We know of Jesus’ birth through Virgin Mary. This will naturally mean that he had no elder siblings, although the scriptures mention he had brothers. The question we seek to answer is; what are Jesus’ brothers’ names?
The scripture mentions that Jesus has four brothers: James, Joses, Judas, and Simon. However, it is still being determined whether or not they are biological brothers since the evidence presented is perceived differently by different people according to their faith.
This article will help us understand and know the brothers of Jesus by name. Read on to get insight into who they were and what the scriptures say about them. We will also look into the question of whether or not Jesus has sisters.
How many brothers did Jesus have?
According to the Bible, Jesus had four brothers: James, Joses, Judas, and Simon. They are mentioned in Matthew 13.55. They are also called Jesus’ “brothers” in Matthew 12.46-50.
It is important to note that in the Bible, the word “brother” can also be used to refer to a close relative or a member of a larger group or community. In the case of Jesus, his brothers are believed by some scholars to be his cousins or step-brothers, as his mother, Mary, is said to have been a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus.
In addition to these four brothers, Jesus had sisters, although the Bible does not specify how many or provide their names. It is said that the people of Jesus’ hometown in Nazareth rejected him and his family, partly because they were familiar with his brothers and sisters and saw him as an ordinary person.
The belief that Mary remained a perpetual virgin is not present in the Bible; this idea was developed later in the history of Christianity by some early Christian writers but is not held by all Christian denominations.
Where in the Bible does it mention the names of Jesus’ brothers?
The names of Jesus’ brothers are mentioned in several passages in the New Testament of the Bible. In Mark 6:3, Jesus is referred to as “the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon.”
In the book of Acts, James is referred to as “James, the brother of the Lord” (Acts 15:13) and is said to have been one of the leaders of the Jerusalem Council, a meeting of early Christian leaders to discuss the inclusion of Gentile converts in the church Acts 15.13-21.
What does the Bible say about James?
The most significant reference to James is in the Gospels, where he is identified as one of Jesus’ brothers. In Mark 6:3, for example, Jesus is referred to as “the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon.” Similarly, in Matthew 13:55-56, Jesus is identified as “the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon.”
In the Book of Acts, James is described as an early leader of the Christian church in Jerusalem. He is often referred to as “James, the brother of the Lord” and is said to have been one of the leaders of the Jerusalem Council, a meeting of early Christian leaders to discuss the inclusion of Gentile converts in the church (Acts 15:13-21).
James is also the author of the epistle of James in the New Testament, which is a letter of wisdom and moral exhortation to the early Christian communities. The letter emphasizes the importance of faith and good works and exhorts its readers to live out their faith in practical ways. It is considered one of the most practical books of the New Testament, and James is believed to have written it before AD 62.
What does the Bible say about Joses?
The Bible does not provide much information about Joseph, the brother of Jesus. He is mentioned briefly in the New Testament as one of Jesus’ siblings, along with James, Judas, and several sisters. In Matthew 13:55-56, Jesus is referred to as “the carpenter’s son, and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. His sisters, too, are they not all with us?” This passage indicates that Joseph was a carpenter, like his father, and had several siblings.
There is no further mention of Joseph in the New Testament, and it is unclear what role he played in Jesus’ life or ministry. He may have been a disciple of Jesus, but no direct evidence supports this.
It is also worth noting that some scholars believe that the “Joses” mentioned in the New Testament is the same person as the “Joseph” mentioned in Matthew and Mark and that the name “Joses” was a variant form of the name “Joseph.” However, this needs to be clarified and is a debate among scholars.
Overall, the Bible does not provide much information about Joseph, the brother of Jesus. He is mentioned briefly as one of Jesus’ siblings and is identified as a carpenter. Still, there needs to be further information about his role or significance in Jesus’ life or ministry.
What does the Bible say about Jude?
One of the most significant references to Jude is in the Epistle of Jude, a book in the New Testament. The epistle’s author identifies himself as “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James.” The epistle addresses a group of believers facing persecution and false teachings, and the author urges them to defend their faith and remain steadfast in the face of adversity. He also warns them about the danger of false teachers who have infiltrated the community and urges them to remain faithful to the teachings of Jesus.
Jude is also mentioned in Acts 1.13 as one of the brothers of Jesus and the son of Joseph and Mary. In Matthew 13:55, he is referred to as Judas, not Jude.
Jude is also mentioned in the Gospel of John as one of the people present at the Last Supper. He is listed as one of the apostles chosen by Jesus to be with him during the critical events leading up to his death and resurrection.
What does the Bible say about Simon?
Simon is a prominent figure in the New Testament and is mentioned several times in the Bible. He is also known as Simon Peter and is often referred to as one of the twelve apostles of Jesus.
One of the first mentions of Simon in the Bible is in the Gospel of Mark, where he is introduced as one of the fishermen on the Sea of Galilee and is called by Jesus to become a “fisher of men” Mark 1.16-18. In the Gospel of Matthew, Simon is also mentioned as one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus Matthew 10.12.
Simon is also mentioned in the Gospel of Luke, where he is described as a “devout man” and one of the leaders of the Jerusalem church Acts 8.14. He is also present at the Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and is described as being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues Acts 2.1-4.
Simon is also mentioned several times in the Gospel of John, where he is depicted as one of Jesus’ closest disciples. In John 1.42, Jesus renames Simon “Cephas,” which is translated as “Peter,” meaning rock. In John 21.15-19, Jesus asks Simon three times if he loves him and gives him the leadership of his church.
Simon is also mentioned in the book of Acts, where he is described as a leader of the early Christian church in Jerusalem and is involved in several important events, such as the healing of a lame man and the Council of Jerusalem.
Who was the youngest of Jesus’ brothers?
The Bible does not answer who the youngest of Jesus’ brothers was. However, several passages in the New Testament mention Jesus’ brothers, and these passages can be used to infer who the youngest brother might have been.
One of the passages mentions Jesus’ brothers in Mark 6.3, where Jesus is referred to as “the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon.” From this passage, it can be inferred that James, Joses, Judas, and Simon were Jesus’ brothers, but it does not give any information about the youngest one.
Another passage that mentions Jesus’ brothers is Matthew 13.55-56, where Jesus is identified as the “brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon.” This passage also needs to provide information about the youngest brother.
It is also worth noting that the New Testament does not provide information about the birth order of Jesus’ brothers, nor is there any information about the ages of Jesus’ brothers. Therefore, there is no way to determine who the youngest of Jesus’ brothers was.
Did Jesus also have sisters?
The question of whether Jesus had sisters is also a matter of debate among scholars and theologians. Some argue that the passages suggesting Jesus had sisters are references to close relatives, not actual siblings. In contrast, others maintain that the passages indicate that Jesus had sisters.
The Bible does not answer whether Jesus had sisters, and the question is open to interpretation. Some passages suggest he did have sisters, while others suggest he did not. The matter is also subject to debate among scholars and theologians.
References
What we know about Simon, the brother of Jesus
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
