One of the verses causing this confusion is
Gal 1.19, it reads “But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.” The confusion here is “JAMES THE LORD’S BROTHER” since yesterday that we celebrated the feast of St. James we have been on this issue of the “Lord’s brother”. Now take note of the following:
1. James was a very popular name in the time of Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, two of the twelve Apostles of Christ were named James. Therefore, it could be a bit difficult for some us to figure out which James is being discussed when we read the name in the Bible.
2. The “James” in the Bible were named as follows; James the son of Alpheus (Luke 6:15) and James the son of Zebedee (Mark 10:35). While Zebedee’s son, is sometimes referred to as “James the greater”; Alphaeus’ son is identified as “James the Less.” So, James couldn’t have been Jesus’ brother since they are not of the same father. Let’s continue,
3. Joseph’s mother is also James the Less mother. Therefore, James and Joseph are brothers whose father is Alphaeus and the name of their mother is Mary, Mark 15:40 says; “Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the less and of Joseph, and Salome.”
4.Salome is the mother of James the Greater and John. Their father’s name is Zebedee, Matt.20:20 reads “The mother of Zebedee’s children (James and John) came to Jesus with her sons. She got down on her knees before Jesus to ask something of Him.”
5. Just as James was a common name in the Bible, the name Mary was equally a common name in the Bible (Matthew 28:1). So let’s look at those present at the crucifixion.
6. John 19:25-27 tells us: “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”
7. Those at the cross of Jesus;
1). Mary, the mother of Jesus
2). His mothers’ sister which is Salome
3). Mary the wife of Cleophas
4). Mary Magdalene
5). The disciple Jesus loved; this is John the son of Zebedee.
The new name here, is Mary the wife of Cleophas. Actually, Cleophas is the Greek version of the Aramaic name Alpheus and we have already mentioned the children of Alpheus in number (2) -Joseph and James the Less.
8. Mary the Mother of Jesus, is a sister to Salome the mother of James (the greater) and John. So when Jesus said “mother behold your son, son behold your mother” Jesus was placing Mary his mother in the house of John the son of Salome and Zebedee. It’s as good as saying Mary stayed with her sister Salome.
9. It follows that the brothers we often confuse as direct siblings of Jesus Christ were just the relatives of Jesus Christ.
10. This is clear from the Greek version of Gal.1:19 that we have often quoted.
δὲ εἶδον ἀποστόλων οὐκ εἶδον, εἰ μὴ Ἰάκωβον τὸν ἀδελφὸν τοῦ Κυρίου.
The bone of contention in this verse is ἀδελφὸν (adelphon) which means brother. In Greek, it has a broader meaning, it means a brother near or remote, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. Following from the previous analysis the (brothers) of Jesus Christ are actually the cousins of Jesus Christ.
May Almighty God bless you, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Father Daniel
