Did Jesus have brothers?
In several places in the Bible, reference is made to Jesus's brothers? Doesn't this imply that Jesus was not the only child born to Mary?
You are right when you say that several references are made to Jesus's "brothers". Here are a few:
"While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mothers and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." (Matthew 12:46)
"Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon?" (Mark 6:3)
"For even his own brothers did not believe in him." (John 7.5)
"They all joined together constantly in prayer along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers. (Acts 1:14)
While these verses all seem to establish without doubt that Jesus had brothers, the entire matter becomes very debatable when you realize that in the original text of the Gospel, the word adelphos is used for "brother". Adelphos, however, has a variety of meanings which includes blood brother, half brother or step brother, and also cousin!
That the "brother" in these verses is intended to translate as "cousin" becomes likely when you read about the trip he made to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover when he was twelve. There is no mention at this time of any "brother" or "sister" accompanying them as you might expect for an event of this magnitude, and no reference even when Jesus was lost in the temple. (Luke 2:41-52)
That the "brother" in these verses is intended to translate as "cousin" becomes totally evident when you read John's narrative of the crucifixion of Jesus.
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Aneel Aranha
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