Did Jesus Christ have biological siblings?

OPINION | RELIGION

Did Jesus Christ have biological brothers and sisters? Where is evidence in the Scriptures?

Dr. Josue Okoth

Many Christian denominations or sects believe that Jesus had biological brothers and sisters. However, the Catholic, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches as well as some Anglicans and Lutherans believe in the doctrine of perpetual virginity of Mary.

Those who oppose the doctrine rely on the Gospel of Mark 6:3 and Mathew 13:55-56 where James, Joses (Joseph), Judas and Simon were cited as sons of Mary and Joseph. They also rely on the Epistle to the Galatians (1:19) which refers to James as "the Lord's brother"; the James who was heading the congregation in Jerusalem most likely the son of Alphaeus of the Apostles.

The dogma of perpetual virginity implies that Mary never had any sexual knowledge with any man and, therefore, could not have had children other than Jesus. In the Gospels there is no mention of Mary Mother of Jesus and Joseph having a child.

The first difficulty in understanding the Bible texts is the usage of the term, "brother". In Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic, there are no distinct terms for relatives. In the original text of the Gospel, we find the Greek word adelphos which means biological brother as well as half-brother, cousin, nephew or even uncle, etc.

In Genesis 13:8, the word adelphos was used to describe relationship between Abraham and Lot who did not share blood relationship. In 1Cor 15:6, St. Paul refers to "more than 500 brothers at the same time". In our own African culture, we use ‘brother' to mean relationship that is not necessarily biological - even members of the same group or association.

In other ancient texts, for example, Proteovangelium written by James around the year A.D. 150, speaks of Mary as a consecrated virgin since her youth, and of St. Joseph to be Mary's spouse for the purposes of guarding and protecting her while respecting her vow of virginity. 

It was the practice with some devout Jews to take vows of virginity - perhaps we could compare the practice with the nuns in the Catholic Church today. It is logical to believe that anyone who carries Christ, the Son of God and Holiest of Holy, in her womb would not later defile the womb by conceiving a sinful person. In Luke 11:27 "As he said these things a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, Blessed is the womb that bore you…".

This kind of writing (Proteovangelium) can help us understand the surrounding contexts of Scripture - there is nothing in Scripture which states that Mary was not a perpetual virgin. St. Jeromy in A.D. 383 wrote a document "Perpetual Virginity of Blessed Mary" claimed that Joseph himself, on account of Mary, was a virgin so that from a virgin wedlock a virgin Son was born.  

Note that none of the brothers of Jesus mentioned were even associated with Joseph the Spouse of Mary.

Jesus grew up alone in the family. James was appointed one of the Apostles (Mark 3:13-19). James and Joses (Joseph) were the sons of Mary wife of Cleophas (Mark 15:40). Mary wife of Cleophas is described in John 19:25 as sister of Mary Mother of Jesus. James the Lesser was the son of Alphaeus (Luke 6:15). James the Greater and John were the sons of Zebedee (Matthew 20:20). James wrote an Epistle in which he said, "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…(James 1:1).

Judas was son of James (not either of the Apostles) (Luke 6:16). In his letter he said, "Jude a Servant of Jesus Christ…(Jude 1:1). Simon was mentioned as a brother because of his association with other disciples. In Luke 5:9-10 ("….and so were James and John, sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners".

Simon was an elderly person than Jesus. The only other Simon, one of the Apostles, was also called the Zealot (Luke 6:15). St. Peter described himself as "an Apostle of Jesus Christ" (1Peter 1:1; 2Peter 1:1).

So where are the biological brothers of Jesus?

Note also that at the Cross Jesus appointed John to look after his mother - where are his biological brothers?

The writer is a concerned Christian