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 to Lot, I pray thee let there be no contention 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, Rachel.
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax-gatherer; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, who was surnamed Thaddaeus;
Is not this the son of the carpenter? 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 has this man all these things?
among whom was Mary of Magdala, 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 his relatives having heard of it went out to lay hold on him, for they said, He is out of his mind.
And his brethren and his mother come, and standing without sent to 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 women also looking on from afar off, among whom were both Mary of Magdala, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
and she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him up in swaddling-clothes and laid him in the manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
and Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon who was called Zealot,
His brethren therefore said to him, Remove hence and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see thy works which thou doest; for no one does anything in secret and himself seeks to be known in public. If thou doest these things, manifest thyself to the world: read more. for neither did his brethren believe on him.
And by the cross of Jesus stood his mother, and the sister of his mother, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
And when they were come into the city, they went up to the upper chamber, where were staying both Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the zealot, and Jude the brother of James. These gave themselves all with one accord to continual prayer, with several women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
These gave themselves all with one accord to continual prayer, with several women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.