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
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"
among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot;
When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."
Then his brothers and his mother came. And standing outside they sent to him, and called him.
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome,
And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Matthew, and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,
So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." read more. For even his brothers did not believe in him.
By the cross of Jesus stood his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying; 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. All these with one mind devoted themselves to prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
All these with one mind devoted themselves to prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.