Does Matthew 13:55 imply Jesus had biological siblings? Text Of Matthew 13:55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother called Mary, and His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?” (Matthew 13:55) Immediate Context (Matthew 13:53-58) The villagers of Nazareth identify four named “brothers” (adelphoi) of Jesus and, in v. 56, unnamed “sisters.” The purpose of the passage is to explain their offense at Jesus’ teaching, not to present a theological treatise on Mary. The natural reading is a literal family list: father (Joseph, implied by “carpenter’s son”), mother (Mary), brothers, and sisters. OTHER New Testament OCCURRENCES • Mark 6:3, the parallel passage, mirrors Matthew’s wording. • John 7:3-10 records the brothers’ unbelief. • Acts 1:14 distinguishes “Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.” • 1 Corinthians 9:5 references “the brothers of the Lord” alongside Peter, treating them as distinct traveling missionaries. • Galatians 1:19: “I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.” In every case the straightforward familial sense is contextually favored. Terms Available For ‘Cousin’ Or ‘Relative’ • ἀνεψιός (anepsios) — “cousin” (Colossians 4:10). • συγγενής / συγγενεῖς — “kinsman / relatives” (Luke 1:36, 58; 21:16). Matthew and Mark could easily have employed these had they wished to avoid misunderstanding. The Hebrew-Greek Transition While Hebrew ’āch can cover broader kin, Matthew is writing in Greek to a mixed audience. Where wider kinship is intended (Luke 1:36; 1:58; Acts 7:3), the Evangelists use συγγενής, not adelphos. The move from Semitic to Hellenistic linguistic precision argues for literal brothers. Patristic Voices • Hegesippus (2nd c.) calls James “the brother of the Lord.” • Tertullian (c. 200 AD), Against Marcion 4.29, explicitly calls them Mary’s sons. • Helvidius (4th c.) argued for Mary’s subsequent children, prompting Jerome’s rebuttal. The patristic debate itself shows the biological-brother position was neither novel nor heretical. Archaeological Note: The James Ossuary An Aramaic limestone box exhibited in 2002 bears the inscription “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.” While authenticity debates continue, epigraphers André Lemaire and Ada Yardeni attest that the patina in both halves is continuous, supporting genuineness. If authentic, it provides non-biblical corroboration that early believers naturally called James Jesus’ biological brother. Cultural-Sociological Considerations First-century Jewish households commonly produced multiple children. Naming four sons aligns with typical family structures. In addition, younger siblings’ initial skepticism (John 7:5) fits normal intrafamilial dynamics rather than the more distant relationship of cousins. Virgin-Birth And Marital Relations Afterward The perpetual virginity of Mary is not required by, nor stated in, Scripture. Matthew 1:25 : “But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son.” The particle ἕως (heōs, “until”) naturally implies normal marital relations afterward (e.g., 2 Samuel 6:23 LXX usage). Affirming later children in no way diminishes the miracle of the virginal conception of Jesus. Step-Brother Theory Examined Epiphanius (4th c.) suggested Joseph, a widower, brought children from a previous marriage. Yet: 1. No canonical text hints at prior offspring of Joseph. 2. The Nazarenes’ question centers on “this carpenter’s son,” assuming all children belong to the same parental unit. 3. Greek has terms for half-brothers (ἑτεροπάτωρ), which are not used. Harmony With Christ’S Deity And Sinlessness Jesus’ divine nature (John 1:1-14; Colossians 2:9) and impeccability (Hebrews 4:15) rest on His incarnation by the Holy Spirit, not on Mary’s lifelong virginity. Biological siblings pose no theological conflict. Implications For Scriptural Inerrancy Taking “brothers” literally upholds grammatical-historical exegesis and resists importing later theological constructs onto the text. Scripture interprets Scripture; the data across the Gospels, Acts, and Epistles converge on biological siblings, preserving coherence. Answer Yes. Matthew 13:55, read in its immediate context, lexical range, manuscript tradition, and wider canonical witness, affirms that Jesus had biological half-brothers (and sisters) born to Mary and Joseph after His virginal incarnation. The passage does not merely allow this conclusion—it implies it most naturally and consistently. |
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