Reference: Brethren Of The Lord
Hastings
Jesus was Mary's first-born (Lu 2:7), and she subsequently (according to the view accepted in the present article) bore to Joseph four sons, James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon, and several daughters (Mt 13:55-56 = Mr 6:3). During His ministry the Lord's brethren did not believe in Him. They sneered at Him (Joh 7:3-5), and once they concluded that He was mad, and wished to arrest Him and convey Him away from Capernaum (Mr 3:21,31). After the Resurrection, however, convinced by so tremendous a demonstration, they joined the company of the believers (Ac 1:14).
In early days, partly at least in the interests of the notion of Mary's perpetual virginity, two theories were promulgated in regard to the 'Brethren of the Lord.' (a) They were supposed to be sons of Joseph by a former marriage, having thus no blood-relationship with Jesus. So Origen, Clement of Alexandria, Epiphanius. (b) They were held to be His cousins, sons of Mary, the wife of Alph
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And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we are brethren.
And Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the'son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the'son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean,
And when his friends heard it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
And there come his mother and his brethren; and, standing without, they sent unto him, calling him.
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended in him.
And there were also women beholding from afar: among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
and Matthew and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,
His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may behold thy works which thou doest. For no man doeth anything in secret, and himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou doest these things, manifest thyself to the world. read more. For even his brethren did not believe on him.
These things therefore the soldiers did. But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
And when they were come in, they went up into the upper chamber, where they were abiding; both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. These all with one accord continued stedfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.