Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Church teaches that Mary was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus, and that Jesus was Mary's only child. This belief is connected to the dogmatic teaching about Mary's perpetual virginity. However, the Bible mentions Jesus's brothers and sisters in several passages across all four gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and in two letters of Paul. The confusion arises from the translation of the Greek word adelphos (plural: adelphoi), which can mean brother or sister, but also refers to other relatives such as cousins, nephews, uncles, etc. Catholics believe that the brothers and sisters mentioned in the Bible were either cousins of Jesus or children of Joseph from a previous marriage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic view on Jesus having brothers and sisters | Jesus did not have any brothers or sisters, only cousins and other kinsmen |
| Catholic view on Mary's virginity | Mary was a perpetual virgin, before, during and after the birth of Jesus |
| The "brothers" of Jesus | The "brothers" are cousins, half-siblings (sons of Joseph from a previous marriage), or other male relatives |
| The "sisters" of Jesus | The "sisters" are cousins or half-sisters |
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What You'll Learn
The meaning of 'brother' in the Bible
The term "brother" in the Bible is used to refer to a variety of relationships, and its meaning can depend on the context in which it is used. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for "brother" is used to refer to any kinsman, including nephews, husbands, and allies. It can also refer to those of the same tribe, people, or office, as well as fellow countrymen.
In the New Testament, the Greek word "adelphos" and its plural form "adelphoi" are used and can also have a broad range of meanings. They can refer to biological brothers, but also to extended relatives, spiritual brothers, or even fellow Christians. For example, in Romans 8:15-17, Paul explains that believers are adopted into God's family, making them brothers and sisters with each other and with Christ. This spiritual use of "brother" is also seen in 1 Corinthians 5:11 and Luke 10:29, where Christ and the apostles refer to all Christians as "brothers" and the rest of the world as "neighbours".
The term "brother" is also used in the Bible to refer to fellow Israelites, as seen in Acts 2:29 and 3:17, and fellow children of Abraham, as seen in Acts 13:26. It can also be used more generally to refer to fellow men, as in Galatians 2:4 and 2 Corinthians 11:26, or to both men and women, as in 1 Corinthians 1:10, 11, 26, and other verses.
When referring specifically to Jesus' brothers in the Bible, there is some debate among Catholics and Protestants as to whether these were biological siblings, half-siblings, cousins, or other relatives. Some sources suggest that the "brothers" mentioned in the Bible, such as James and Joseph (or Joses), were indeed the children of Mary but a different Mary, who was the sister of the Virgin Mary. Others interpret these "brothers" as cousins or other relatives, as the term "brother" was used more broadly in the cultural context of that time.
Furthermore, the Catholic Church has long taught that Mary remained a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus, which supports the interpretation that Jesus did not have biological siblings. This belief is based on early Church traditions, Scripture, and writings such as the Protoevangelium of James, which describes Mary as a consecrated virgin and Joseph as an elderly widower with children from a previous marriage.
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The perpetual virginity of Mary
The Protoevangelium of James, a non-canonical but highly respected work from around AD 120-150, speaks of Mary as a consecrated virgin since her youth. It explains that St. Joseph was an elderly widower with children from a previous marriage, who was chosen to be Mary's spouse to protect her while respecting her vow of virginity. This viewpoint was shared by Epiphanius, bishop of Salamis in the 4th century, and is still believed by many in the Orthodox Church.
The Second Council of Constantinople in 553 gave Mary the title "Aeiparthenos", meaning Perpetual Virgin, and Pope Martin I at the Lateran Synod of 649 emphasized the threefold character of the perpetual virginity, declaring:
> The blessed ever-virginal and immaculate Mary conceived, without seed, by the Holy Spirit, and without loss of integrity brought him forth, and after his birth preserved her virginity inviolate.
However, it is important to note that the belief in Mary's perpetual virginity is not without its objections. The Bible does mention Jesus' "brothers" and "sisters", such as in Matthew 13:55-56:
> "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?"
Catholics interpret these terms as referring to other male and female relatives, such as cousins, rather than literal brothers and sisters. They argue that if Jesus had blood brothers, they would have taken responsibility for their mother after Jesus' death, instead of him entrusting her to John.
In conclusion, the perpetual virginity of Mary is a doctrine of the Catholic Church, based on the belief in Mary's exalted status as the "Mother of God" and her purity of heart and total love for God. While it is not explicitly taught in the Bible and has been questioned by some, it has been a widely held belief since the earliest days of Christianity and is supported by several early Christian texts and Church Fathers.
