How is it that Jesus had brothers or sisters?

[eagbayani]

I was reaing Mark yesterday with a friend and come accross Jesus have severla brothers and sisters. How did that happen? Were they from previous marriage of Joseph? Are they younger siblings of Jesus? As a Catholic since childhood and all my school days inlcuding Theology classes in College, how come this was never discussed?

 

[Leonie_Ambrose]

eagbayani,

The following links should assist you in better understanding the Catholic Church’s teaching on whether Jesus had siblings - from Mary and/or Joseph. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by these links, please [contact Catholic Answers (http://www.catholic.com/home/contact.asp) directly.

**Recommended Reading:
**

• Doesn’t Scripture imply that Mary had children other than Jesus?
• ** Did Jesus have brothers?**
• ** Perpetual Virginity: Why is this important?**
• ** Mary: Ever Virgin**
• ** Why should any doctrine not explicitly referred to in the Bible, be listened to?**
• ** How do you respond to “Everything you need to know is in the Bible”?**
• ** How can we know a doctrine is true if it’s not in the Bible?**
• ** How do we know that the Protoevangelium of James is credible?**
• ** Does Church Tradtion exist only to interpret Scripture?**
• ** Non-Canonical Writings…**
• ** Oral Traditions not found in the Bible**