Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem - Jewish Bishops of Jerusalem

Jewish Bishops of Jerusalem

See also: Early centers of Christianity#Jerusalem

The early Christian community of Jerusalem was led by a Council of Elders, and considered itself part of the wider Jewish community. This collegiate system of government in Jerusalem is seen in Acts 11:30 and 15:22.

Eusebius of Caesarea provides the names of an unbroken succession of thirty-six Bishops of Jerusalem up to the year 324. The first sixteen of these bishops were of Jewish origin—from James the Just through Judas († 135)—the remainder were Gentiles:

"But since the bishops of the circumcision ceased at this time, it is proper to give here a list of their names from the beginning. The first, then, was James, the so-called brother of the Lord; the second, Symeon; the third, Justus; the fourth, Zacchaeus; the fifth, Tobias; the sixth, Benjamin; the seventh, John; the eighth, Matthias; the ninth, Philip; the tenth, Seneca; the eleventh, Justus; the twelfth, Levi; the thirteenth, Ephres; the fourteenth, Joseph; and finally, the fifteenth, Judas. These are the bishops of Jerusalem that lived between the age of the apostles and the time referred to, all of them belonging to the circumcision."

1. James the Just (until 62)
2. Simeon I (62–107)
3. Justus I (107–113)
4. Zaccheus (113–???)
5. Tobias (???–???)
6. Benjamin I (???–117)
7. John I (117–???)
8. Matthias I (???–120)
9. Philip (???–124)
10. Senecas (???–???)
11. Justus II (???–???)
12. Levis (???–???)
13. Ephram (???–???)
14. Joseph I (???–???)
15. Judas (???–135)