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 saith unto Lot, 'Let there not, I pray thee, be strife between me and thee, and between my shepherds and thy shepherds, for we are men -- brethren.
And Laban hath two daughters, the name of the elder is Leah, and the name of the younger Rachel,
Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax-gatherer; James of Alpheus, and Lebbeus who was surnamed Thaddeus;
is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? and his sisters -- are they not all with us? whence, then, to this one all these?'
among whom was Mary the Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and of Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Cananite,
and his friends having heard, went forth to lay hold on him, for they said that he was beside himself,
Then come do his brethren and mother, 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 being stumbled at him.
And there were also women afar off beholding, among whom was also Mary the Magdalene, and Mary of James the less, and of Joses, and Salome,
and she brought forth her son -- the first-born, and wrapped him up, and laid him down in the manger, because there was not for them a place in the guest-chamber.
his brethren, therefore, said unto him, 'Remove hence, and go away to Judea, that thy disciples also may behold thy works that thou dost; for no one in secret doth anything, and himself seeketh to be in public; if thou dost these things -- manifest thyself to the world;' read more. for not even were his brethren believing in him.
And there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleopas, and Mary the Magdalene;
and when they came in, they went up to the upper room, where were abiding both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James, of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zelotes, and Judas, of James; these all were continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.