I was listening to a podcast from Covenant Theological Seminary on New Testament History and the instructor brought up the notion that James was converted by seeing the risen Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15:7 we find that Jesus appeared after his resurrection to James and it would seem that this is the Lord's brother since the whole verse says, "Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles." That James didn't believe at one time we know from John 7:
After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." For not even his brothers believed in him. (John 7:1-5)Of course, there is more than a little conjecture here, but it is an interesting thought to consider that James might have been converted by the risen Lord. That is one of those things I wish had been written down - something else to find out after death I suppose.
