Explanations Of Jesus' "brothers"

[Byzantine]

So I know that Jesus' "brothers" weren't the children of Mary. And I know that a common explanation is that they were His cousins. But I've also heard a theory that Joseph had been married before, thus rendering Jesus' brothers His step-brothers. Is this theory worthy of consideration as well? Thanks!

[BarbTherese]

I think cousins of Jesus - and/or step brothers (St Joseph thus considered a widower) are both quite open to scriptural discussion and research and an open question - insofar as I am aware.

[thessalonian]

I wrote a tract some time again that is posted in the "tracts by phatmassers" board. It traces some of the "brother's of Jesus" and interestingly two of them were children of Mary, but not Mary the Mother of Jesus. This is CLEAR from scripture. Here is the tract.

[url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/52652-keeping-track-of-the-marys/page__p__984617"]http://www.phatmass....page__p__984617[/url]

We should not make the mistake of thinking that these "brothers' of Jesus were all of the same family or parentage. Jewish family including a wide range of relatives, was much more close knit than our families today. James and Joses apear to be of the same family but there was also Jude and Simon who were said to be brothers of Jesus and Salome. It could be that some of them were children of Joseph from an earlier marriage. That is I believe a common understanding in the Orthodox religion. There may be many others included in the passages speaking about his brothers who are not even named. Likely there was. They maybe newphews, nieces, aunts, uncles, who knows.

Edited April 16, 2012 by thessalonian

[Skeetergirl291]

[quote name='thessalonian' timestamp='1334597930' post='2418761']
I wrote a tract some time again that is posted in the "tracts by phatmassers" board. It traces some of the "brother's of Jesus" and interestingly two of them were children of Mary, but not Mary the Mother of Jesus.[/quote]

Yeah, there were alot of Mary's in that time. It was a popular Jewish girl name, still is a popular name all over today. When I was in fifth grade, there was, like, 5 Mary's just in my school. I was -- still am -- one of them. Two of them were in my class -- Me and another girl we call Mary Francis. When the school went to the March for Life last Janurary I sat next to a girl named Mary, we ended up with me being called Mia instead. One of my friends still calls me that even when the other Mary isn't around

[Byzantine]

[quote name='Skeetergirl291' timestamp='1334598694' post='2418767']
Yeah, there were alot of Mary's in that time. It was a popular Jewish girl name
[/quote]
Hijacking my own thread. Apparently your chances of being "Jesus son of Joseph" in Jerusalem was extremely high, so when they pull up "Jesus son of Joseph's" bone box, that doesn't really mean much.

[BarbTherese]

I watched a documentary on that 'Jesus son of Joseph' bone box and it really didn't mean much at all it was obvious, even to the presenters of the documentary and various professional people who examined the box according to their expertise and commented on what they found.

[Skeetergirl291]

[quote name='Byzantine' timestamp='1334620774' post='2419041']
Apparently your chances of being "Jesus son of Joseph" in Jerusalem was extremely high, so when they pull up "Jesus son of Joseph's" bone box, that doesn't really mean much.
[/quote]

really?? I doubt that, there was -- and still is -- only one "Jesus" (although there are many Jesus's [hey-zeus]'s in Mexico)

[sixpence]

[quote name='Skeetergirl291' timestamp='1334791228' post='2420423']
really?? I doubt that, there was -- and still is -- only one "Jesus" (although there are many Jesus's [hey-zeus]'s in Mexico)
[/quote]

[Byzantine]

[quote name='Skeetergirl291' timestamp='1334791228' post='2420423']
really?? I doubt that, there was -- and still is -- only one "Jesus" (although there are many Jesus's [hey-zeus]'s in Mexico)
[/quote]\

You know what I meant. It was a common name.