The word used to describe Elizabeth isn't the usual Greek word for "cousin". It just means "relative".
Adelphos ("brother") is used to describe Lot's relationship to Abraham in the Septuagint text of Genesis, even though Gn elsewhere makes it clear that Lot is really Abraham's nephew. And the Gospels use adelphos to describe the relationship of Philip the Tetrarch to Herod, although secular history says that Philip was Herod's half-brother.
Whatever's convenient for them i guess.
If you want to dismiss the belief of a billion Catholics, 300 million Orthodox, and all of the major Protestant reformers with a sarcastic throwaway like that, I guess that's your right. But it's at least possible that maybe some of them are better Bible scholars than you. Don't you think, for example, that the Greek Orthodox probably know the Greek NT better than either of us?
Yes, I'd like to dismiss them. Too many lies over the years. I don't find any NT writings inspired. Thanx for almost asking.
The Greek word for cousin is "Anepsios" and is used in Colossians 4:10 describing Mark to be a cousin of Barnabas. The Greek word "Adelphos" means brother.
And the Gospels use adelphos to describe the relationship of Philip the Tetrarch to Herod, although secular history says that Philip was Herod's half-brother.
If Philip was a half brother to Herod....as James was to Jesus, then this would be a correct term to use. I have a brother myself (son of my Father) who has a different Mother. We are half brothers and I refer to him as my Brother. If he were the son of my Father's wife, having a Father by a previous marriage, he would be my step brother and I would then refer to him as a step brother since there would be no blood relationship.
The reason "Adelphos" is used instead of "Anepsios" in Matthew 12:46-47-48-49-50/13:55; Mark 3:31/6:3; John 2:12; & Acts 1:14 is because these are half brothers, the sons of Joseph and Mary, and not step brothers of Jesus....nor are they cousins.
There is a prophecy in Psalm 69:8-9 that tells of his brothers of the flesh. [I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons; for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.] And we see in John 2:17; [His disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for your house will consume me.]
There is ample evidence in scripture to show that our Saviour had human siblings and to deny that is to deny the Word of God. There is also ample evidence showing the same in the writings of the early church as I pointed out in my post #48. This is another example of tradition being followed rather than scripture in some quarters.