How old were Jesus' brothers?

Answer 1

Mark 6:3 identifies Jesus' brothers as James, Joses, Juda and Simon. The nativity accounts in both Matthew and Lukeseem quite clear that when Jesus was born there was no older sibling. Jesus would have to have been the oldest.

Answer 2

Full brothersIn both nativity stories, Jesus is the first child of Mary, and neither story allows for another, older half-brother accompanying Mary and Joseph, either from Nazareth (Luke) or to Egypt (Matthew). The gospels also talk of Mary and the brothers of Jesus, as if they were her own children, so there is no scriptural reason to believe otherwise. James and Jude were the younger brothers of Jesus. So, if Jesus was around 35 to 45 years old at the time of his death, they would have been somewhat younger. Half brothersSome, particularly Roman Catholics, are uncomfortable with the idea that Mary, mother of Jesus, ever had sex. For this reason, they attempt to say that James and Jude, the brothers of Jesus, were really half-brothers by a previous marriage for Joseph, or that they were cousins. The two nativity accounts say that Jesus was born during the reign of King Herod and therefore before his death in 4 BCE, in Matthew's Gospel apparently well before 4 BCE. If James was the eldest of three brothers and unnamed sisters, he was likely born no later than 15-10 BCE, allowing time for each subsequent child, the presumed death of their mother, a mourning period and the betrothal of Mary. Paul's epistles mention James as the leader of the Jerusalem church, apparently robust and healthy in the 50s of the first century CE, although he would have been around 70 years old, at a time when few lived beyond the age of 50. CousinsIf the 'brothers' were really cousins, as some believe, they could have been either older or younger than Jesus.

Answer 3

According to historical records and biblical accounts, Jesus had four brothers named James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. However, their exact ages are not explicitly mentioned in The Bible.