III. WESTERN LISTS-- (a) _Italy._ Muratorian, A.D. 180 . . . . * * * Hippolytus, A.D. 220 . . . . * ( ) * (b) _Gaul._ Irenaeus, A.D. 180 . . . . . * * * (c) _Roman Africa._ Tertullian, A.D. 200 . . . . * * * [1] _Inspiration_, p. 368. {223} CHAPTER XX THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES [Sidenote: The Author] In the 4th century this Epistle was reckoned among the authentic documents of the apostolic period. It does not seem to have been universally known in the Church at an earlier period. It is not in the _Muratorian Fragment_. But it is plainly quoted by Irenaeus, though he does not mention the author's name. The same is true with regard to the _Shepherd_ of Hermas, which was written at Rome about A.D. 140. Justin Martyr quotes the words "the devils shudder" (James ii. 19, _Trypho_, 49). Polycarp seems to quote James i. 27, and 1 Peter seems to show traces of its influence. The first writer who both quotes it and mentions the author is Origen. It opens with the name of "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." There can be no reasonable doubt that this is James "the Lord's brother." James the son of Zebedee was killed as early as A.D. 44, before which date it is unlikely that the Epistle was written. We have no reason to attribute the Epistle to the Apostle James "the Little." He does not seem to have been of sufficient prominence to write an authoritative letter "to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion." But such an action would have been exceedingly natural on the part of a saint who was bishop of "the mother of Churches," Jerusalem itself. It will be convenient to postpone the consideration of such evidence as we possess for the foregoing conclusion until we have discussed the exact relation of St. James to our Lord. {224} Three important theories must be mentioned as offering a solution of the difficult problem as to this relationship-- (a) That James, Joses, Simon, and Jude, mentioned in the Gospels as the "brethren" of our Lord, were His first cousins on His mother's side. (b) That they were the children of Joseph and Mary. (c) That they were the children of Joseph by a former wife.