John I (bishop of Jerusalem) John I (bishop of Jerusalem) John I of Jerusalem was the seventh Bishop of Jerusalem. He was, according to Eusebius, a Jewish Christian born to Jewish parents who kept the Law of the Torah. According to universal tradition, John I replaced the first bishop of Jerusalem Saint James the Just, the ""brother of the Lord,"" who was appointed bishop by the Apostles Peter, St. James (whom Eusebius identifies as James, son of Zebedee) and John. John was well versed in the Law of Moses and as a young man disputed with Christians until he converted with the instruction of St.
Apostles Christian bishops have traditionally claimed authority deriving, by apostolic succession, from the Twelve. Early Church Fathers who came to be associated with apostles, such as Pope Clement I with St. Peter, are referred to as the Apostolic Fathers. The Apostles' Creed, popular in the West, was said to have been composed by the apostles themselves. The three Synoptic Gospels record the circumstances in which some of the disciples were recruited, Matthew only describing the recruitment of Simon, Andrew, James, and John. All three Synoptic Gospels state that these four were recruited fairly soon after Jesus returned from being tempted by