answersLogoWhite

0

A:Mark's Gospel describes Alphaeus as the father of two of the twelve apostles, Levi and James. This would seem to meant that Levi and James were brothers, although not described as such. In fact, the only references to Levi are here in Mark 2:14 and the corresponding verse (5:27) in Luke's Gospel, which Luke elaborates slightly by adding a passage in which Jesus is criticised for consorting with publicans (tax collectors).

However, Matthew's Gospel, although dependent on Mark for this information, refers to another disciple, Matthew, as the former tax collector, so that it has become accepted by Christians that Matthew and Levi were one and the same person, although none of the gospels links Matthew with either Alphaeus or James. An interesting theological discussion has consequently arisen as to whether there were two fathers known as Alphaeus, improbable as that would be.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Religious Studies

Who was Alphaeus father of James?

Of the twelve disciples of Jesus there were two James' One was "James the Less" and his father's name was Alphaeus. The other disciple of Jesus whose name was James was the brother of John and their father was Zebedee. The bible tells us nothing further of Alphaeus.


In the Bible who is the father of Matthew?

Alphaeus, surname Levi (Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27).


Were Matthew and James the Less brothers?

A:The original New Testament gospel, now known as Mark's Gospel, refers to Levi, son of Alphaeus, as a tax collector. However, for some reason, Mark never again refers to Levi, but introduces Matthew and James, son of Alphaeus, as disciples in the list of the twelve disciples (verse 3:14-19). Since Levi and James are both sons of Alphaeus, it would seem that they must have been brothers. John is described as the brother of James, son of Zebedee, in the list in which the disciples are introduced, but Matthew is not described either as the son of Alphaeus or as the brother of this James. There is therefore no reason to believe that the author of Mark was portraying Matthew as either the tax collector or as the brother of James, son of Alphaeus. Because Mark does not refer to Levi again, this causes a possible problem for the authors of the other New Testament gospels that are now known to have been derived from Mark's Gospel. Luke more or less faithfully copies Mark, using the name Levi in the corresponding place, as the former tax collector, while John makes no mention of him. The author of the gospel now known as Matthew's Gospel tried to resolve the difficulty by placing the disciple Matthew in the position of the tax collector whom Jesus called to follow him. Because of this usage in Matthew, it has become accepted by Christians that Matthew and Levi were one and the same person. Although Matthew's Gospel does not say so, this could mean that Matthew was a son of Alphaeus and that James was his brother.


Who were the parents of the disciple Matthew?

The parents of the disciple Matthew are not explicitly mentioned in the Bible or other historical texts. Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector before becoming one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew, he simply refers to himself as the son of Alphaeus, but it is unclear if this refers to his father or another relative with the same name.


Was there an Ethan in The Bible?

No, there is no mention of an Ethan in the Bible.

Related Questions

When did Alphaeus Patterson die?

Alphaeus Patterson died in 1931.


When was Alphaeus Zulu born?

Alphaeus Zulu was born in 1905.


When did Alphaeus Zulu die?

Alphaeus Zulu died in 1988.


Who was Alphaeus father of James?

Of the twelve disciples of Jesus there were two James' One was "James the Less" and his father's name was Alphaeus. The other disciple of Jesus whose name was James was the brother of John and their father was Zebedee. The bible tells us nothing further of Alphaeus.


In the Bible who is the father of Matthew?

Alphaeus, surname Levi (Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27).


Who were the names of the apostles in the Bible?

The names of the apostles in the Bible were Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.


Can you name the 12 apostles in the Bible?

The 12 apostles in the Bible are Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.


Can you list the order of the 12 apostles in the Bible"?

The 12 apostles in the Bible are: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.


When did Alphaeus Philemon Cole die?

Alphaeus Philemon Cole died on 1988-11-25.


When was Alphaeus Philemon Cole born?

Alphaeus Philemon Cole was born on 1876-07-12.


Who were the 12 apostles in order of their listing in the Bible?

The 12 apostles listed in the Bible are: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.


What was the name of the 12 apostles according to the Bible?

The 12 apostles according to the Bible were Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.