The New Testament presents James, the brother of Jesus, as the leading elder/pastor of the Jerusalem church — the first organized Christian church in history. This is the closest New Testament parallel to the Old Testament High Priest as the central leader of God’s people.

Below are clear biblical reasons and early historical witnesses.

 

📖 1. James Speaks With Authority at the Jerusalem Council

Acts 15:13–21

After Peter, Paul, and Barnabas speak, James gives the final judgment, and the entire church accepts his ruling.

“After they had become silent, James answered, saying, ‘Men and brethren, listen to me…’”
— Acts 15:13 (MSB)

James delivers the final, decisive pastoral ruling, showing he held the highest authority in the Jerusalem church.

 

📖 2. Paul Reports Directly to James as the Primary Leader

Galatians 1:18–19

Paul visits Peter and James after his conversion, naming James specifically as a key authority.

Galatians 2:9

James is listed first among the three “pillars” of the church:

“James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars…”
— Galatians 2:9

Being listed first demonstrates recognized leadership.

 

📖 3. James is the One to Whom Paul Reports His Ministry Activity

Acts 21:17–19

When Paul returns to Jerusalem, he goes straight to James, not Peter:

“Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.”
— Acts 21:18

This shows James supervising the entire Jerusalem elder board — the role of a senior pastor.

 

📖 4. James Has Sole Authority Over the Jerusalem Elders

In Acts 21:18, James is distinguished from the other elders:

• James (the senior pastor)

• the elders (plural — leadership under him)

This mirrors modern pastoral church structure.

 

📖 5. James Is the Apparent Authoritative Elder in Jerusalem

Throughout Acts, James:

✔ speaks last
✔ makes decisions
✔ receives missionary reports
✔ is visited as the head of the Jerusalem church

This is the role of a senior pastor/overseeing elder.

​

Support From Early Church Fathers

Early Christian writers unanimously identified James as the first bishop (pastor) of Jerusalem.

Eusebius of Caesarea (A.D. 260–339)

Church History 2.1.2–4

“James, the brother of the Lord… was appointed the first bishop of the church in Jerusalem.”

Eusebius gives the earliest full church-history record and is explicit:
James = first bishop (senior pastor).

 

Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 150–215)

Quoted in Eusebius, Church History 2.1.3

“Peter, James, and John… chose James the Just as bishop of Jerusalem.”

James is chosen as the bishop, the pastoral overseer.

 

Hegesippus (2nd century), quoted in Eusebius 2.23

“James, the brother of the Lord, succeeded to the government of the Church in conjunction with the apostles.”

This describes James as the head of the Jerusalem church, even with apostles present.

 

Jerome (A.D. 347–420)

Lives of Illustrious Men, ch. 2

“James… was ordained by the apostles bishop of Jerusalem.”

Jerome confirms the same historical testimony.

 

✨ Summary

Just as the Old Testament had a High Priest as the primary spiritual leader,
the New Testament Jerusalem church had:

James — the brother of Jesus — as the senior pastor/overseeing elder.

Supported by:

✔ Scripture (Acts 15, Acts 21, Gal. 1–2)
✔ Early Church Fathers (Eusebius, Clement, Hegesippus, Jerome)
✔ Historical church tradition