Omanghana
The New Testament refers to Jesus having brothers and sisters, naming four men and mentioning an unspecified number of women. Christians, however, differ over whether these relatives were His biological half-siblings, step-siblings or cousins.
Matthew 13:55–56 and Mark 6:3 name His brothers as James, Joseph also called Joses—Simon and Judas, commonly known as Jude. His sisters are mentioned collectively, without names or an exact number. Since the references are plural, a reading that understands them as siblings indicates at least two sisters and six siblings altogether.
These passages appear in accounts of people questioning Jesus’ authority because they knew His family and background. Their familiarity with His relatives formed part of their surprise at His teaching and extraordinary works.
Many Protestants understand the passages to mean that Mary and Joseph had children together after Jesus’ birth. Under this interpretation, the four brothers and unnamed sisters were His younger maternal half-siblings, sharing Mary as their mother.
Catholic teaching maintains Mary’s perpetual virginity and understands those described as Jesus’ brothers and sisters as close relatives rather than other children of Mary. Cousins are a common explanation within this tradition.
Supporters of this interpretation point to the broader use of family language in biblical settings. The disagreement concerns how the terms should be understood in their historical and scriptural context, rather than whether the Gospel references exist.
A longstanding Eastern Orthodox interpretation also upholds Mary’s perpetual virginity but identifies the brothers and sisters as Joseph’s children from an earlier marriage. In this understanding, they were Jesus’ step-siblings. This explanation draws on early Christian tradition and writings outside the New Testament; the Gospels themselves do not describe a previous marriage for Joseph.
Beyond questions about their precise relationship, the New Testament records a change in the brothers’ response to Jesus. John 7:5 states that His brothers did not believe in Him during that stage of His ministry. Acts 1:14 later places His brothers among those gathered in prayer with Mary and the disciples after the resurrection and ascension.
James subsequently became a prominent leader in the Jerusalem church. He is traditionally associated with the Epistle of James, while Jude is traditionally identified with the author of the letter bearing his name. The authorship of these writings remains a subject of scholarly discussion.
The biblical accounts therefore identify a family circle that included four named brothers and several unnamed sisters. Their exact relationship to Jesus remains an important point of interpretation among Christian traditions, shaped by differing understandings of Scripture, early church teaching and Mary’s life.
Source: Omanghana
