Brothers of Jesus

According to context, the Greek plural noun ἀδελφοί (adelphoi), from a- ('same') and delphys ('womb'), may mean physical brothers, physical brothers and sisters, figurative brothers, or figurative brothers and sisters.{{sfn|Strauss|2009|p= 134}} Adelphoi sometimes means more than a blood brother, e.g., Gen 29:12; Rom 9:3 (kinsman); Matt 5:22–3 (neighbor); Mark 6:17–8 (step-brother). In such instances the context must determine the meaning.{{sfn|Edwards|2020|p=159}} Adelphoi is distinct from anepsios, meaning cousin, nephew, niece, and this word is never used to describe James and the other siblings of Jesus.{{sfn|Shanks|Witherington|2003|p=94}} The word "anepsios" is only employed once in the entire New Testament, being used in Paul's Epistle to the Colossians. Although neither Hebrew nor Aramaic had a word for "cousin", both customarily spoke of a cousin as a "son of an uncle" (Heb. ben dod; Aram. bar dad){{sfn|Edwards|2020|p=159}} and the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, never translates either expression as "brother" or "sister".{{sfn|Edwards|2020|p=159}}

The Vulgate renders with the Latin word frater (e.g. [https://biblehub.com/vul/mark/6.htm Mark 6:3]), which, even in classical Latin, can also mean "maternal cousin" or "paternal cousin".Article "Frater" in Karl Ernst Georges, Oreste Badellino, Ferruccio Calonghi, Dizionario Latino-Italiano, Rosenberg & Sellier.

File:James the Just (Novgorod, 16 c.).jpg]]

Mark 6{{bibleverse|Mark|6:3|9|:3}} names James, Joses, Judas (conventionally known in English as Jude) and Simon as the brothers of Jesus, and Matthew 13{{bibleverse|Matthew|13:55|9|:55}}, which probably used Mark as its source, gives the same names in different order, James, Joseph, Simon and Judas.{{sfn|Bauckham|2015|p=6,8}} "Joseph" is simply the longer form of "Joses", and so it appears that James was the eldest and Joses/Joseph the next, but as Matthew has reversed the order of the last two it is uncertain who was the youngest.{{sfn|Bauckham|2015|p=7}} Unnamed sisters are mentioned in Mark 6:3 and Matthew 13:56 and may be implied in Mark 3:35 and Matthew 12:46, but their number is unknown.{{sfn|Bauckham|2015|p=8}}

The gospels indicate a rift between Jesus and his brothers in the early part of his ministry (see Mark 3:31-35 and the parallel passages in Matthew 12:46-50 and Luke 8:19-21), and they never appear among his followers during his lifetime.{{sfn|deSilva|2012|p=34,37}} John has Jesus' brothers advising him to go to Judea despite being aware that his life would be in danger, and they are absent from his burial, which should have been their responsibility,{{sfn|deSilva|2012|p=37}} but they do appear in Acts 1:14 with the Eleven (i.e., the remaining disciples after the betrayal by Judas Iscariot): "These all (the Eleven) were persevering in prayer along with the women, with Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers."{{sfn|deSilva|2012|p=37}}

In 1 Corinthians 15:3–7 Paul lists a "James" among those to whom the risen Christ had appeared,{{sfn|Boring|2012|p=435}} and most scholars agree that this refers to James the brother of Jesus.{{sfn|Schreiner|2011|p=110}} The 2nd century historian Hegesippus (c.110 – 180 AD) reports that James the brother of Jesus came to be known as James the Just,{{sfn|Painter|2001|p=11}} and Eusebius of Caesarea (died 339) says that he spent so much of his life in prayer that his knees became "like the knees of a camel."{{sfn|Hagner|2012|p=780}} According to Clement of Alexandria, reported by Eusebius, he was chosen as bishop of Jerusalem,{{sfn|Cross|Livingstone|2005|p=857}} and from the time when Peter left Jerusalem after Herod's attempt to kill him (Acts 12) he appears as the principal authority in the Jerusalem church, presiding at the Council of Jerusalem recorded in Acts 15.{{sfn|Cross|Livingstone|2005|p=857}} In Galatians 1:19 Paul tells how he went to Jerusalem a few years after his conversion and met Cephas (Peter) but no other apostles, only "James, the brother of the Lord";{{sfn|deSilva|2018|p=101}} Paul's Greek leaves it unclear whether he includes, or does not include, James among the apostles.{{sfn|Matera|2007|p=66}} He goes on to describe a second visit fourteen years later when he met the "pillars of the Church", James and Peter and John; James is mentioned first and seems to be the primary leader among these three.{{sfn|Boring|2012|p=435}} In chapter 2 he describes how he and Peter were later in Antioch and in the habit of dining with gentile Christians in breach of Jewish torah, until "certain people from James" came and Peter withdrew, "fearing those who belong to the circumcision."{{sfn|Matera|2007|p=84}} The 1st century historian Josephus tells how he was martyred by the Jews in 62 CE on charges of breaking the Jewish Law.{{sfn|Hagner|2012|p=780}}

