What About Jesus's 'Brothers?' w/ William Albrecht & Fr. Christiaan Kappas

William and Father go indepth answering the objection many protestants have to Mary's perpetual virginity: in the gospels Jesus clearly has "brothers..."

[SaintCharbelMiracleworker]

According to jewish tradition of that time when a married woman is widowed the sons care for her. We know Jesus had no biological siblings because when He hung on the cross He instructed Apostle John to take care of His mother and he did.

[anycyclopedia]

In Sri Lanka, we call strangers Brother, Sister, Uncle & Aunt...

[MacBjorn]

Isn't it exhausting explaining to atheists and protestants the same questions over and over?

[mvlandis]

Hi Matt, I love your show and watch often. I have learned so much from your content after returning to the Catholic Church in 2016. Thank you so much!

[jeffscully]

The Greek word "adelphos" or "adelphoi" is the word used to describe the familial relationship between Abraham and Lot, but clearly we know that Abraham was Lot's uncle, not brother.

[jaydenlai]

This is a great video! Love the marian apologetics!

[kiryu-chan]

Why would Jesus give his Mother to Saint John if there were all these supposed brothers and sisters. Makes no sense.

[samvimes]

I'm sorry this is a bit off topic, but I _love_ that the phrase "brother from another mother" was an actual thing way back then. That's absolutely hilarious to me.

[ffemto]

Glad someone finally spelled this out.

[Alexander-frkk]

You should have Keith Nester on your show…

[shmeebs]

If Mary had other children then Jesus wouldn't have had to ask John to take care of her.

[philipcable]

The Greek word used in Mark 6:4 is “sungeneusin/ συγγενεῦσιν” for anyone who wants to look it up.

[dennisdonnelly]

Hail Mary full of grace I love and adore you like my own mother who also has gone on to be with the lord

[joshflinchbaugh]

Stuff like this made me buy a Greek New Testament. Not only do I love NT but I also like learning languages.

[sethiverson]

Did anyone else notice that they glossed over the end of 6:4 where Jesus included "his own house" in his list? The Greek word they spent all their time referencing is indeed the word for extended family, but the one used at the end of that verse is a direct reference to his own household, which in other verses is used to talk about immediate family as well. "But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house."

[sandstorm]

Incredible. Thank you!
So brother not only can be used in a spiritual sense, but the Greek word used literally means cousin. And this was said straight from Jesus Himself. Woohoo!

Also, can't believe you didn't mention the most important part of John's account of the Crucifixtion! John 19:27! "Behold your mother." John took Mary into his home after Jesus died. Why would Mary need someone to take her in if she had other children to look after her? *Because she had no other children besides Jesus.* Jewish tradition backs this up; you were seen as a very bad child if you did not take your own mother in like this. This is why Jesus commissioned John to "adopt" Mary, to care for his mother in His stead when He could no longer. Beautiful is it not?

[georgeluke]

There's a great BIblical Hermeneutics stack exchange "Can αδελφοί refer to cousins?". Can't post here, but worth looking at

[herbpalindrome]

It also strikes me that just that line indicates at least 5 “brothers and sisters”. Minimum 6 children from Mary seems like it would listed somewhere else.

[btopines]

I love Pints with Aquinas, but I've always been puzzled by the concept of Mary's perpetual virginity. I've also wondered whether Joseph celibate as well? If so, it suggests Mary and Joseph didn't have a normal marriage. What possible reason would Mary and Joseph have from conjugal relations within the marriage relationship? I guess the principle of 1 Corinthians 7:5 wouldn't have applied to them? Doesn't Jesus differentiate between his biological brothers and spiritual brothers in Matthew 12? Why didn't the gospel accounts use the Greek word anepsios for "cousins" to describe James and Jesus' other brothers in Matthew 13? Is there a chance the perpetual virginity association with Mary is rooted in gnostic influence?

[crazyedswonderfulworldofso]

Three questions were posed but it seems you only answered the first one - the "brothers" of Jesus. What about Mary "not knowing Joseph until she gave birth to Jesus", implying she "knew" him afterward; and "you Catholics were supposed to say that sex was holy and good and so if you're so hung up on her being a virgin then it seems like you're implying that there's something wrong with sex"?