S
SHW
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I could not find the original post for “Brothers of the Lord” so I am starting a new thread.
There was no Aramaic word in Scripture for “biological brother” or “biological sister” so “brother” in Scripture could mean biological brother or another relative such as a cousin or even a step-brother.
Also, we Christians are all adopted “brothers” and “sisters” of Christ. One legend states that Joseph was a widower so it would be possible for Jesus to have step-brothers. However, other
early Church leaders believed that Joseph had never married so the “brothers” mentioned are actually cousins of Jesus from Mary’s side of the family or nephews of Joseph and so would be Jesus’ cousins also.
I agree that Jesus would not have given his mother into John’s care if he had biological brothers of his own. I read that there were special rules regarding kinship responsibilities for the care of widows, etc. in those days.
There are three James mentioned in Scripture.
James, an apostle, is called the brother of the Lord in Galatians 1:19. “But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.” This James is most likely the brother of Joseph (Joses) and they are probably the sons of Mary and Cleophas since it states that this James is an apostle.
The two James who were apostles: one was the son of Zebedee and the other was the son of Alphaeus, yet he is known as the “brother” of the Lord in Galatians 1:19, so this would make him a non-biological brother and most likely he is a cousin.
Matthew 10:2-4 “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was[a] Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananite,** and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.”** James the Greater is John’s biological brother and they are the sons of Zebedee and Salome.
Luke 6:14-16 “Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.”
Judas Thadeus is the son of the Apostle James the Less (Little) and this James is the son of Alphaeus.
Mark 15:40 “There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome,” Click here.
The James mentioned in Galatians 2:9 is one of the 70 disciples and is not an apostle according to Eusebius, the early Church historian. newadvent.org/fathers/250101.htm
There was no Aramaic word in Scripture for “biological brother” or “biological sister” so “brother” in Scripture could mean biological brother or another relative such as a cousin or even a step-brother.
Also, we Christians are all adopted “brothers” and “sisters” of Christ. One legend states that Joseph was a widower so it would be possible for Jesus to have step-brothers. However, other
early Church leaders believed that Joseph had never married so the “brothers” mentioned are actually cousins of Jesus from Mary’s side of the family or nephews of Joseph and so would be Jesus’ cousins also.
I agree that Jesus would not have given his mother into John’s care if he had biological brothers of his own. I read that there were special rules regarding kinship responsibilities for the care of widows, etc. in those days.
There are three James mentioned in Scripture.
James, an apostle, is called the brother of the Lord in Galatians 1:19. “But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.” This James is most likely the brother of Joseph (Joses) and they are probably the sons of Mary and Cleophas since it states that this James is an apostle.
The two James who were apostles: one was the son of Zebedee and the other was the son of Alphaeus, yet he is known as the “brother” of the Lord in Galatians 1:19, so this would make him a non-biological brother and most likely he is a cousin.
Matthew 10:2-4 “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was[a] Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananite,** and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.”** James the Greater is John’s biological brother and they are the sons of Zebedee and Salome.
Luke 6:14-16 “Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.”
Judas Thadeus is the son of the Apostle James the Less (Little) and this James is the son of Alphaeus.
Mark 15:40 “There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome,” Click here.
The James mentioned in Galatians 2:9 is one of the 70 disciples and is not an apostle according to Eusebius, the early Church historian. newadvent.org/fathers/250101.htm