Paul records in 1 Corinthians that the other brothers of Jesus (that is, other than James, who is portrayed as rooted in Jerusalem) travelled as evangelists, and that they were married ("Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas (Peter)?" - 1 Corinthians 9:5).{{sfn|Butz|2005|p=67}} The 3rd century Apostolic Father Eusebius left a list of 12 bishops of the early church, of whom two, Joseph/Joses and Jude, may be the brothers of Jesus.{{sfn|Bauckham|2015|p=76}} The number of sisters and their names are not specified in the New Testament, but the apocryphal 3rd century Gospel of Philip mentions a Mary, and Salome, who appears in the late 2nd century Gospel of James, is arguably the other sister.{{sfn|Bauckham|2015|p=39}}

The author of the epistle of James introduces himself as "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ".{{sfn|McKnight|2011|p=13}} He does not identify himself as the brother of Jesus or an apostle or a leader of the church in any way,{{sfn|Hagner|2012|p=780}} but one recent study characterises this letter as "the most Jewish text in the New Testament".{{sfn|Lockett|2011|p=9}} The epistle of Jude identifies its author as "Jude...the brother of James", but today there is widespread, although not unanimous, support for the view that it was composed in the early part of the 2nd century by an unknown author borrowing the name of the brother of Jesus.{{sfn|Boring|2012|p=450}} Hegesippus mentions a Simon or Simeon (the names are equivalent) who became leader of the Jerusalem church after the death of James, but makes this Simon a son of Clopas, the brother of Joseph.{{sfn|Bauckham|2008|p=72}}

Of the "brothers," however, no direct relationship to Mary or Joseph is ever indicated. Only Jesus is referred to as "son of Mary," "the son of Mary," or "son of Joseph." Only Jesus is the subject of the Old Testament messianic prophecies and only of him is the genealogy proposed.Frédéric Manns, Trenta domande (e Trenta Risposte) su Maria e la Nascita Di Gesù, Milano, Vita e Pensiero, 2007, p. 31.

File:Menologion of Basil 036.jpg (Menologion of Basil II, 10th century)]]

The 19th century scholar J.B. Lightfoot identified three possible positions on the relationship to Jesus of those called his brothers and sisters by reference to their 4th century advocates, namely the Helvidian (after Helvidius, who wrote {{circa|380}}), the Epiphanian (after Epiphanius of Salamis, 315-403), and the Hieronymian (after Jerome, 349-419/20).{{sfn|Painter|2001|p=12}} A fourth position, not mentioned by Lightfoot, is that the adelphoi were full-blooded brothers and sisters of Jesus.{{sfn|Painter|2001|p=12}}

This position rejects the virgin birth of Jesus and argues his brothers and sisters were full siblings. Main proponents of this belief were the Ebionites, a 2nd century Jewish Christian sect, who rejected both the incarnation and divinity of Jesus.{{sfn|Painter|2001|p=12}}

The view of Helvidius was that the adelphoi were half siblings of Jesus born to Mary and Joseph after the firstborn Jesus.{{sfn|Butz|2005|p=27}} This is the most common Protestant position.{{sfn|Butz|2005|p=27}}

The following hypothetical family tree is based on the book Jesus and His World written by John J Rousseau and Rami Arav: {{Cite web |last=Rousseau |first=John J |last2=Arav |first2=Rami |title=Jesus' Family Tree |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/jesus/tree.html |access-date=3 February 2024 |website=www.pbs.org |publisher=PBS}}{{sfn|Rousseau|Arav|1995|p=passim}}

{{tree chart/start|style=font-size:100%;line-height:100%;}}

{{tree chart|border=0| | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| |}}

{{tree chart|border=0| Mar | |y| | Jos | | | | | | | | | | | | Clo |y| aMa | |Mar=Mary|Jos=Joseph|Clo=Clopas|aMa=another Mary}}

{{tree chart|border=0| |!| | |)|-|-|v|-|-|v|-|-|v|-|-|v|-|-|.| | | |!| |}}

{{tree chart|border=0|Jes | Jas | Jos | Sim | sis | sis | Jud | | Sie |Jes=Jesus|boxstyle_Jes=background-color: #afa;|Jas=James
d. 62|Jos=Joses|Sim=Simon|sis=sister|Jud=Jude|Sie=Simeon
successor to James as head
of the Jerusalem Church
d. 106}}

{{tree chart|border=0| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | |}}

{{tree chart|border=0| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ? | | | |?=?}}

{{tree chart|border=0| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | |}}

{{tree chart|border=0| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ? | | | |?=?}}

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{{tree chart|border=0| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | BJK | | | |BJK=Bishop Judah Kyriakos
fl. c. 148–49}}

{{tree chart/end}}

The Epiphanian view, named after its main proponent, the fourth-century bishop Epiphanius, and championed by the third century theologian Origen and fourth-century bishop Eusebius, the “brothers” and “sisters” mentioned in the New Testament are sons of Joseph from a previous marriage, and hence stepbrothers of Jesus. This is still the official position of the Eastern Orthodox Church.{{sfn|Butz|2005|p=26-27}}

{{tree chart/start|style=font-size:100%;line-height:100%;}}

{{tree chart|border=0| Mar |-| Jos |y| ear | | | | | |Mar=Mary|Jos=Joseph|ear=earlier wife}}

{{tree chart|border=0| |!| | | | | |)|-|-|v|-|-|v|-|-|.| |}}

{{tree chart|border=0|Jes | | | | Jas | Jos | Sim | Jud |Jes=Jesus|boxstyle_Jes=background-color: #afa;|Jas=James|Jos=Joses|Sim=Simon|sis=sister|Jud=Jude}}

