Question from a reader:
Did Christ have any actual brothers or sisters? James is sometimes referred to as His half-brother. What and where are the facts?
Thank you for your question. There is no agreement among Bible scholars on this. Some claim that the Bible teaches that Mary (Christ’s mother) gave birth to no other children, based upon the fact that the Bible doesn’t tell us about her giving birth to others. However, I believe that this is a weak argument.
Others cite those like James, claiming that he was a half-brother to Christ, since he was the son of Mary (Christ’s mother) and Joseph. This is what I tend to believe, although it’s difficult to prove, because names like “Mary,” “Joseph,” and “James” are such common names.
Thanks,
Owen