Many religious scholars and believers have made theories about the siblings of Jesus. This has been known to happen throughout history. As centuries passed, many individuals have raised questions around “Did Jesus Have Siblings?”. The Gospel and the New Testament confirm the existence of the Lord’s brothers and sisters.
Mark and Matthew have mentioned the lord’s brothers and sisters on many occasions. In fact, they have even named the siblings of Jesus. According to sources, many biblical and historical texts have mentioned these siblings. Stay tuned if you are curious to know about the siblings of Jesus. This blog is entirely focused on “Did Jesus Have Siblings?”.
Did Jesus Have Siblings?
The simple answer to “Did Jesus Have Siblings?” is yes. Jesus was accompanied by multiple siblings, including brothers and sisters. Across the Christian scriptures, Mark and Matthew have confirmed the existence of the lord’s siblings. They even named the brothers of Jesus.
As has been noted, many people have questioned their existence for centuries. However, the mention of Jesus’s siblings in the New Testament changed everything. With the existence of his siblings mentioned, the debate seems to have come to an end. However, some people are still against the idea of Jesus having any siblings.
Who are the siblings of Jesus?
According to the New Testament and other sources, the names of Jesus’s brothers have been confirmed. Even Mark and Matthew named them in different Biblical texts. Many people have shared their curiosity about the Lord’s siblings. All of them have been answered now.
Well, Jesus has a total of four brothers. Their names are Judas (Jude), James, Joses (Joseph), and Simon. Indeed, the four of them are referred to as ‘Brothers of Jesus’ or ‘The Brothers of the Lord’. In contrast, Jesus also has multiple sisters. Unfortunately, the sisters of Jesus are unnamed. And, their identities have not been mentioned anywhere.
Evidence & Mentions In The Bible – Did Jesus Have Siblings?
As has been noted, there have been several mentions of Jesus’s siblings across different scriptures. This includes the Synoptic Gospels, the Bible, and the New Testament. These mentions tell us the names of his brothers. At the same time, confirming the existence of his unnamed sisters. Here is the most prominent evidence and mentions of the Lord’s siblings:
- The New Testament directly mentioned the ‘Brothers of Jesus’ and even included their names. Indeed, the existence of his sisters was also acknowledged here.
- Moreover, the unnamed sisters are again mentioned in the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Matthew.
- A list of the names of the Lord’s brothers was witnessed in Mark 6:3. There was even a mention of the sisters with a question. Specifically, it was stated, “And, are his (Jesus) sisters not here with us?”.
- Matthew 13:55 to 56 also includes the same list of the Lord’s brothers and sisters.
- After his resurrection, Paul allegedly saw James, i.e., one of the Lord’s brothers. It seems he was quite familiar with his presence. This was in Galatians 1:19. Paul even claimed James as the new leader of the Jerusalem church.
- The brothers of Jesus and Mary (His mother) were depicted as praying with the disciples in Acts 1:14.
- John 7:5 notes and implies the existence of Jesus’s brothers. Specifically, it was mentioned “even his own brothers didn’t believe in Jesus”.
- In Matthew 27:56, it was said, “Mary, the mother of James and Joseph” when they were standing around the cross.
Criticisms & Clash Of Opinions – People Against The Existence Of Lord’s Siblings
Many people and scholars have debated the existence of the Lord’s Siblings. Even after the New Testament mentioned them, some people are not ready to believe it. Well, people have questioned their existence for many centuries now. This makes it pretty hard to change some minds and their ideologies. Here is a list of the most popular Criticisms on the existence of Jesus’ siblings:
- From the early Christian ages, people have debated whether Mary was a perpetual virgin. This means that she did not give birth to anyone after Jesus. She is the mother of Jesus and his alleged siblings. The claims of Mary’s perpetual virginity go directly against the notion of Jesus having any siblings. The Gospel and the New Testament have already mentioned the Lord’s Siblings. In contrast, some people are not ready to believe and give the argument of Mary’s perpetual virginity.
- On the other hand, a huge fraction of believers doubt that they are cousins or step-siblings. In other words, they think that all the mentioned brothers and sisters are not real siblings of Jesus. Instead, kids of distant relatives.
- In a similar argument, some people think that everyone aside from Jesus was given birth by Mary’s sister or other relative. This directly opposes the fact that Mary had other kids after Jesus.
- The sisters of Jesus remain unnamed to this day, whereas his brothers were named by Mark and Matthew. People criticise that the New Testament confirms Jesus’s siblings based on incomplete information. As they don’t have the names of Jesus’s sisters, they are rejecting the claims altogether.
Conclusion
Indeed, various holy scriptures associated with the religion of Christianity have confirmed their existence. In conclusion, Jesus did have multiple siblings, including brothers and sisters. However, you can make up your mind after processing different claims and arguments.
FAQs
Who gave birth to Lord Jesus?
Mary is the mother of Jesus.
How many brothers does Jesus have? What are their names?
Jesus had a total of 4 brothers. Their names are Judas (Jude), James, Joses (Joseph), and Simon.
Which holy scripture has confirmed the existence of Jesus’s siblings?
The New Testament is the most prominent scripture that confirms their existence.
Also read about: Jesus Quotes Explained – 7 Sayings Of Jesus On The Cross