{{tree chart/end}}

The Hieronymian view was put forward in the 4th century by Jerome, who argued that not only Mary, but Joseph too, had been a life-long virgin.{{sfn|Kelly|1975|p=106}} Apparently voicing the general opinion of the Church, he held that the "brothers of Jesus" were the sons of Mary the "mother of James and Joses" mentioned in Mark 15:40, whom he identified with the wife of Clopas and sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus mentioned in John 19:25.{{sfn|Cross|Livingstone|2005|p=238}} The Catholic Church continues to teach that the adelphoi were cousins of Jesus.{{sfn|Butz|2005|p=26}}

The following family tree is from Richard Bauckham, "Jude and the Relatives of James":{{sfn|Bauckham|2015|p=21}}

{{tree chart/start|style=font-size:100%;line-height:100%;}}

{{tree chart|border=0| | | | | | | Ann |y|Joa | | | |Ann=Anne|Joa=Joachim}}

{{tree chart|border=0| | | | | |,|-|-|-|^|-|-|.| | | |}}

{{tree chart|border=0| Jos |-| Mar | | | | | aMa |y| Clo |Mar=Mary|Jos=Joseph|Clo=Clopas|aMa=another Mary}}

{{tree chart|border=0| | | | | |!| | | |,|-|-|v|-|^|v|-|-|.|}}

{{tree chart|border=0| | | | |Jes | | Jas | Jos | Sim | Jud |Jes=Jesus|boxstyle_Jes=background-color: #afa;|Jas=James the Less|Jos=Joses|Sim=Simon|Jud=Jude}}

{{tree chart/end}}

Jerome's argument produces the unlikely result of two sisters both named Mary.{{sfn|Bauckham|2015|p=21}} A modern variant eliminates this by identifying Clopas as the brother of Joseph, thereby making the two Marys sisters-in-law; in this version Jesus' cousin Simon is identified with Symeon the second leader of the church in Jerusalem.{{sfn|Bauckham|2015|p=21}}Roberto Reggi, I fratelli di Gesù, EDB, Bologna, 2010.

The following family tree is from Richard Bauckham, "Jude and the Relatives of James":{{sfn|Bauckham|2015|p=22}}

{{tree chart/start|style=font-size:100%;line-height:100%;}}

{{tree chart|border=0| | | | | | | | Jac | | | | | | | | | | |Ann=Anne|Joa=Joachim|Jac=Jacob}}

{{tree chart|border=0| | | | | |,|-|-|^|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | |}}

{{tree chart|border=0| Mar |-| Jos | | | | | Clo |y| aMa | | |Mar=Mary|Jos=Joseph|Clo=Clopas|aMa=another Mary}}

{{tree chart|border=0| |!| | | | | | | |,|-|-|v|-|^|v|-|-|.| |}}

{{tree chart|border=0|Jes | | | | | | Jas | Jos | Sim | Jud |Jes=Jesus|boxstyle_Jes=background-color: #afa;|Jas=James the Less
 
 |Jos=Joses
 
 |Sim=Simon|Jud=Jude
 
 }}

{{tree chart/end}}

File:Otsy.jpg in an 11th-century depiction from Kiev]]

From the 2nd century onward the developing emphasis on ascetism and celibacy as the superior form of Christian practice, together with an emphasis on the chastity of Mary, led to the idea that she had been a virgin not only before, but during and after, the birth of Christ.{{sfn|Bromiley|1995|p=271}} There is no direct biblical basis for this idea,{{sfn|Boisclair|2007|p=1465}} which in its earliest assertion appears in the mid-2nd century Protoevangelium of James;{{sfn|Lohse|1966|p=200}} this depicts Mary as a life-long virgin, Joseph as an old man who marries her without physical desire, and the brothers of Jesus as Joseph's sons by an earlier marriage.{{sfn|Hurtado|2005|p=448}}

By the 3rd century, the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary had become well established, but the unequivocal scriptural references to the brethren of Jesus raised obvious problems.{{sfn|Foster|2008|p=117}} The heretical antidicomarianites ("opponents of Mary") maintained that, when Joseph became Mary's husband, he was a widower with six children, and he had normal marital relations with Mary, but they later held Jesus was not born of these relations.{{sfn|Brackney|2012|p=31}} Bonosus was a bishop who in the late 4th century held Mary had other children after Jesus, for which the other bishops of his province condemned him.{{sfn|Brackney|2012|p=57}} Important orthodox theologians such as Hippolytus{{Cite book |last=of Rome |first=Hippolytus |url=https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf05/anf05.iii.iv.ii.v.viii.html |title=Against Beron and Helix: Fragment VIII |access-date=18 February 2021}} (170–235), Eusebius (260/265–339/340) and Epiphanius (c. 310/320–403) defended the perpetual virginity of Mary. Eusebius and Epiphanius held the adelphoi were Joseph's children from a previous marriage. Epiphanius adds Joseph became the father of James and his three brothers (Joses, Simeon, Judah) and two sisters (a Salome and a Mary or a Salome and an Anna){{Cite book |last=College |first=St. Epiphanius of Cyprus; translated by Young Richard Kim, Calvin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gxHWAwAAQBAJ&q=anna |title=Ancoratus 60:1 |date=2014 |publisher=Catholic University of America Press |isbn=978-0-8132-2591-3 |location=Washington, D.C. |page=144 |access-date=22 September 2015}} with James being the elder sibling. James and his siblings were not children of Mary but were Joseph's children from a previous marriage. Joseph's first wife died; many years later, at the age of eighty, "he took Mary (mother of Jesus)". According to Epiphanius the Scriptures call them "brothers of the Lord" to confound their opponents.{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=translated by Frank |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DAP-uJTfc84C&q=salome |title=The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis : Books II and III (Sects 47–80, De Fide) |date=1994 |publisher=E.J. Brill |isbn=9789004098985 |location=Leiden |pages=607 |access-date=18 September 2015}}{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=translated by Frank |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tKtzRNP0Z70C&q=eighty |title=The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis |date=2013 |publisher=Brill |isbn=9789004228412 |edition=Second, revised |location=Leiden [u.a.] |page=36 |access-date=18 September 2015}} Origen (184–254) also wrote "according to the Gospel of Peter the brethren of Jesus were sons of Joseph by a former wife, whom he married before Mary".{{Citation |last=Origen |title=Commentary on Matthew |url=http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/101610.htm |at=§ 17 |publisher=Newadvent}}.

