Jesus' brother.

[BrianH]

The Greek word that is translated as brother in English Bible also means cousin. So to be exact it really should be translated as “James, the male cousin of Jesus” but that sounds kind of silly now doesn’t it?

No. Find a Greek Lexicon and look up Anepsios.
Or Google it. Either way
Also look up Adelphos

 

[ConstantineTG]

First I have heard of that one.

That is actually a very old tradition in the Eastern Churches. Joseph was never meant to be a husband, ie, someone who would have a family with Mary. The temple priests chose an older widower to betroth Mary so that they will keep her virginity (being a temple virgin). And being married, other younger men will not marry her.

 

[joshrp]

No. Find a Greek Lexicon and look up Anepsios.
Or Google it. Either way
Also look up Adelphos

Well, as far as I know, there are other people in the Bible who are referred to as Jesus’ brothers who are named as sons of different Marys.

I’m not sure of this. But if someone wants to look it up, let me know. I don’t remember where I read this.

Anepsios means either “sister’s son” or “cousin” . Which word was used to refer to James in the New Testament. Was it Anepsios or Adelphos?

 

[adrift]

Well, as far as I know, there are other people in the Bible who are referred to as Jesus’ brothers who are named as sons of different Marys.

I’m not sure of this. But if someone wants to look it up, let me know. I don’t remember where I read this.

Anepsios means either “sister’s son” or “cousin” . Which word was used to refer to James in the New Testament. Was it Anepsios or Adelphos?

Adelphos is the term used. There was no term for cousin in the Aramaic Language. Brother was used.
From the Faith data base.

80 adelphos {ad-el-fos’} from 1 (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); TDNT - 1:144,22; n m 1) a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother 2) having the same national ancestor, belonging to the same people, or countryman 3) any fellow or man 4) a fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection 5) an associate in employment or office 6) brethren in Christ 6a) his brothers by blood 6b) all men 6c) apostles 6d) Christians, as those who are exalted to the same heavenly place

 

[Road2Damascus]

I understand to be the founder of the Methodist Church, John Wesley, a one time Anglican Priest whom I heard said of that he was so scholarly at Greek, he made a bunch of corrections to the translations of his own Bible. In his ‘letter to a Roman Catholic’ which is found on the web, he believes that Mary was ever virgin. He may not have been too keen on other areas of difference with the Catholic and Anglican Churches so if John Wesley took this to be, I would tend to think this is a good argument as well in support that Mary did not bear any other children. It is also written so in apocrypha.

 

[BrianH]

The phrase is translated corrected as brother/brethren. I can refer to something other than a biological brother. It is not accurate to say it “really should” be translated cousin. Have I clarified?

 

[Mike_Dante]

DevotedChild;8277402:

And I would like to add is that Joesph was a widow with children from his first marriage.

First I have heard of that one.

If you ever get a chance to visit Istanbul, you must visit Hagia Sophia. Magnificent! The Turks have removed the whitewash that was put over the original Christian murals (in the entryway) when the Ottomans defeated the last bastion of the Roman Empire in 1453. One of these murals shows the Circumcision. You will recognize it immediately because it is exactly like many other paintings of the event that you have seen – except that there are three young men standing next to Joseph. When I saw the mural I asked who the extra three figures were. Our Orthodox guide explained that these are Joseph’s son’s from his first marriage.

 

[White_Peony]

I had a question about something I keep stumbling upon. A bit back I was reading a Christian book and it talked about James being the brother of Jesus, and not just brotherly like a priest, like related to him. Then a couple times after that I stumbled upon more talk about James being his brother.
Is it that James is his cousin or something? Is it a grammatical issue? I know Jesus has no siblings, but I was curious about this. If I am ever faced with this by a friend or person who thinks this, how can I refute this?

Thanks for all your help!
God Bless,
~Katie :knight1:

The aramaic word for brother also means kin. so James could be His cousin. There is a possibility that Joseph had a wife before mary so James could be His half-brother.

 

[Usagi]

Just look to Scripture for the answer! James was the son of Zebedee and another Mary.

Actually, I don’t think that James the son of Zebedee, the brother of St. John, and James the Just, the “brother of the Lord,” have ever been considered to be the same guy.

Sometimes James the Just has been taken to be the same as the other Apostle James, “James the Less,” the son of Alphaeus. Sometimes he is considered to be a third James, either Jesus’ half-brother by Joseph and Mary (if you are a Protestant), Jesus’ stepbrother by Joseph and a previous wife, or a more distant relative, possibly the son of the Mary who is called the Blessed Mother’s sister. (That in itself is an indication that “brother” or “sister” can indicate a more distant relative, since presumably Jesus’ grandparents didn’t actually have two daughters named Mary.)

Usagi

 

[TimothyH]

Mar 15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

In Mark 15, Mary the mother of James and Joses (Joseph) is “Looking on from afar.” In the Gospel of John, Mary is right at the foot of the Cross.

Unless Mary can be in two places at once and can be married to both Joseph and Zebedee, there are two different Mary’s with two different sets of sons.

-Tim-

 

[Usagi]

In Mark 15, Mary the mother of James and Joses (Joseph) is “Looking on from afar.” In the Gospel of John, Mary is right at the foot of the Cross.

Unless Mary can be in two places at once and can be married to both Joseph and Zebedee, there are two different Mary’s with two different sets of sons.

-Tim-

Oh, I agree that the Blessed Virgin Mary and “Mary the mother of James and Joses” are not the same woman. That’s clear.

I’m pointing out that “Mary the mother of James and Joses” is also not the same person as Zebedee’s wife. James the Just might be the same as James the Less; he has never, to my knowledge, been equated with James the Greater.

Usagi