Mark 3:17

James. Gr. Iakobos, from the Heb. Ya‘aqob, the name of the patriarch Jacob (see on Gen 25:26, 27). The English form of the name, “James,” is a modified form derived from the Latin through the French. James is usually mentioned before his brother John, when the two are referred to together, indicating that John was the younger of the two (cf. DA 292). James was undoubtedly the first of the Twelve to suffer a martyr’s death, in approximately A.D. 44 (see on Acts 12:1,2), whereas his brother John was the last of the Twelve to die, in approximately A.D. 96. The fact that James was deemed important enough to be selected by Herod Agrippa for early martyrdom implies that he was one of the prominent leaders of the church in Jerusalem. The NT record presents James as at first a somewhat selfish, ambitious, and outspoken man (see Mark 10:35-41), but later as a quiet and capable leader. Many have identified the mother of James and John, and the wife of Zebedee, as Salome (cf. Mark 15:40; Matt. 27:56). There is a further possibility, though rather remote, that Salome is to be identified as the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus, if four women are mentioned in John 19:25 rather than three (see on John 19:25).

John. John was apparently a man of deep spiritual insight, which developed as he beheld in Jesus the One altogether lovely. John not only loved his Master; he was “that disciple whom Jesus loved” (see John 20:2; 21:7, 20). By nature proud, self-assertive, ambitious of honor, impetuous, resentful under injury, and eager to take revenge (see Mark 10:35-41; AA 540, 541), John yielded himself more completely than any of the others to the transforming power of the perfect life of Jesus, and came to reflect the Saviour’s likeness more fully than did his fellow disciples. As James was the first of the Twelve to give his life a martyr for the gospel, so John was last to die. It was not without reason that Jesus named James and John “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17; see on Luke 9:54). According to early Christian tradition John served as pastor of the church at Ephesus and supervisor of the churches throughout the Roman province of Asia during the closing years of his life.

Boanerges. Probably a transliteration from an Aramaic expression meaning “sons of tumult,” or “sons of wrath” — freely translated “sons of thunder.” The vehement temperament, the fiery temper, of James and John was on occasion manifested openly (see Luke 9:49, 52-56).