What Scripture says
The New Testament mentions Jesus’ brothers and sisters several times:
- His neighbours ask: “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?” (Mark 6:3, ESV; also Matthew 13:55–56).
- His brothers didn’t believe in him during his ministry (John 7:5).
- After the resurrection, his mother and brothers are with the disciples in prayer (Acts 1:14).
- Paul met “James the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:19), and mentions “the brothers of the Lord” as missionaries (1 Corinthians 9:5).
- Matthew 1:25 says Joseph “knew her not until she had given birth to a son”, and Luke 2:7 calls Jesus Mary’s “firstborn” son.
What the evidence says
History
Three views
| View | Who were the “brothers”? | Main supporters |
|---|---|---|
| Helvidian | Children of Mary and Joseph, born after Jesus | Most Protestants |
| Epiphanian | Joseph’s children from an earlier marriage | Eastern Orthodox |
| Hieronymian | Cousins of Jesus | Roman Catholics |
The names come from three early writers: Helvidius (4th century), Epiphanius (4th century) and Jerome (Hieronymus in Latin, 4th–5th century).
The case for siblings
- The natural meaning. The Greek word for brother, adelphos, normally means a sibling. Greek had a separate word for cousin, anepsios, which Paul uses in Colossians 4:10.
- The family setting. The brothers and sisters are mentioned with Mary, as part of Jesus’ household (Mark 3:31–35, 6:3).
- Matthew 1:25 and Luke 2:7. “Until” and “firstborn” suggest, though don’t require, that Mary and Joseph had normal married relations and more children afterwards.
- Early writers. Hegesippus (2nd century), as quoted by Eusebius, calls Jude “the brother of the Lord according to the flesh”, but calls Simeon, another relative, a cousin (anepsios), suggesting he knew the difference.
- Tertullian (c. 200) seems to have accepted that Mary had other children.
Even John Meier, a Catholic priest and historian, concluded that, purely on historical grounds, the brothers and sisters were most likely Jesus’ siblings.
The case for other relatives
- Wider meaning. In Hebrew and Aramaic, “brother” could mean a relative. Lot is called Abraham’s “brother” (Genesis 14:14), though he was his nephew.
- Mary’s other relatives. James and Joses are later called sons of “Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses” (Mark 15:40), who may be a different Mary, possibly the wife of Clopas (John 19:25).
- Jesus entrusted his mother to John at the cross (John 19:26–27), which would be strange if she had other sons to care for her.
- The Protoevangelium of James (c. AD 150) presents Joseph as an elderly widower with sons (see 3B.22).
- Church tradition has held Mary’s perpetual virginity since early centuries; it was affirmed by later councils and taught by Luther, Calvin and Zwingli, as well as by Catholics and Orthodox.
Supporters of the sibling view respond that the Greek New Testament writers, writing in Greek, had a word for cousin; that Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe in him at the time of the cross (John 7:5), which may explain why he entrusted Mary to John; and that the Protoevangelium is a late, legendary source.
Scripture
What all agree on: James, “the Lord’s brother”, became a leader of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13, Galatians 2:9) and is traditionally considered the author of the letter of James. Jude is traditionally considered the author of the letter of Jude, which calls him “brother of James” (Jude 1). James was converted by an appearance of the risen Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:7; see 7.4), and was stoned in AD 62, as Josephus records.
Where they meet
Scripture names brothers and sisters of Jesus. Most Protestants read them as Mary’s later children; Catholics and Orthodox read them as cousins or step-siblings, in line with their tradition of Mary’s perpetual virginity.
What’s still open
How to understand the terms, and how much weight to give church tradition.
Bottom line
Scripture names brothers, including James (Mark 6:3, Galatians 1:19). Catholics and Orthodox read them as cousins or step-siblings. This is rated Debated.