Q&A Home > J > Our Lord Jesus Christ > His Siblings

Is what is written in the Antiphonary of the feast for James, the Lord's brother that he is the son of Joseph wrong? Or is what the church believes that James is son of Cleopas wrong?

There are two views regarding the brothers of Jesus: one view states that they are Joseph's sons and the other that they are his cousins. In the Holy Bible the term brothers or sisters could refer to brothers by blood or nationality or close cousins or close friendship. Abraham used to call his nephew Lot 'brother' (Gen 13:8) and Laban used the same term referring to his son in law (Gen 29:15). The Jews used to call their uncles, aunts and first cousins 'brothers and sisters' and it was common that they would live under the same roof. St. Jerome says that the brothers of the Lord are the sons of St. Mary the wife of Cleopas, the sister of Holy St. Mary (Jn 19:25).