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NASB | Matthew 13:55 "Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 13:55 "Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And are not His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? |
Bible Question: Did Jesus, have sisters and brothers and what where their names? |
Bible Answer: It is not Biblically conclusive that Jesus had brothers and sisters. Even though the NT often mentions Jesus' brethren (MT 13:55; Mk 3:31; 6:3; Lk 8:19; Jn 2:12; 7:3; Acts 1:14; Gal 1:19), these were his relatives. Four points: 1) None of these is ever called the children of Mary, although Jesus Himself is (Jn 2:1, 19:25; Acts 1:14. 2) 2 names mentioned are sons of a different "Mary" (MT 27:56; Mk 15:40). 3) It's doubtful Jesus would entrust His mother to John at His crucifixtion if she had other natural sons to look after her (Jn 19:26-27). 4) The Greek word for "Brethren" (adelphoi) has a broader meaning than blood brothers. Because Ancient Hebrew had no word for "cousin", it was customary to to use "brethren" in the Bible for relationships other than blood brothers. In the Greek OT, a "brother" can be a nearly related cousin (1 Cron 23:21-22), a more remote kinsman (Deut 23:7; 2 Kings 10:13-14), an uncle or a nephew (Gen 13:8), or the realtion between men bound by covenant (2 Sam 1:26). The NT continues this tradition. Paul uses it as a synonym for for his Israelite kinsmen in Rom 9:3. (Attribution: Ignatius Catholic Study Bible) Note that we also call one another brethren in the New Covenant family of God, even though we're not blood relatives. This is a point of contention between Catholic and Protestant teaching. I favor the Catholic position on this one. Colin |