The History of Joseph the Carpenter, probably written in Egypt in the 5th century and heavily indebted to the Protoevangelium of James, depicts Joseph as an old widower with children from a previous marriage, thus clarifying the New Testament references to Jesus' brothers.{{sfn|Ehrman|Plese|2011|p=157}}

According to the surviving fragments of the work Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord of the Apostolic Father Papias of Hierapolis, who lived circa 70–163 AD, "Mary the wife of Cleophas or Alphaeus" would be the mother of James the Just, Simon, Judas (identified as Jude the Apostle), and Joseph (Joses). Papias identifies this "Mary" as the sister of Mary, mother of Jesus, and thus as the maternal aunt of Jesus.{{Cite book |last=of Hierapolis |first=Papias |title=Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord |publisher=Peter Kirby |chapter=Fragment X |access-date=10 September 2015 |chapter-url=http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/papias.html}} The Anglican theologian J.B. Lightfoot dismissed Papias' evidence as spurious.{{Cite web |last=Lightfoot |first=J.B. |author-link=Joseph Lightfoot |year=1865 |title=The Brethren of the Lord |url=http://philologos.org/__eb-jbl/brethren.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618231826/https://philologos.org/__eb-jbl/brethren.htm |archive-date=2018-06-18 |access-date=2016-05-31 |website=Philo logos |quote=The testimony of Papias is frequently quoted at the head of the patristic authorities, as favouring the view of Jerome… It is strange that able and intelligent critics should not have seen through a fabrication which is so manifestly spurious… [T]he passage was written by a mediaeval namesake of the Bishop of Hierapolis, Papias… who lived in the 11th century.}}{{Cite web |title=Papias of Hierapolis |url=http://www.textexcavation.com/papias.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151116063403/http://www.textexcavation.com/papias.html |archive-date=2015-11-16 |website=Text excavation}}

The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, which was probably written in the seventh century, states the brothers of Jesus were his cousins.{{Citation |last=Kennedy |first=Jon |title=Jesus and Mary |year=2010 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CNafZ4xYV2kC&pg=PA346 |publisher=Adams Media |isbn=978-1-57215749-1 |last2=Schroedel |first2=Jenny |last3=Schroedel |first3=John}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Both the Eastern and Western traditional churches maintain that Mary was a perpetual virgin; early Protestant leaders, including the Reformer Martin Luther,{{Citation |title=Martin Luther on Mary's Perpetual Virginity |url=http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/martin_luther_on_mary.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221185440/http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/martin_luther_on_mary.htm |archive-date=2008-12-21 |url-status=dead}}. and Reformed theologian Huldrych Zwingli,{{Citation |last=Zwingli |first=Ulrich |title=Huldreich Zwinglis sämtliche Werke |volume=1 |page=385 |year=1905 |editor-last=Egli |editor-first=Emil |editor-last2=Finsler |editor-first2=Georg |editor-last3=Zwingli-Verein |access-date=2008-07-01 |chapter=Eini Predigt von der ewig reinen Magd Maria |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yYYhD2-6nzQC&pg=RA1-PA385 |place=Zürich |publisher=C. A. Schwetschke & Sohn |language=de |quote=I firmly believe that [Mary], according to the words of the gospel as a pure Virgin brought forth for us the Son of God and in childbirth and after childbirth forever remained a pure, intact Virgin}} also held this view, as did John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism.{{Citation |last=Wesley |first=John |title=The Works of the Rev. John Wesley |page=112 |year=1812 |editor-last=Benson |editor-first=Joseph |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CZEPAAAAIAAJ |quote=I believe that He was made man, joining the human nature with the divine in one person; being conceived by the singular operation of the Holy Ghost, and born of the blessed Virgin Mary, who, as well after as before she brought Him forth, continued a pure and unspotted virgin}}. Eine Christliche Lehrtafel (A Christian Catechism), issued by Anabaptist leader Balthasar Hubmaier, teaches the perpetual virginity of the Virgin Mary too.{{Cite book |last=Yarnell |first=Malcolm B. |title=The Anabaptists and Contemporary Baptists |publisher=B&H Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-43368174-5 |page=130 |quote=Question 53 of the Kinderfragen posed, "What do you believe about the Virgin Mary?" It parallesls questions 68 of the Lehrtafel, which solicited, "What do you believe regarding Our Lady? Both catechisms spoke of her perpetual virginity. The Kindergragen proclaimed "that she was pure before the birth, during the birth, and after the birth, a humble maiden," while the Lehrtafel declared that "she was a pure, chaste, and spotless Virgin before, during, and after the birth."}} The Catholic Church, following Jerome, conclude that the adelphoi were Jesus' cousins, while the Eastern Orthodox Church, following Eusebius and Epiphanius, argue they were Joseph's children from a previous marriage. Lutherans have accepted both views as being valid explanations of the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary.{{Cite book |last=Longenecker |first=Dwight |title=Mary |last2=Gustafson |first2=David |publisher=Gracewing Publishing |year=2003 |isbn=9780852445822 |page=64 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Erasmus |first=Desiderius |title=Disputatiuncula de Taedio, Pavore, Tristicia Iesu |publisher=University of Toronto Press |year=1998 |isbn=9780802043092 |page=187 |language=en |quote=The Lutherans accepted the perpetual virginity of Mary, while rejecting the invocation of the saints.}}

