Relatives

The Greek words of Marks gospel for the relatives of Jesus (Mark 3:31-35) are:

1. μητηρ, mother
2. αδελφοι, brothers
3. αδελφαι, sisters

Items 2 and 3 are like the "-adelphia" in Philadelphia.

The Church has always understood these passages as not referring to other children of the Virgin Mary. In fact James and Joseph, "brothers of Jesus", are the sons of another Mary, a disciple of Christ, whom St. Matthew significantly calls "the other Mary". They are close relations of Jesus, according to an Old Testament expression.

It is interesting that Jesus himself identifies kin by obedience to the Father.

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