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James, the Lord's Brother

Morrish Bible Dictionary

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Though the word ἀδελφός is used in the LXX in a wider sense than 'brother,' it has been judged that its use in the N.T. is restricted to those born of the same mother; and therefore the Lord's brother could not have been the same person as the son of Alphaeus. Nor is it probable that he was one of the twelve apostles, for we read that "neither did his brethren believe in him." John 7:5 . The first mention of the Lord's brethren being with the apostles is in Acts 1:14 , and there they are referred to as distinct from them. James the Lord's brother was seen at Jerusalem by Paul. Galatians 1:19 . The being thus designated distinguishes him from the apostle who is simply called James in Galatians 2:9,12 . Learned authorities state that in Galatians 1:19 the construction of the passage in the Greek does not necessarily imply that James the Lord's brother was an apostle. He is mentioned also in Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3