Good try Paul, James was Joseph's son but not Mary's son as he was elder of Jesus, and Mary had no children before Jesus. If you read the teachings of Jesus, he believed in a universal Church that is why he commissioned his disciples to go unto all peoples and give them the gospel.

The Apostle Paul made no such claim as you suppose of superiority, he saw that Jewish laws did not apply to Gentile followers of Jesus. James headed the Church in Jerusalem and at one stage Paul takes up a collection to assist the poor believers suffering in Jerusalem, there was no conflict, but Jewish laws did not apply to Gentiles.

Jose'

Paul offered James 80 pieces of silver as recompense for their differences, which had divided the two, Paul was willing to accept certain practices of gentiles, which James found abhorrent. Rather than placating James the offering infuriated him, and it was then as Paul feared for his life from James's followers that he declared himself to be a Roman citizen and sought the protection of the Romans.

The age difference between Mary and Joseph would have been about 10 years. Mary at the age of 12 being betrothed to Joseph, with marriage at the age of 14, Joseph being in his 20's, their's would have been an orthodox Jewish marriage arrangement for the time. Mary would have become pregnant close to the time of marriage, and she would have gone on to have other children.

BTW, Paul ran a tent making business, and had wealthy converts as well. I clam that St Paul is the true founder of Christianity. Jesus set the motivation, but it was St Paul who gave it the necessary impetus to succeed. If it had been left to James, Christianity would have been just another sect within Judaism, and now long forgotten.

Mark 6:3

"Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" So they were offended at Him.

NO NO NO This original post should be yelled from the mountain top for all to hear. Families fight, groups fight, tribes fight, About 300 in Australia?? How are 20 or 30 latte sippers on a committee going to benefit the average aboriginal around Australia. Where there is money to be made people will gather and fight, they are good at it. One only has to look at the current Aboriginal organisations (forget the previous disaster ATSIC) where if not family your not in. A yes will open the doors to continual litigation and court cases keeping lawyers in the manner they are accustomed too.
Having seen and witnessed the huge waste of the aboriginal industry over the years (56 now) with little results, there should be NO decision, NO!!. A massive cost to the country however a few will come out on top and finish up very well off while the poor old blackfella will stay sitting under a gum tree..

Paul, note it does not say James, Joses, Judas and Simon, sons of Mary of which only Jesus was a son of Mary. Joseph had sons of a previous wife which are mentioned in Infancy writings and Matthew's Protevangalion. Mary was raised from 3 years of age in school, at puberty she was sent home from school during that period became pregnant before marriage to Joseph, but it was too risky considering Herod's threats to have a child raised to be a king clearly exposed in the school. The priest Zecheriah Chose Joseph and had Jesus hidden in a common carpenter's family. Jesus was raised as a son of Joseph, and the sons of Joseph were considered brothers.

Dear Josephus,

You wrote:

“The Apostle Paul and Jesus' stepbrother James considered themselves as servants / slaves of Jesus Christ and performed their mission without any form of reimbursement. They were often beaten and stoned even to the point of death. They did what Christ commanded them to do - be a witness of his to the Jew and the gentiles. It is unfortunate that Steel will not serve another without expecting equivalent return. It is on this basis that Christian Charities work, in the hope of improving another's life not for self-reward. He cannot understand that in his view everything must be done for personal profit.”

I really am struggling to believe someone would be so utterly disingenuous to put such a comment in rebuttal.

They weren’t “often beaten and stoned even to the point of death” by Christ were they. The comparison of the apostles with slaves is utterly false. Further people who make the choice to do things without recompense are not slaves.

Leviticus clearly states: 'Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.”

Deal with it.