James The Less - Cousin or Biological Brother
There has for a while been the debate as to whether or not James the Less was a cousin (or kinsman) or a brother of Jesus. This arises from the fact that James, as well as others, referred to Jesus to be a brother (of James). It is important to consider the place and time because it effects the context in which this was spoken.
It was common then in the Canaan area (and it still is in some parts of it today) to refer to a first cousin, a step brother, foster brother, brother in law, a half brother or just a kinsman as "brother." Also the Greek word adelphos (Greek being commonly used early in Christian history) was not restricted to the literal meaning of a full brother in the Bible.
The reason this debate is an issue is because the Bible says Mary was a virgin, and this is an important part of many faiths. The issue then becomes, maybe she had children afterwards. However, after cross referencing several passages we can tell this is not the case.
Matthew 27:61 "And there was there Mary Magdalen, and the other Mary sitting over against the sepulchre."
Mark 15:47 "And Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of Joseph, beheld where he was laid."
Mark 16:1 "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, brought sweet spices, that coming, they might annoint Jesus."
Matthew 28:1 "And in the end of the sabbath, when it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalen and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre."
Luke 24:10 "And it was Mary Magdalen, and Joanna, and Mary of James, and the other women that were with them, who told these things to the apostles."
Matthew 27:56 "Among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee"
(This is at the crucifixion. The mother of the sons of Zebedee is Salome)
John 19:25 "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen."
This shows three Mary's were present and were in the life of Jesus.
Mathew 13:55 "Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brethren James and Joseph, and Simon, and Jude : (56) And His sisters, are they not all with us?"
Mark 6:3 "Is not this the carpenter, the Son of Mary, the Brother of James, and Joseph, and Jude, and Simon?"
Matthew 4:21 "And going on from thense, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets: and He called them."
John 19:25 "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen"
Mark 15:40 "And there were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joseph, and Salome:"
Matthew 28:10 "Then Jesus said to them: Fear not. Go, tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, there they shall see Me."
(Implying a wide relationship than that of family only.)
John 7:5 "For neither did his brethren believe in him."
(Showing that James and some other brethren did not accept Jesus' authority during his earthly life. If James was raised by the same parents who each were visited by angels, would he not believe?)
James the less has Joseph (as known as Joses, the Greek form of Joseph) Simon and Judas were brothers.
There is uncertainty regarding this Mary. There is reason for thinking that she (Matthew 27:56), the "other Mary" (Matthew 27:61), and Mary the wife of Clopas {form of Cleophas} (John 19:25) were the same person. Little is known about her except that she was very probably among the company of women who served Jesus in Galilee (Luke 8:2-3). She was at the cross when Jesus died (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40). She witnessed the burial of her Lord (Mark 15:47), came to the tomb to annoint His body (Mark 16:1) and fled when told by the angel that Jesus was not in the tomb (Mark 16:8). A comparison of Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1; and Luke 24:10 seems to make it certain that the mother of James and Joses was also the wife of Clopas. That Clopas (Cleophas, Luke 24:18) and Alphaeus (Matthew 10:3) were the same has not yet been proved.
If Clopas and Alphaeus are the same is not important. If "The other Mary" and Mary the mother of Joses and James (also known as James the less or James the brother of Jesus) were the same, James could not be a direct brother. This is so because it would make James' father Clopas and The Virgin Mary has a husband named Joseph.
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