Other Christian denominations, such as some Baptist groups,{{Cite book |last=Radano |first=John A. |url=https://archive.org/details/celebratingcentu0000unse_c6p6/page/278 |title=Celebrating a Century of Ecumenism: Exploring the Achievements of International Dialogue |date=30 April 2012 |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |isbn=9780802867056 |page=[https://archive.org/details/celebratingcentu0000unse_c6p6/page/278 278] |quote=Baptists do not find a scriptural basis for Catholic beliefs about her perpetual virginity, immaculate conception, and bodily assumption.}} view the adelphoi as Jesus' half-brothers or do not specify, since the accounts in the Gospels do not speak of Mary's relationship to them but only to Jesus.{{Citation |last=Witherington |first=Ben III |title=Jesus' Extended Family |work=Bible Review |volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=30–31 |quote=So James, according to this view, would be Jesus' younger half-brother |author-link=Ben Witherington III}}.

There are some events in scripture where brothers or sisters of Jesus are not shown, e.g., when Jesus was lost in the Temple and during his crucifixion. {{bibleref2|Luke|2:41–51}} reports the visit of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem when Jesus was 12 years old but does not mention any siblings. Robert Eisenman is of the belief Luke sought to minimise the importance of Jesus' family by whatever means possible, editing James and Jesus' brothers out of the Gospel record.{{Citation |last=Eisenman |first=Robert |title=James, the Brother of Jesus |year=2002 |publisher=Watkins}}. The Catholic apologist Karl Keating argues Mary and Joseph rushed without hesitation straight back to Jerusalem when they realized Jesus was lost, which they would surely have thought twice about doing if there were other children (Jesus' blood brothers or sisters) to look after.

The Gospel of John records the sayings of Jesus on the cross, i.e., the pair of commands "Woman, behold your son!" and "Behold, thy mother!" ({{bibleref2|John|19:26–27}}), then states "from that hour the disciple took her unto his own home". Since the era of the Church Fathers this statement has been used to reason that after the death of Jesus there were no other biological children to look after Mary, and she had to be entrusted to the disciple.Arthur B. Calkins, "Our Lady's Perpetual Virginity," in Mark Miravalle, ed. (2008), Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, and Consecrated Persons {{ISBN|978-1-57918-355-4}} pp. 308–309Mark Miravalle, 1993, Introduction to Mary, Queenship Publishing {{ISBN|978-1-882972-06-7}}, pp. 62–63Fundamentals of Catholicism, Kenneth Baker 1983 {{ISBN |0-89870-019-1}} pp. 334–35 Constantine Zalalas argues it would have been against Jewish custom for Jesus to give his mother to the care of the disciple if Mary had other living sons, because the eldest son would always take responsibility for his mother.{{Citation |last=Zalalas |first=Constantine |title=Holy Theotokos: Apologetic Study}}. Karl Keating says, "It is hard to imagine why Jesus would have disregarded family ties and made this provision for his Mother if these four [James, Joseph/Joses, Simon, Jude] were also her sons".{{Citation |last=Keating |first=Karl |title=Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on "Romanism" by "Bible Christians" |page=284 |year=1988 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qn37ImknvSAC |publisher=Ignatius Press |isbn=978-0-89870-177-7}} Pope John Paul II also says the command "Behold your son!" was the entrustment of the disciple to Mary in order to fill the maternal gap left by the death of her only son on the cross.L'Osservatore Romano, weekly ed. in English, 30 April 1997, p. 11 [http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/jp2bvm49.htm Article at EWTN] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924045920/http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/jp2bvm49.htm |date=24 September 2015 }} Vincent Taylor points out difficulties in this interpretation of the text: it ignores both the fact that Jesus' brothers opposed his claims, and the position of honour of John, the beloved disciple.{{Citation |last=Taylor |first=Vincent |title=The Gospel According to St Mark |page=248 |year=1952 |place=London |publisher=MacMillan}}

File:Eusebius of Caesarea Armenian Gospel Icon.png, Persia]]

The early Christian historian Sextus Julius Africanus (died {{circa|240}}), in his "Genealogy of the Holy Gospels", referred to "relatives of our Lord according to the flesh" whom he called desposyni, meaning "from the Lord's family".{{sfn|Rosik|Wojciechowska|2021|p=108}} Of these individuals, only the 2nd century Bishop of Jerusalem Judah Kyriakos is historically attested by name.

