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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Then Abram said to Lot, "Please, let there not be quarreling between me and you, and between my shepherds and your shepherds, for we men [are] brothers.
Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older [was] Leah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel.
Philip, and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector, James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus,
Is not this one the son of the carpenter? Is not his mother called Mary and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? From where then did this man [get] all these [things]?"
among whom were Mary Magdalene, and 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 [when] {his family} heard [this], they went out to restrain him, for they were saying, "He has lost his mind!"
And his mother and his brothers arrived, and standing outside, they sent [word] to him to summon 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 by him.
And there were also women observing from a distance, among whom [were] Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome,
And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,
So his brothers said to him, "Depart from here and go to Judea, so that your disciples also can see your works that you are doing. For no one does anything in secret and [yet] he himself desires to be {publicly recognized}. If you are doing these [things], reveal yourself to the world!" read more. (For not even his brothers believed in him.)
Now his mother and the sister of his mother, Mary the [wife] of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene were standing near the cross of Jesus.
And when they had entered, they went up to the upstairs room where they were staying--Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James [son] of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas [son] of James. All these were busily engaged with one mind in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.
All these were busily engaged with one mind in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.