Metmom,
Given that Jesus has four brethren as listed in Mark 6:3 and Matt 13:55, namely James, Joseph, Jude, and Simon, and given that two of them are explicitly listed as the sons of Alpheus in Acts 1:13, James and Jude (actually James is listed numerous times as the son of Alpheus to differentiate him from James the son of Zebedee as they were often found together at the same events), I propose a truce.
If you will give me two cousins/close relatives in James and Jude, I will give you two siblings of Jesus in Joseph and Simon. I think it is a fair deal.
But in order for me to make this concession, you have to admit that the other two where close relatives, explicitly named as sons of Alpheus, that they were not Jesus’ siblings.
Over all I think everyone would be happy with this arrangement.
Black Pacific
Wanna BET!!??
LOL
53When Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there. 54He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? 55“Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? Matthew 13:53-55 NASB
1Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him. 2When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? 3“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?†And they took offense at Him. Mark 6:1-3 NASB
In both of these passages the context is clear the writers are talking about Jesus' family. The greek uses the genitive case to denote possession in these texts.
They are in His hometown. It would be natural for His family to be there.
The suggestion that James is the son of Alphaeus and not Joseph and Mary falls apart when Galatians 1:19 is read where Paul notes he did not see "any of the apostles except James, the Lord's brother."
Paul either did or did not know who James was. The text says he identifies him as the brother of Christ. Again the genitive is used in this text.
The catholic will often try to point out that the world adelfos can mean something other than a brother within your family.
That point is correct but only when evaluated in the context of the passage(s) in question.
For example, in Luke 21:16 "But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death,..."
The word for brothers is adelfos. We see in this passage Luke is going through an order of people who will betray you beginning with those closest to you. Your parents, your brothers, your relatives and then your friends.
Often the appeal is made to the argument that the names in Matthew and Mark are His cousins. If this were the case there is a Greek word for cousin, anepsios (an-eps-ee-os). It means a cousin or nephew.
However, it is used only in Colossians 4:10.
That Mary did not remain a virgin is shown by the above passages.
Further, there is nothing in either the Matthew or Luke account of the angel's appearance to suggest that Joseph and Mary, after the birth of Christ did not consummate the marriage as any newlywed couple would.
So no, there is no compromise on what the Word says.