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The identity of Jesus' brothers
The Catholic Church teaches that Mary was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. Therefore, Jesus did not have any brothers or sisters, only cousins and other kinsmen. The "brothers" of Jesus mentioned in the Bible could refer to half-siblings (sons of Joseph from a previous marriage), cousins, or other male relatives.
The Gospel of Mark mentions Jesus' "brothers" by name: James, Joseph (or Joses), Simon, and Judas, and his unnamed sisters. However, these "brothers" are never called the children of Mary, although Jesus is. The "brothers" are identified as the children of Mary, the "mother of James and Joseph" (or Joses), but not Mary, the mother of Jesus. This Mary is also referred to as the wife of Clopas and the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The Protoevangelium of James, a non-canonical work from around A.D. 150, speaks of Mary as a consecrated virgin and of St. Joseph as a widower with children from a previous marriage. This viewpoint was shared by Epiphanius, bishop of Salamis, in the fourth century, and is still believed by many in the Orthodox Church.
Another interpretation is that the term "brother" has a broader meaning in the Bible than just biological brother. In Genesis 13:8, Abraham calls Lot his "brother", but they were actually uncle and nephew. Therefore, Jesus' "brothers" could refer to cousins or other extended family members.
Some biblical scholars have argued that James, in particular, was the son of Joseph by another wife or the son of Mary, sister of the mother of Jesus. John Dominic Crossan suggests that James was probably Jesus' older brother. However, Catholic interpretation generally holds that James was the son of Alphaeus and the brother of Jesus.
In conclusion, while the Bible mentions Jesus' "brothers" and "sisters", the Catholic view is that these refer to cousins, step-siblings, or other extended family members, and that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life.
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The Protoevangelium of James
Mary is about sixteen years old when the angel announces that she will bear a child. After six months, Joseph discovers her pregnancy and is anguished, as he is responsible for her purity. Mary explains the circumstances, and Joseph is torn between not wanting to conceal a sin and not wanting to fight against God. The priests find out about Mary's pregnancy and accuse Joseph of a horrible sin, but they administer a test, "the water of ordeal of the Lord," and both are found innocent. A Roman decree then requires everyone to register in their hometown, so Joseph travels to Bethlehem with Mary and some of his sons from an earlier marriage. On the way, Mary goes into labor, and they find a cave and a midwife, who seems to know about Mary's situation. Jesus is born, and the magi arrive in Jerusalem soon after.
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The Catholic Church's stance
The Bible mentions Jesus's siblings in several passages across all four gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and in two letters of Paul. For example, in Matthew 13:55-56, the passage reads: "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?". However, the term "brother" (Gk. "adelphos") in the original text of the gospel has a broader meaning than just uterine brothers. It can also refer to other relatives, such as cousins, nephews, uncles, or even spiritual brothers.
Some Catholics interpret the "brothers" and "sisters" mentioned in the Bible as Jesus's cousins or other extended family members. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the "brothers" of Jesus are never referred to as the children of Mary, although Jesus himself is. Additionally, if Jesus had living male relatives, they would have been expected to take responsibility for their mother and take her into their homes, rather than Jesus entrusting her to John.
Another argument supporting the Catholic Church's stance is the consensus of the early Church and the perennial magisterium. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide his Church and preserve her from error, which implies that his followers would not deviate from the Truth through false teachings.
Some Catholic theologians, such as St. Jerome in the 4th century, have argued that the "brothers of Jesus" were the sons of Mary, the "mother of James and Joses" mentioned in Mark 15:40. He identified this Mary as the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus, making them cousins of Jesus. However, this interpretation has been criticized as it results in two sisters with the same name, Mary. A modern variant of this interpretation identifies Clopas as the brother of Joseph, making the two Marys sisters-in-law.
In conclusion, the Catholic Church's stance is that Jesus did not have any biological brothers or sisters, and that Mary remained a perpetual virgin. The "brothers" and "sisters" mentioned in the Bible are interpreted as cousins, extended family members, or spiritual siblings, rather than uterine siblings.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics believe that Mary remained a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus, and that Jesus was Mary's only child. Therefore, in the Catholic tradition, Jesus did not have any brothers or sisters, only cousins and other kinsmen.
The original text of the Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. In Hebrew and Aramaic, the languages of most of the original Old Testament texts, there was no special word for cousin, nephew, aunt, half-sibling, or step-sibling. Therefore, the same word was used for brother or sister. For example, in Genesis 13:8, the word "brother" is used to describe the relationship between Abraham and Lot, who were uncle and nephew.
Some Christian denominations, such as some Baptist groups, view the adelphoi as Jesus's half-brothers, or do not specify. The Eastern Orthodox Church believes that they were Joseph's children from a previous marriage.
