Jesus’ Brothers

DEFENSE

Just because someone is described as a brother does not mean he had the same mother. The word is used more than one way.

The most common use of “brother” is for a male sibling who has the same mother and father (i.e., a full brother). However, Jesus had no full brothers, for Joseph was not his biological father (Matt. 1:18; Luke 1:26–35). This means that, when Scripture refers to the brothers of Jesus, it is not using the term in its most common sense.

The term can also refer to a brother who has one parent in common (a half brother). This option is preferred by those who hold that Mary did not remain a virgin. However, it is not the only option. The word can refer to a brother by marriage (a stepbrother) or to a brother by adoption (an adopted brother). And there are other uses still.

It can be used for close relations. Genesis 12:5 and 14:12 make it clear that Lot was the son of Abraham’s brother (i.e., his nephew), but Genesis 14:14 and 14:16 describe Lot as Abraham’s “brother” (Hebrew, ’akh), and Abraham describes himself and Lot as “brothers” (’akhim) in Genesis 13:8.

Thus the fact that brother is used does not show that Mary had other children.

If we had no evidence for the Virgin Birth, then the most natural understanding of Jesus’ brothers would be full brothers—children of both Joseph and Mary. But we do have evidence of the Virgin Birth, so we must seek another understanding.

In the same way, if we had no evidence that Mary remained a virgin, then it would be reasonable to think Jesus’ brothers were half brothers—fellow sons of Mary. But we do have evidence that Mary remained a virgin, meaning we must look to another sense (see Day 188).

TIP

The earliest reference we have to who the brothers were is in the second-century document called the Protoevangelium of James. It says they were stepbrothers (children of Joseph—who had been a widower—by a former marriage). Later, the idea the “brothers” were close relations such as cousins also became popular.