Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
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brothers of jesus | anthony | Sunday, October 5, 2008 |
Question: Hello, Who can be referrred to as his brothers in this verse? |
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Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM
Dear Anthony: In Aramaic and Greek there is no word for "cousin". Thus, the word used in this verse and all the other verses mentioning "brother" is a word the is best rendered in English as "brethren". This can be a blood brother, a cousin, or fellow members of the tribe. We know for a fact that Jesus had to blood brothers not only from the record of the Church Fathers, and the continuing teaching of the Church through the Apostles to the present day, the fact that Mary remained virgin (see previous answer), but from the Bible itself in the story of the crucifixion. When Jesus was dying on the Cross he gave care of his mother to John (who was NOT his brother). This would have been a great offense and a violation of Jewish law if Jesus had any blood brothers. If Jesus had any blood brothers he would have given care of his mother to the next eldest brother. He didn't. Jesus would not have insulted his family so if he had brothers. Here are a couple of articles to consider: God Bless,
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