• Gospel of James (also called the Protoevangelium of James)
• James Ossuary
• Hong Xiuquan

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{{Reflist}}

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• {{Cite book |last=Aune |first=David |title=Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible |publisher=Eerdmans |year=2000 |isbn=9789053565032 |editor-last=Freedman |editor-first=David Noel |chapter=Greek |editor-last2=Myers |editor-first2=Allen C. |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qRtUqxkB7wkC&pg=PA533}}
• {{Cite book |last=Bateman |first=Steve |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Es92BgAAQBAJ&pg=PT8 |title=Brothers, Stand Firm: Seven Things Every Man Should Know, Practice, and Invest in the Next Generation |publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-63087-739-2 |access-date=1 October 2024}}
• {{Cite book |last=Bauckham |first=Richard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ahb7rcCzNuwC&pg=PA228 |title=Gospel Women: Studies of the Named Women in the Gospels |publisher=Eerdmans |year=2002 |isbn=9780802849991}}
• {{Cite book |last=Bauckham |first=Richard |title=Buried Hope or Risen Savior |publisher=B&H Publishing Group |year=2008 |isbn=9781433671265 |editor-last=Quarles |editor-first=Charles L |chapter=The Names on the Ossuaries |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uqe4AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA72}}
• {{Cite book |last=Bauckham |first=Richard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oCOdBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA6 |title=Jude and the Relatives of Jesus in the Early Church |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=2015 |isbn=9781474230476}}
• {{Citation |last=Bethel |first=Florentine |title=The Catholic Encyclopedia |title-link=The Catholic Encyclopedia |volume=2 |year=1907 |chapter=The Brethren of the Lord |chapter-url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02767a.htm |place=New York |publisher=New advent |ref=Bethel |orig-year=Robert Appleton Company}}
• {{Cite book |last=Boisclair |first=Regina A. |title=An Introductory Dictionary of Theology and Religious Studies |publisher=Liturgical Press |year=2007 |isbn=9780814658567 |editor-last=Espín |editor-first=Orlando O. |chapter=Virginity of Mary (Biblical Theology) |editor-last2=Nickoloff |editor-first2=James B. |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k85JKr1OXcQC&pg=PA1465}}
• {{Cite book |last=Boring |first=M. Eugene |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=leFrgkyEtusC&pg=PA556 |title=An Introduction to the New Testament: History, Literature, Theology |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |year=2012 |isbn=978-0664255923}}
• {{Cite book |last=Brackney |first=William H. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZP6fv8LqJ4MC&pg=PA31 |title=Historical Dictionary of Radical Christianity |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2012 |isbn=9781474230476}}
• {{Cite book |last=Bromiley |first=Geoffrey W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zkla5Gl_66oC |title=The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia |publisher=Eerdmans |year=1995 |isbn=9780802837851}}
• {{Cite book |last=Brown |first=Raymond |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MqpJCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT876 |title=An Introduction to the New Testament |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2005 |isbn=9780802837851}}
• {{Cite book |last=Butz |first=Jeffrey J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=610oDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT26 |title=The Brother of Jesus and the Lost Teachings of Christianity |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2005 |isbn=9781594778797}}
• {{Cite book |last=Collinge |first=William J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L8C3TKNdn5oC&pg=PA133 |title=Historical Dictionary of Catholicism |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2012 |isbn=9780810879799}}
• {{Cite book |last=Cross |first=Frank Leslie |title=The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church |last2=Livingstone |first2=Elizabeth A. |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2005 |isbn=9780192802903 |chapter=Brethren of the Lord |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fUqcAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA237}}
• {{Cite book |last=Curi |first=Umberto |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ftABEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT430 |title=Film che pensano: Cinema e filosofia |publisher=Mimesis Edizioni |year=2020 |isbn=978-88-575-7314-4 |page=unpaginated |language=it |access-date=29 September 2024}}
• {{Cite book |last=deSilva |first=David A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zCxpAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA37 |title=The Jewish Teachers of Jesus, James, and Jude |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-19-997688-1}}
• {{Cite book |last=deSilva |first=David A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m-vbDwAAQBAJ |title=The Letter to the Galatians |date=18 September 2018 |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |isbn=978-1-4674-5044-7 |language=en}}
• {{Cite book |last=Dozier |first=Verna J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-nVEZhefLfAC |title=Sisters and Brothers: Reclaiming a Biblical Idea of Community |last2=Adams |first2=James R. |publisher=Cowley Publications |year=1993 |isbn=978-1-56101-076-9 |page=4 |access-date=1 October 2024}}
• {{Cite book |last=Duling |first=Dennis C. |title=The Blackwell Companion to the New Testament |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |year=2010 |isbn=9781444318944 |editor-last=Aune |editor-first=David E. |chapter=The Gospel of Matthew |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygcgn8h-jo4C&pg=PA298}}
• {{Cite book |last=Edwards |first=James R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uGfnDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT159 |title=The Gospel According to Mark |publisher=Inter-Varsity Press |year=2020 |isbn=9781789740080}}
