Meaning of BROTHERS OF JESUS

This is how the Gospels call James, Joseph (also called Joseph), Simon and Judas, also expressly mentioning that he had sisters (Mt. 13:55-56; Mark 6:3). They went with Mary (Mt. 12:47-50; Mr. 3:31-35; Lk. 8:19-21). They accompanied Jesus, along with Mary, to the city of Capernaum at the beginning of his ministry.

(John 2:12). However, they did not manifest faith in Him until after His death (John 7:4, 5). However, after the resurrection they are found together with the disciples (Acts 1:14), and exercising their Christian ministry (1 Cor. 9:5). One of them, James (Gal. 1:19), distinguished himself as a leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; 15:13; Gal. 2:9), writing the epistle that bears his name.

The question of their relationship with Christ has been highly debated, and various theories have been presented to affirm that they were nothing more than his cousins: (a) They would have been children of Alphaeus (or Cleopas) and Mary, sister of the Virgin Mary.

But the term "cousins" is never used for them, even though the term "anepsios" is a term used in such cases in the NT (Col. 4:10; Mark, cousin of Barnabas). Furthermore, in Acts. 23:16 the precise expression "sister's son" is used, employed by Paul's nephew; Likewise, there is also the term "relative" (or cousin), which is found eleven times in the NT (Mark 6:4; Luke 1:36, 58; John 18:26; Acts 10:24; Rom. 9:3; 16:7, 11, 21).

Thus, it seems anomalous that the "brothers of the Lord" were never called cousins if they really were. On the other hand, James the son of Alphaeus was among the apostles (Mt. 10:3). How could it be said, in this case, that Jesus' "brothers" did not believe in Him? (John 7:5).

(b) On the other hand, the assumption has been made that these "brothers" came from a previous marriage of Joseph with a certain Escha or Salomé. The only reason for this assumption is the apparent age difference between Joseph and Mary.

(c) They would be children of a levirate marriage between Joseph and the widow of his brother Cleopas. Here, again, we have nothing more than mere baseless speculation. In reality, all of these efforts to transform or manipulate the texts of Scripture come from a desire to demonstrate the dogma of Mary's perpetual virginity.

On the other hand, there are numerous and powerful arguments to demonstrate that they are really brothers of Jesus, children of Mary and Joseph. Christ is called “firstborn son” of Mary (Lk. 2:7).

At the time Luke was writing his Gospel, the Lord was the firstborn, not the only son of Mary. The passage from Mt. 1:25 clearly implies that after the birth of Jesus, Mary actually became Joseph's wife (literally: "And he [Joseph] did not know her until she gave birth to the her son, the firstborn.

The inhabitants of Nazareth were surprised to see such a difference between "the carpenter's son" and his brothers and sisters, precisely because they were members of the same family unit (Mt. 13: 5456).

When speaking of "the brothers of Jesus," Mary is constantly mentioned with them (giving her the title of mother), without ever giving the slightest indication that they were not her children (Mt. 12:46; Mark 3: 31; Lk. 8:19; Jn. 2:12; Acts 1:14).