Call me a die hard optimist but I continue to hope and pray that someone who has bought into sola scriptura will open their eyes to the truth.
The Greek proves Mary and Joseph had other children.
What is the meaning of brother? The first thing to understand is that the term brother (Gk. adelphos) has a broader meaning than uterine brothers. It can mean a biological brother, but it can also mean an extended relative, or even a spiritual brother.
Take Genesis 13:8 for example. Here the word brother is being used to describe the relationship between Abraham and Lot, who were not biological brothers but uncle and nephew:
“So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers” (Gen 13:8, NIV; see also 14:12).
Because of the Bible’s broad semantic range of “brother,” we can rest assured that although St. Paul writes, “[Jesus] appeared to more than five hundred…brothers at the same time” (1 Cor. 15:6), we need not infer from this verse that Mary gave birth to more than 500 children!
More importantly, these “brothers” are never once called the children of Mary, although Jesus himself is (John 2:1; Acts 1:14).
What is the meaning of brother? The first thing to understand is that the term brother (Gk. adelphos) has a broader meaning than uterine brothers. It can mean a biological brother, but it can also mean an extended relative, or even a spiritual brother.
Context is always your key to understanding the Word. Read, or re-read, the sections involving the brothers and sisters of Jesus. The context will clearly indicate they are from Mary and Joseph.