• {{Cite book |last=Ehrman |first=Bart |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U8_QCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA99 |title=Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-19-802888-8}}
• {{Cite book |last=Ehrman |first=Bart |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U8_QCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA99 |title=The Apocryphal Gospels: Texts and Translations |last2=Plese |first2=Zlatko |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-19-802888-8}}
• {{Cite book |last=Elliott |first=James Keith |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9vNTo0m08nkC&q=The+Apocryphal+New+Testament:+A+collection+of+apocryphal+Christian+literature+in+an+English+translation |title=The Apocryphal New Testament: A collection of apocryphal Christian literature in an English translation |publisher=Clarendon Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-19-826181-0}}
• {{Cite book |last=Evans |first=Craig |title=The Routledge Encyclopedia of the Historical Jesus |publisher=Routledge |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-19-983018-3 |editor-last=Evans |editor-first=Craig |chapter=Mary, Mother of Jesus |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QzxpAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA157}}
• {{Cite book |last=Foster |first=Paul |title=The Non-Canonical Gospels |publisher=A&C Black |year=2008 |isbn=9780567033024 |editor-last=Foster |editor-first=Paul |chapter=The Protoevangelium of James |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ldUIShNpBjYC&pg=PA117}}
• {{Cite book |last=Gowler |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVzTDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA33 |title=James Through the Centuries |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2020 |isbn=9781119673897}}
• {{Cite book |last=Green |first=Gene |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5Qv2AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA2 |title=Jude and 2 Peter |publisher=Baker Academic |year=2008 |isbn=9781441210722}}
• {{Cite book |last=Hagner |first=Donald A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=siEjSehyITkC&pg=PT780 |title=The New Testament: A Historical and Theological Introduction |publisher=Baker Books |year=2012 |isbn=9781441240408}}
• {{Cite book |last=Hurtado |first=Larry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k32wZRMxltUC&pg=PA448 |title=Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity |publisher=Eerdmans |year=2005 |isbn=9780802831675}}
• {{Citation |last=Kilgallen |first=John J |title=A Brief Commentary on the Gospel of Mark |year=1989 |publisher=Paulist}}
• {{Cite book |last=Hesemann |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TU5uDQAAQBAJ |title=Mary of Nazareth: History, Archaeology, Legends |publisher=Ignatius Press |year=2016 |isbn=9781681497372}}
• {{Cite book |last=Holman Bible Publishers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mhq5AwAAQBAJ&pg=RA21-PR80 |title=HCSB Study Bible: God's Word for Life |last2=The HCSB Translation Team |last3=Howard |first3=Jeremy Royal |last4=Blum |first4=Edwin |publisher=B&H Publishing Group |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-4336-0153-8 |access-date=1 October 2024}}
• {{Cite book |last=Hunter |first=David G. |title=The New Westminster Dictionary of Church History: The early, medieval, and Reformation eras |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |year=2008 |isbn=9780664224165 |editor-last=Benedetto |editor-first=Robert |chapter=Marriage, early Christian |editor-last2=Duke |editor-first2=James O. |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g46euaF7HAsC&pg=PA412}}
• {{Cite book |last=Kraus |first=C. Norman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Pzv7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA75 |title=Jesus Christ Our Lord: Christology from a Disciple's Perspective |publisher=Wipf and Stock |year=2004 |isbn=9781725211407}}
• {{Cite book |last=Levine |first=Amy-Jill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a8OdEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT34 |title=The Difficult Words of Jesus |publisher=Hymns Ancient & Modern Limited |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-78622-475-0 |access-date=1 October 2024}}
• {{Cite book |last=Lincoln |first=Andrew |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=deNgAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA144 |title=Born of a Virgin? |publisher=Eerdmans |year=2013 |isbn=978-0802869258}}
• {{Cite book |last=Lockett |first=Darian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JNLeBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA9 |title=An Introduction to the Catholic Epistles |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=2011 |isbn=9781474230476}}
• {{Cite book |last=Lohse |first=Bernhard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-_SAE5-K_l8C&pg=PA200 |title=A Short History of Christian Doctrine |publisher=Fortress Press |year=1966 |isbn=9781451404234}}
• {{Cite book |last=McKnight |first=Scot |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JNCzbtLS5N0C&pg=PA8 |title=The Letter of James |publisher=Eerdmans |year=2011 |isbn=9780802826275}}
• {{Cite book |last=Kelly |first=John Norman Dividson |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZaolAQAAMAAJ&q=%22joseph,+too,+was+a+life-long+virgin%22 |title=Jerome: His Life, Writings, and Controversies |publisher=Harper & Row |year=1975 |isbn=9780715607381}}
• {{Cite book |last=Matera |first=Frank J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R8jX2spCfycC&pg=PA66 |title=Galatians |publisher=Liturgical Press |year=2007 |isbn=9780814659724}}
• {{Cite book |last=Nickle |first=Keith Fullerton |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5SSytjasmAgC&pg=PA43 |title=The Synoptic Gospels: An Introduction |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |year=2001 |isbn=9781681497372}}
• {{Cite book |last=Painter |first=John |title=The Brother of Jesus: James the Just and His Mission |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |year=2001 |isbn=9780664222994 |editor-last=Chilton |editor-first=Bruce |chapter=Who was James? Footprints as a Means of Identification |editor-last2=Neusner |editor-first2=Jacob |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YS_d3a-wxDMC&pg=PA11}}
