I've done the work to prove that Jesus's kinsmen/relatives Joseph, Simon, James, and Judas (Jude/Thaddeus) were the sons of His mother's spouse's brother, Alphaeus, and his wife Mary of Cleophas (Clopas/Alphaeus), and thus His cousins (see opening post).
If you reject my position, I challenge you to try to defend yours by answering the questions under each section of scriptural verses below.
If you have a sliver of conviction, you'll attempt to do so.
Note: The Koine Greek words "ἀδελφός'' (adelphoi;brothers) and "ἀδελφή" (adelphai;sisters) have multiple definitions, e.g., "fellow-countryman," "disciple/follower," "one of the same faith," and "a near kinsman, or relative," e.g., sibling, cousin, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt, etc. Additionally, the word "ἀδελφός" (adelphos) in the plural (adelphoi) regularly refers to men and women.
If you reject my position, I challenge you to try to defend yours by answering the questions under each section of scriptural verses below.
If you have a sliver of conviction, you'll attempt to do so.
Note: The Koine Greek words "ἀδελφός'' (adelphoi;brothers) and "ἀδελφή" (adelphai;sisters) have multiple definitions, e.g., "fellow-countryman," "disciple/follower," "one of the same faith," and "a near kinsman, or relative," e.g., sibling, cousin, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt, etc. Additionally, the word "ἀδελφός" (adelphos) in the plural (adelphoi) regularly refers to men and women.
I. "Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is His mother not called Mary, and His brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us?" (Matt. 13:55-56)
Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are His sisters not here with us?” (Mk. 6:3-4)
Do you agree the mutually shared definition "a near kinsman, or relative,'' e.g., sibling, cousin, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt, etc., of the Koine Greek words "ἀδελφοί" (adelphoi; brothers) and "αδελφαι" (adelphai; sisters) applies in Matt. 13:55-56/Mk. 6:3-4? If so, what type of family members were Jesus's brothers and sisters to Him, and what is your evidence to support this?
II. "And when His own people heard about this..." (Mk. 3:21)
Which family members are being referred to in Mk. 3:2, and what is your evidence to support this?
III. "While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him." (Matt. 12:46-47)
"Then His mother and His brothers came..." (Mk. 3:31-32)
"Now His mother and brothers came to Him..." (Lk. 8:19-20)
What evidence do you have that supports the definition "a near kinsman, or relative," e.g., sibling, cousin, nephew, uncle, etc., of the Koine Greek word "ἀδελφοί" (adelphoi; brothers) applies in Matt. 12:46/Mk. 3:31-32/Lk. 8:19-20? Which family members were these brothers of Jesus, and what is your evidence to support this?
IV. "After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother, and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days." (Jn. 2:12)
What evidence do you have that supports the definition "a near kinsman, or relative," e.g., sibling, cousin, nephew, uncle, etc., of the Koine Greek word "ἀδελφοί" (adelphoi; brothers) applies in Jn. 2:12? Which family members were these brothers of Jesus, and what is your evidence to support this?
V. "So His brothers said to Him, 'Move on from here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. For no one does anything in secret [when he himself is striving to be known publicly. If You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.' For not even His brothers believed in Him." (Jn. 7:3-5)
What evidence do you have that supports the definition "a near kinsman, or relative," e.g., sibling, cousin, nephew, uncle, etc., of the Koine Greek word "ἀδελφοί" (adelphoi; brothers) applies in Jn. 7:3-5? Which family members were these brothers of Jesus, and what is your evidence to support this?
VI. "All these were continually devoting themselves with one mind to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers." (Ac. 1:14)
What evidence do you have that supports the definition "a near kinsman, or relative," e.g., sibling, cousin, nephew, uncle, etc., of the Koine Greek word "ἀδελφοί" (adelphoi; brothers) applies in Ac. 1:14? Which family members were these brothers of Jesus, and what is your evidence to support this?
VII. "Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him for fifteen days. But I did not see another one of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother." (Gal. 1:18-19)
Do you believe James in Gal. 1:19 and James in Matt. 13:55/Mk. 6:3 were the same person? If so, what evidence do you have to support this?
VIII. "Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?" (1 Cor. 9:5)
What evidence do you have that supports the definition "a near kinsman, or relative," e.g., sibling, cousin, nephew, uncle, etc., of the Koine Greek word "ἀδελφοί" (adelphoi; brothers) applies in 1 Cor. 9:5? Which family members were these brothers of Jesus, and what is your evidence to support this?
IX. "He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve..." (1 Cor. 15:5)
"After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters (disciples) at one time..." (1 Cor. 15:6)
"then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also." (1 Cor. 15:7)
Do you believe James in 1 Cor. 15:7 and James in Matt. 13:55/Mk. 6:3 were the same person? If so, what evidence do you have to support this?
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