Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

The only additional Biblical references of which I am aware pertaining to the individuals (James, Joseph (Joses), Simon, and Judas) named in Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3 as "brothers" of Jesus (although it is my understanding that the Greek term used does not necessarily indicate an actual fraternal relationship, but is also used in the Bible to refer to other relatives (such as cousins), as well as to fellow Christians) are:

a mention in Acts 1:14 of the brothers of Jesus being present in the Upper Room following Christ's ascension, which would seem to indicate that they overcame their earlier unbelief (John 7:5) and became Jesus' disciples;

multiple passages referring to James, identifying him as "the brother of the Lord", and indicating that he apparently held a prominent position in the congregation of believers who remained in Jerusalem following the scattering of the church that occurred following the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 8:1), including Acts 12:17; Acts 15:13-21; Acts 21:17; 1 Corinthians 15:7; and Galatians 1:19;

and the epistle of Jude (whose name in the Greek text of the epistle was given as "Judas") where the author identifies himself as "the brother of James" (Jude 1:1), indicating that he may have also been the brother of Jesus (although the author of Jude calls himself only a servant of Jesus Christ, rather than His brother).

Traditional sources (as opposed to the Bible) indicate that James was martyred by being thrown from the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem (which he apparently survived), and then being beaten to death with a club. Also according to tradition, Simon was crucified. Jude was either crucified, or else clubbed to death and then sawed in half. I could find no traditional references to the death of Joseph (Joses).

June 19 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report