Did Jesus Have Brothers?

Q. I have had discussions with my Catholic family where they say how Jesus did not have brothers because that would have discounted Mary as staying a virgin. Didn’t Jesus indeed have brothers?

A. Mark 6:1-3 mentions four brothers, James, Joseph, Jude, and Simon. (James and Jude are believed to be the writers of the epistles by those names.) Matt. 12:46 also speaks of the Lord’s brothers. Mark also mentioned some sisters whose names are not known to us. John 7:1-5 is a conversation between the Lord and His brothers. None of them were believers before the resurrection. For an Old Testament prophecy that he would have unbelieving brothers read Psalm 69:7-9.