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To: Physicist
Miriam/Mariam/Mary, Iusuf/Joseph, and Yeshua/Joshua/Jesus were about the most common names around at that time. We don't have very many given names in English (as long as you eliminate the trendy silly names and the Southern custom of giving people last names as a given name), and they had even fewer.

It's like thinking that a set of modern gravestones with John, Mary, and James on them are related to any particular individual within the same century named John, Mary, or James. Or assuming two people named Smith are related. Highly unlikely.

18 posted on 02/27/2007 7:17:05 AM PST by AnAmericanMother ((Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment)))
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To: AnAmericanMother
Miriam/Mariam/Mary, Iusuf/Joseph, and Yeshua/Joshua/Jesus were about the most common names around at that time.

Look how common names are in the Jesus story in general. Barabbas (of "Give us Barabbas" fame) was named Jesus Barabbas. Two of the disciples were named James (as was one of Jesus' brothers). Two disciples were named Simon (and Jesus ate with a Pharisee named Simon and another man named Simon carried His cross for him), and two may have been named Judas (Thaddeus is sometimes listed as a Judas in addition to Judas Iscariot). As to Marys, we have Jesus' mother, Mary Magdalene, and Mary of Bethany. In addition to the mischievous Salome who danced for John the Baptist's head, there was a Salome who was a follower of Jesus. John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, but he is not be confused with John the apostle.

There are not all that many "characters" in the story of Jesus, but of those named, a surprising # of them have the same name.

31 posted on 02/27/2007 1:05:47 PM PST by Sans-Culotte ("Thanks, Tom DeLay, for practically giving me your seat"-Nick Lampson)
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