Were the brothers in Matthew 13:55 Mary's sons?

[tonychanyt]

Matthew 13:

53When Jesus had finished these parables, He withdrew from that place. 54Coming to His hometown,

The home in Hometown refers to the biological family.

He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked. 55“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?

i.e., familial son

Isn’t His mother’s name Mary,

i.e., the biological mother

and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?

biological half-brothers? Was Joseph named after his father?

56 Aren’t all His sisters with us as well?

biological half-sisters?

Where then did this man get all these things?” 57And they took offense at Him.
But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”

More evidence of biological/familial terms

58 And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.

Mark 6:

4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.”

More and more evidence of biological/familial terms.

Luke 2:

7a And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son.

Presumably, after the firstborn, Mary would have her 2nd born, etc.

Let p1 = the probability of Joseph being a half-brother of Jesus.
p2 = the probability of Joseph being a religious brother of Jesus.
Is p1 > p2?

I think it is very likely that Jesus had biological half-brothers. Mary wasn't a perpetual virgin.

 

[HTacianas]

Matthew 13:

The home in Hometown refers to the biological family.


i.e., familial son


i.e., the biological mother


biological half-brothers? Was Joseph named after his father?


biological half-sisters?


More evidence of biological/familial terms


Mark 6:

More and more evidence of biological/familial terms.

Luke 2:

Presumably, after the firstborn, Mary would have her 2nd born, etc.

Let p1 = the probability of Joseph being a half-brother of Jesus.
p2 = the probability of Joseph being a religious brother of Jesus.
Is p1 > p2?

I think it is very likely that Jesus had biological half-brothers.

From the text there is no way of knowing. As to Mary's "firstborn son", anyone who has a son has a firstborn son. Even someone with only one son. The only son is the "firstborn son" under Jewish law.

 

[tonychanyt]

From the text there is no way of knowing. As to Mary's "firstborn son", anyone who has a son has a firstborn son. Even someone with only one son. The only son is the "firstborn son" under Jewish law.

Let p1 = the probability of Joseph being a half-brother of Jesus.
p2 = the probability of Joseph being a religious brother of Jesus.
Is p1 > p2? Any guess?