• {{Cite book |last=Painter |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HQGsx8ycHcsC&pg=PA309 |title=Just James: The Brother of Jesus in History and Tradition |publisher=University of South Carolina Press |year=2004 |isbn=9781570035234}}
• {{Cite book |last=Polcar |first=Philip |title=Great Events in Religion: Volume I |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2016 |isbn=9781610695664 |editor-last=Curta |editor-first=Florin |chapter=Development of the Doctrine of Mary's Perpetual Virginity in Antiquity (2nd-7th Centuries AD) |editor-last2=Holt |editor-first2=Andrew |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dgF9DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA185}}
• {{Cite book |last=Reddish |first=Mitchell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hliGUOv18cQC |title=An Introduction to The Gospels |publisher=Abingdon Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-1426750083}}
• {{Cite book |last=Regev |first=Eyal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w62PDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA160 |title=The Temple in Early Christianity: Experiencing the Sacred |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2019 |isbn=978-1426750083}}
• {{Cite book |last=Reid |first=Barbara E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GiwNEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 |title=Wisdom Commentary: Luke 1–9 |last2=Matthews |first2=Shelly |publisher=Liturgical Press |year=2021 |isbn=9781474230476}}
• {{Cite book |last=Rosik |first=Mariusz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_jRTEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA108 |title=A Structural Commentary on the So-Called Antilegomena |last2=Wojciechowska |first2=Kalina |publisher=Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht |year=2021 |isbn=9783525573389 |volume=2. The Letter of Jude: Expecting for the Mercy}}
• {{Cite book |last=Rousseau |first=John J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FGlCPgAACAAJ |title=Jesus and His World |last2=Arav |first2=Rami |publisher=Fortress Press |year=1995 |isbn=9780334026266}}
• {{Cite book |last=Schreiner |first=Thomas R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e4LnmpXcy0sC&pg=PA110 |title=Galatians |publisher=Zondervan |year=2011 |isbn=9780310492160}}
• {{Cite book |last=Segal |first=Charles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VdDm3fXTRkAC&pg=PA184 |title=Tragedy and Civilization: An Interpretation of Sophocles |publisher=University of Oklahoma Press |year=1999 |isbn=9781474230476}}
• {{Cite book |last=Shanks |first=Hershel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NnDSKgmm4gEC&pg=PA94 |title=The Brother of Jesus |last2=Witherington |first2=Ben |publisher=A&C Black |year=2003 |isbn=9780826470195}}
• {{Cite book |last=Silver |first=Jesse Forest |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=305QAQAAMAAJ |title=The Lord's Return: Seen in History and in Scripture as Pre-millennial and Imminent |publisher=Fleming H. Revell |year=1914 |page=272 |access-date=1 October 2024}}
• {{Cite book |last=Strauss |first=Mark L. |title=The Challenge of Bible Translation |publisher=Zondervan |year=2009 |isbn=9780310321859 |editor-last=Scorgie |editor-first=Glen G. |chapter=Current Issues in the Gender-Language Debate |editor-last2=Strauss |editor-first2=Mark L. |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pYkn5RbltmwC&pg=PA134}}
• {{Cite book |last=Verbrugge |first=Verlyn D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J3gzDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA15 |title=New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology: Abridged Edition |publisher=Zondervan Academic |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-310-53755-7 |page=15 |access-date=29 September 2024}}
• {{Cite book |last=Vuong |first=Lily C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PWifdAZbuugC&pg=PA12 |title=Gender and Purity in the Protevangelium of James |publisher=Mohr Siebeck |year=2013 |isbn=9783161523373}}
• {{Cite book |last=Wassen |first=Cecilia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vUgKEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA6 |title=Jesus the Apocalyptic Prophet |last2=Hägerland |first2=Tobias |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=2021 |isbn=9780567693792}}
• {{Cite book |last=Witherington |first=Ben |author-link=Ben Witherington III |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QzNgJ_9fOAwC&pg=PA193 |title=The Gospel of Mark: A Socio-rhetorical Commentary |publisher=Eerdmans |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-8028-4503-0}}
• {{Cite book |last=Zervos |first=George Thelemis |title=A Feminist Companion to Mariology |publisher=A&C Black |year=2005 |isbn=9780310321859 |editor-last=Levine |editor-first=Amy-Jill |chapter=Christmas with Salome |editor-last2=Robbins |editor-first2=Maria Mayo |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZgECo-krHAwC&pg=PA89}}

{{refend}}

• {{Citation |last=Jerome |title=Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 6 |year=c. 383 |editor-last=Philip Schaff |editor-last2=Henry Wace |editor-last3=Kevin Knight |chapter=The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary – Against Helvidius |chapter-url=http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3007.htm |others=Translated by W.H. Fremantle, G. Lewis and W.G. Martley |place=Buffalo, New York |publisher=Christian Literature Publishing Co. (retrieved from New Advent) |author-link=Jerome}}
• {{Cite journal |last=Hunter |first=David G. |date=Spring 1993 |title=Helvidius, Jovinian, and the Virginity of Mary in Late Fourth-Century Rome |url=https://www.academia.edu/2428119 |journal=Journal of Early Christian Studies |volume=1 |pages=47–71 |doi=10.1353/earl.0.0147 |s2cid=170719507 |access-date=2016-08-30 |number=1}}
• {{Citation |last=John J Rousseau, Rami Arav |title=Jesus and His World |year=1995 |chapter=Jesus' Family Tree |chapter-url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/jesus/tree.html |publisher=Augsberg Fortress (retrieved from PBS)}}

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