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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So then Abram said unto Lot Pray let not cause of strife arise betwixt me and thee, or betwixt my herdmen and thy herdmen; for brethren, are we.
Now, Laban, had two daughters, - the name of the elder, Leah, and the name of the younger, Rachel,
Philip, and Bartholomew, - Thomas, and Matthew, the tax-collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thadaeus;
Is not, this one, the carpenter's, son? Is not, his mother, called Mary, and are not his brethren - James and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? and, his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence, then hath, this one, all these things?
among whom was Mary the Magdalene, also Mary the mother of James and Joseph, 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 zealot;
And they who were near to him, hearing of it, went out to secure him, - for they were saying - He is beside himself!
And there come his mother and his brethren, and, standing, outside, they sent unto him, calling him.
Is not, this, the carpenter? the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? - and they were finding cause of stumbling in him.
And there were, women also, from afar, looking on, - among whom were both Mary the Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Little and Joses, and Salome;
and she gave birth to her firstborn son, and 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, son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called Zealot; and Judas, son of James,
His brethren, therefore, said unto him - Remove hence, and withdraw into Judaea, that, thy disciples also, may view thy works which thou art doing. For, no one, anything in secret, doeth, and yet is seeking, himself, to be well-known. If, these things, thou art doing, manifest thyself unto the world. read more. For, not even his brethren, were believing on him.
And there were standing by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary the Magdalene.
And, when they had entered, into the upper-story went they up, where remained behind - 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 were giving constant attention with one accord unto the prayer, with certainwomen, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
These all were giving constant attention with one accord unto the prayer, with certainwomen, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.