Did Jesus have brothers and sisters?
By Wayne Blank
One of the most hotly-debated subjects between Roman Catholics and Protestants is the question of whether Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, had other sons and daughters after the miraculous virgin birth of The Messiah.
Mary would have been approximately in her late teens or early twenties when Jesus was born, so what happened in her family life, if anything, during the next 30 years until Jesus' crucifixion?
What does The Holy Bible actually say about it?
"Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what The Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel," which means, God with us.
"When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of The Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called His name Jesus." (Matthew 1:20-25 RSV)
"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.
"And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." (Luke 2:4-7 RSV)
"Coming to His own country He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?" [see Miracles Of Jesus Christ]
"Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And are not His brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all His sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?
"And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." And He did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief." (Matthew 13:54-58 RSV)
"This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. After this He went down to Capernaum, with His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and there they stayed for a few days." (John 2:11-12 RSV)
"So His brothers said to Him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that Your disciples may see the works You are doing. For no man works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.
"For even His brothers did not believe in Him." (John 7:3-5 RSV) (Note: "brothers" here cannot mean His disciples, or the Twelve, who did believe in Him)
Fact Finder: Keeping in mind that the apostle James (the brother of John) was killed (Acts 12:2) before the New Testament book of James was written, what other prominent and highly regarded James (who after Jesus' resurrection realized that his older brother really was the Savior, and then became a converted believer) is the most likely author? Galatians 1:19, Matthew 13:55, Acts 12:17
One of the most hotly-debated subjects between Roman Catholics and Protestants is the question of whether Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, had other sons and daughters after the miraculous virgin birth of The Messiah.
Mary would have been approximately in her late teens or early twenties when Jesus was born, so what happened in her family life, if anything, during the next 30 years until Jesus' crucifixion?
What does The Holy Bible actually say about it?
"Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what The Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel," which means, God with us.
"When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of The Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called His name Jesus." (Matthew 1:20-25 RSV)
"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.
"And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." (Luke 2:4-7 RSV)
"Coming to His own country He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?" [see Miracles Of Jesus Christ]
"Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And are not His brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all His sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?
"And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." And He did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief." (Matthew 13:54-58 RSV)
"This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. After this He went down to Capernaum, with His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and there they stayed for a few days." (John 2:11-12 RSV)
"So His brothers said to Him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that Your disciples may see the works You are doing. For no man works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.
"For even His brothers did not believe in Him." (John 7:3-5 RSV) (Note: "brothers" here cannot mean His disciples, or the Twelve, who did believe in Him)
Fact Finder: Keeping in mind that the apostle James (the brother of John) was killed (Acts 12:2) before the New Testament book of James was written, what other prominent and highly regarded James (who after Jesus' resurrection realized that his older brother really was the Savior, and then became a converted believer) is the most likely author? Galatians 1:19, Matthew 13:55, Acts 12:17
