Who are Mary, Martha and Lazarus

[washedagain]

Who are Mary, Martha and Lazarus in relation to each other?

 

[Rhamiel]

they were siblings correct?
and friends of Jesus

 

[washedagain]

=Rhamiel;58278002]they were siblings correct?

Where they?

and friends of Jesus

I am not asking their relationship with others. Just the relationship between each other.

 

[MetanoiaHeart]

Why do you ask? Is there some sort of dispute over their relationship?

 

[washedagain]

Why do you ask? Is there some sort of dispute over their relationship?

Because I am curious of what people believe and why. Dispute? Not that I am aware of.

 

[MetanoiaHeart]

I believe that they were brother and sisters because that is what Church tradition has always maintained.

 

[washedagain]

I believe that they were brother and sisters because that is what Church tradition has always maintained.

Can you show me this church tradition? Is there a teaching on this? I don't know much about EO.

Thanks.

 

[MetanoiaHeart]

Can you show me this church tradition? Is there a teaching on this? I don't know much about EO.

Thanks.

I'm on my phone and can't supply links, but you can look up the lives of the saints. Google St. Mary of Bethany (or either of the others) and "orthodox" or go to Orthodoxwiki and look 'em up.

 

[bbbbbbb]

John 11 tells us specifically that Mary and Martha were sisters and that their brother was Lazarus. That is, unless one believes that adelphoi (the Greek word translated as sisters and brother) really doesn't mean sisters and brother at all, but just means really close friends or, perhaps, cousins.

 

[washedagain]

John 11 tells us specifically that Mary and Martha were sisters and that their brother was Lazarus. That is, unless one believes that adelphoi (the Greek word translated as sisters and brother) really doesn't mean sisters and brother at all, but just means really close friends or, perhaps, cousins.

So how do we know the truth?

 

[Thekla]

So how do we know the truth?

We call them what we know them to be - adelphoi.

What other truth do you mean, beyond the relationship described ?

(As an aside, Lazarus escaped to Cyprus after Christ raised him. There, he became the episkopos at the Church in what is now Larnaca. His tomb there reads "Lazaros, friend of Jesus".)

 

[Rhamiel]

in the Gospel according to St.John chapter 11 verses 1 and 2 it says that Mary and Martha are sisters and that Lazarus is the brother of Mary
the three of them are described as people who Jesus loved

 

[Rhamiel]

a historian said that Lazarus was a high priest
Lazarus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[washedagain]

We call them what we know them to be - adelphoi.

What other truth do you mean, beyond the relationship described ?

(As an aside, Lazarus escaped to Cyprus after Christ raised him. There, he became the episkopos at the Church in what is now Larnaca. His tomb there reads "Lazaros, friend of Jesus".)

OK.... so they according to scripture a blood brother and sisters?

 

[washedagain]

in the Gospel according to St.John chapter 11 verses 1 and 2 it says that Mary and Martha are sisters and that Lazarus is the brother of Mary
the three of them are described as people who Jesus loved

OK, so according to scripture, they are blood brother and sisters?

 

[Thekla]

OK.... so they according to scripture a blood brother and sisters?

No, the Holy Scriptures say that they are adelphoi. It does not describe precisely which particular meaning of the dozen or so meanings of adelphoi describes their actual relationship.

Where a precise meaning of the term adelphos is meant, it is known through further description. See the LXX OT where the adelphoi Abraham and Lot are known to be uncle and nephew from other passages. In the NT we know that the adelphoi of Joseph are born of two mothers because of the OT. We know the adelphoi Herod and Phillip are stepbrothers through historical record. Likewise in Plato, when he wants to describe the precise relationship indicated by adelphoi, he uses an additional descriptive.

 

[Thekla]

There is a sort of pattern that does emerge in the Biblical usage of adelphos.

In every instance I have found thus far of its use, it points to relationship through a common male. From the examples listed above - all share relationship through a common male of a previous generation (typically a father, a head of household, a tribe - a patriarchal origin, the arche). This is likewise maintained in the nascent Christian use of the term, as it refers to our spiritual relationship in God the Father (the true arche) through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.

In the Greek secular use, the Greek myths use the term adelphoi for the children of Zeus though they did not share the same mothers (Zeus was a bit ... profligate.) It is also found in extant literature to indicate a neighbor, cousin, step-sibling, like minded, common nation, etc. It is even used by a husband for his wife -- in this instance the two are not blood relations, but share a household with the husband's father.