zebedee entry.
Biography
James worked as a fisherman with his father Zebedee and brother John until Jesus called the brothers to follow Him. Jesus nicknamed James and John Boanerges, 'sons of thunder.' With Peter and John, James witnessed the raising of Jairus' daughter, the Transfiguration, and Jesus' agony in Gethsemane. James and John at times displayed ambition and intensity, including asking for places of honor in Jesus' kingdom and wanting judgment upon a Samaritan village. Jesus redirected them toward sacrificial service. Acts 12 records that Herod Agrippa I had James killed with the sword, making him the first member of the Twelve whose martyrdom is narrated in Scripture.
Biblical Significance
James' life shows the transformation of an ambitious and fiery disciple into a foundational witness who ultimately suffered for Christ. The duplicate James records on AVWJ should eventually be presented as alternate labels for the same biblical figure rather than as unrelated people.