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3470 — The Brothers of Jesus Again

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 20, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 24.

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3470 — The Brothers of Jesus Again

By Editor

Several correspondents, each of whom has read but a part of what has been said, are still puzzled over the question of the brothers of Jesus. Was Jesus the older? Or were His brothers older than He?
1. While the original word "adelphas" means brother, one born of the same mother, it is used in the New Testament in a far broader sense, for brothers in the faith or of the same nation. This is its general use, especially in the plural. See Luke 22:32; John 20:17; Acts 2:37; 7:23; 1 Cor. 8:13; 16:12. Members of the same family or household could properly be called brothers. This has led some to believe that the "brothers" of Jesus were His cousins.
2. That Jesus was the first-born of Mary is very clear from the record of His birth in Luke 1.
3. The "brothers" of Jesus seem to have been older than Himself. If younger, brought up with Him as they were, they would naturally believe on Him; but for some time they did not. John 7:5.
4. Assuming to advise Him as to His duty would indicate they were older. John 7:3, 4. They felt that He needed to be controlled. Luke 8:19; Mark 3:31; Matt. 12:47.
5. That so many of the brothers of Jesus were well known, and that in the mention of them in connection with Him He alone is designated as the son of Mary, would also indicate that they were older than He, by another mother. See Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3. The other scriptures, such as 1 Cor. 9:5 and Gal. 1:19, are not out of harmony with this.
6. Then, too, if Mary had had other sons, would Jesus at His death have commended His mother to John? John 19:26, 27. Joseph must have died long before this, as we find no mention of his living after the early days of Jesus.
Therefore, it seems to us, the easiest solution of the problem is that the brothers of Jesus were sons of Joseph by a former marriage. A far more important question with each of us is, Are we brothers and sisters of Jesus? We may be. See Matt. 12:50.