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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
brothers of jesus	anthony	Sunday, October 5, 2008
Question: Hello, In acts chapter 1 verse 14, it states that "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,with the women and mary the mother of Jesus,and with his brothers". Who can be referrred to as his brothers in this verse? God bless
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: The Brethren of the Lord Bad Aramaic Made Easy God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

brothers of jesus

anthony

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Question:

Hello,
In acts chapter 1 verse 14, it states that "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,with the women and mary the mother of Jesus,and with his brothers".

Who can be referrred to as his brothers in this verse?
God bless

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:

The Brethren of the Lord

Bad Aramaic Made Easy

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum