Brother: 1. In the natural and common sense
(Matthew 1:2; Luke 3:1,19)2. A near relation, a cousin
(Genesis 13:8; 14:16; Matthew 12:46; John 7:3)
(Acts 1:14; Galatians 1:19)
3. Simply a fellow-countryman
(Matthew 5:47; Acts 3:22; Hebrews 7:5)
4. A disciple or follower
(Matthew 25:40; Hebrews 2:11,12)
5. One of the same faith
(Amos 1:9; Acts 9:30; 11:29; 1 Corinthians 5:11) whence the
early disciples of our Lord were known to each other as
brethren.
6. A colleague in office
(Ezra 3:2; 1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1)
7. A fellow-man
(Genesis 9:5; 19:7; Matthew 5:22,23,24; 7:5; Hebrews 2:17)
8. One beloved or closely united with another in affection
(2 Samuel 1:26; Acts 6:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:1) Brethren of Jesus
(Matthew 12:46,50)
(Mark 3:31,32; Galatians 1:19; 1 Corinthians 9:5) etc., were probably the younger
children of Joseph and Mary. Some have supposed that they may
have been the children of Joseph by a former marriage, and
others that they were the children of Mary, the Virgin's sister,
and wife of Cleophas. The first interpretation, however, is the
most natural.
